Two Phase Containment System for Immersion Cooling Vapor Control
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current two-phase immersion cooling systems for servers suffer from significant vapor loss, leading to increased maintenance costs and potential temperature rises due to the need for frequent replenishment of expensive proprietary cooling liquids.
Innovation Solution
The system incorporates a vapor containment and recirculation mechanism, where vapor is directed to a remote condenser for recirculation and storage in a resupply tank, with an air mover controlling vapor flow to minimize escape during normal and maintenance operations, allowing for controlled liquid resupply as needed.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Temperature
If two-phase immersion cooling is used to cool high power density chips, then thermal performance is improved, but vapor loss increases leading to higher maintenance costs
Solution Approach 1:
The patent captures the escaping vapor (harmful loss) and redirects it through a condenser to condense back into liquid form, converting the harmful vapor loss into a beneficial recirculation process that replenishes the cooling liquid and reduces maintenance costs
Solution Approach 2:
Instead of allowing vapor to escape and be discarded, the system recovers the vapor by capturing it in a containment structure, condensing it back to liquid, and returning it to the immersion tank, thereby recovering the expensive proprietary cooling liquid
2Device complexity
If vapor is allowed to escape naturally, then system simplicity is maintained, but liquid replenishment frequency increases
Solution Approach 1:
The system provides self-service by automatically capturing, condensing, and recirculating its own vapor loss through an integrated condenser and containment structure, eliminating the need for external intervention and frequent manual replenishment
Solution Approach 2:
The system establishes a feedback loop where vapor loss is continuously captured and converted back into liquid form that is returned to the immersion tank, creating a self-regulating cycle that maintains liquid levels without external input
3Power
If proprietary cooling liquid is used for high power density cooling, then heat removal capability is improved, but maintenance cost increases
Solution Approach 1:
The system recovers the expensive proprietary cooling liquid by capturing vapor loss, condensing it back to liquid form, and returning it to the immersion tank, thereby reducing the frequency and cost of replenishment
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 approach minimizes vapor loss, reduces maintenance costs, and maintains reliable thermal performance by ensuring consistent two-phase liquid levels, thereby enhancing the efficiency and cost-effectiveness of the cooling system.
Implementation Method 1
the two phase liquid boils when contacting the surface of heat generating devices
Implementation Method 2
the two phase liquid boils when contacting the surface of heat generating devices, and the vapors rise naturally towards a condenser
Implementation Method 3
Upon reaching the cold condenser the vapor condenses and releases the heat it removed from the electronic device upon vaporizing
Implementation Method 4
The cyclical two-phase change between liquid and vapor efficiently and constantly removes heat generated by operating devices
Implementation Method 5
one benefit of the natural boiling and rising of the vapor is that it causes passive circulation
Data Source
AI summary
A two-phase immersion cooling system for cooling electronics. The electronics are immersed in immersion tank filled with phase change liquid. As liquid evaporates due to heat generated by the electronics, it enters a vapor passageway that leads the vapor to a condenser situated remotely from the immersion tank. Upon condensing at the condenser, the condensed liquid is directed to a resupply tank, wherein the condensed liquid cools. When the level of the two phase liquid in the immersion tank drops below a set threshold, a pump is activated to deliver the condensed liquid from the resupply tank to the immersion tank. The immersion tank, vapor passageway and condenser are position inside a containment passageway. The containment passageway captures any vapor not entering the vapor passageway and direct such vapor to the condenser. An air mover generates pressure differential within the containment passageway to direct the vapor towards the condenser.