Two-Phase Cold Plate Channel Layout for Lower Pressure Drop
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional refrigerant-based cooling systems using cold plates face limitations in heat removal efficiency due to large pressure drops as the refrigerant changes phase from liquid to vapor, leading to increased system pressures and temperatures, which reduces overall efficiency.
Innovation Solution
The design of a cold plate with specific inlet and outlet ports and channels configurations that minimize pressure drop by allowing refrigerant to flow from both ends, with channels having larger internal cross-sectional areas than the ports, and the ability to couple multiple cold plates for redundancy, optimizing thermal transfer and managing hot spots.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Productivity
If refrigerant flows through cold plate channels during phase change from liquid to vapor, then heat removal efficiency is improved, but pressure drop increases
Solution Approach 1:
The cold plate is divided into multiple independent channels, each handling a portion of the refrigerant flow. This segmentation allows optimization of each channel's geometry to minimize pressure drop while maintaining effective heat removal across the entire cold plate surface.
Solution Approach 2:
Different sections of the cold plate have channels with locally optimized characteristics. Channels in regions with higher heat loads have different dimensions or configurations compared to regions with lower heat loads, allowing efficient heat removal throughout while minimizing overall pressure drop.
2Quantity of substance
If system pressure and temperature are increased to compensate for pressure drop, then refrigerant flow is maintained, but overall system efficiency decreases
Solution Approach 1:
The channel geometry parameters (cross-sectional area, length, shape) are optimized to achieve the desired refrigerant flow rates without requiring excessive pressure and temperature increases. By changing the physical parameters of the channels, the system maintains efficient operation at lower pressures.
3Reliability
If multiple cold plates are coupled for redundancy, then system reliability is improved, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
Multiple cold plates are coupled together in a modular configuration where they share common inlet and outlet manifolds. This merging approach provides redundancy and load distribution while minimizing the increase in system complexity through standardized connections and uniform channel designs.
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
This configuration maximizes thermal transfer while minimizing pressure drop, resulting in more efficient cooling and improved system performance by ensuring uniform thermal transfer and managing hot spots effectively.
Implementation Method 1
the refrigerant changes from liquid to vapor, absorbing heat from the processor
Implementation Method 2
the refrigerant changes from liquid to vapor, absorbing heat from the processor
Implementation Method 3
channels having larger internal cross-sectional areas than the ports
Data Source
AI summary
A cold plate can include a first end, a second end opposite the first end, and a plurality of channels therein. A first plurality of channels can run from the first end to the second end. A second plurality of channels can run from the second end to the first end. The first and second pluralities of channels can be interleaved. The cold plate can include first and second outlet ports of greater height and width than first and second inlet ports, and a third outlet port of greater height and width than a third inlet port. A third channel can be disposed at least partially between first and second channels.