Two-Phase Cooling System with Vapor and Liquid Buffers
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Existing cooling systems for high power density IT equipment face challenges in efficiently managing large variations in thermal loads due to the complexities of phase change processes, making it difficult to control temperature and fluid flow effectively, especially in high density applications where vapor generation and condensation rates vary significantly.
Innovation Solution
A cooling system with a dual buffering mechanism, comprising a vapor buffer and a liquid buffer, that separates the cooling fluid into liquid and vapor loops, allowing for operation in multiple modes to adjust to varying thermal loads and condenser capabilities, ensuring efficient fluid management and condensation even under abnormal scenarios.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Use of energy by moving object
If a two-phase cooling system is used to efficiently extract latent thermal energy, then cooling efficiency is improved, but control difficulty increases due to poor temperature feedback and difficulty in measuring pressure and flow rate
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces level sensors as intermediary devices that indirectly measure the state of the two-phase system by detecting liquid levels in the evaporator and condenser. This mediator approach allows control of the complex two-phase system without directly measuring difficult parameters like pressure and flow rate, thus maintaining high cooling efficiency while improving controllability.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent replaces traditional mechanical control methods (direct pressure and flow rate measurement) with electronic sensing technology (level sensors). This substitution enables more precise and easier control of the two-phase system by converting hard-to-measure physical quantities into easily detectable electrical signals, resolving the control difficulty while preserving cooling efficiency.
2Adaptability or versatility
If the cooling system is designed to handle large variations in thermal load, then adaptability is improved, but system complexity increases due to the need for multiple operational modes and buffering mechanisms
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments the two-phase cooling system into distinct functional zones: evaporator, vapor line, condenser, and liquid line, with level sensors positioned at key interfaces. This segmentation allows independent control of evaporation and condensation processes, enabling the system to adapt to various thermal loads through simple on/off control of the compressor rather than complex continuous control, thus improving adaptability without excessive complexity.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent implements preliminary action by using level sensors to detect liquid accumulation before it becomes a problem and by pre-configuring the system to operate in different modes (e.g., partial load mode, full load mode) based on anticipated thermal conditions. This proactive approach allows the system to smoothly transition between operational modes and handle thermal load variations without requiring complex real-time adjustments, balancing adaptability with manageable system complexity.
3Power
If the condenser operates at high capacity to condense vaporized cooling fluid under higher loads, then cooling capacity is improved, but efficiency decreases when thermal load is low due to mismatched condensation rate
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements dynamic control by using level sensors to continuously monitor liquid levels in the condenser and adjusting the compressor operation accordingly. When thermal load is high, the system allows high condensation capacity; when load is low, the system reduces condensation rate to match demand. This dynamic adjustment prevents energy waste from oversized condensation capacity while maintaining the ability to provide high cooling capacity when needed, resolving the contradiction between power and energy efficiency.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent establishes feedback control loops where level sensors monitor the liquid level in the condenser and provide signals to control the compressor operation. This feedback mechanism ensures the condenser operates at the appropriate capacity based on actual system conditions, preventing energy loss from excessive condensation when thermal load is low while maintaining high cooling capacity availability when needed, thus balancing power and energy efficiency.
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
The dual buffering system enhances the cooling system's ability to handle large variations in thermal loads by buffering vapor and liquid, optimizing condenser utilization and maintaining desirable fluid parameters, thereby improving the overall efficiency and reliability of the cooling process.
Implementation Method 1
a cooling fluid changes phase (e.g., from liquid to vapor or from vapor to liquid) to extract latent thermal energy from a thermal energy source
Implementation Method 2
changes phase (e.g., from liquid to vapor or from vapor to liquid) to extract latent thermal energy
Implementation Method 3
a condenser that condenses vaporized cooling fluid to liquid form
Data Source
AI summary
A cooling system can include an input channel from which a fluid enters the cooling system and an output channel from which the fluid exits the cooling system. The cooling system can include a vapor buffer and a liquid buffer, and the connections between the two buffers. Vapor buffer valves arranged in fluid channels of the cooling system can be controlled to, in a first mode, disconnect the vapor buffer from an input channel, and, in a second mode, connect the vapor buffer to the input channel and disconnect the vapor buffer from the input of the condenser or the port that is attachable to the input of the condenser.