Variable Flow Liquid Cooling for Data Center Processors
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Solution Overview
Problem
Data centers face high electrical power consumption and carbon emissions due to inefficient cooling systems, which are often underutilized and require significant energy to maintain optimal processor temperatures, leading to increased operational costs and environmental impact.
Innovation Solution
A liquid cooling system is implemented in data centers, featuring a coolant loop with controlled flow rates and nozzle diameters to efficiently cool processors and other components, maximizing coolant output temperature while maintaining desired processor chip temperatures, and allowing for the reuse of thermal energy through district heating systems.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If a large cooling system is sized to perform under maximum operating conditions, then processor temperature control is ensured, but electrical power consumption increases significantly
Solution Approach 1:
The cooling system dynamically adjusts coolant flow rates based on real-time processor temperature and workload conditions. Variable flow rates allow the system to match cooling capacity with actual thermal demand, avoiding the energy waste of maintaining constant high-flow operation while ensuring adequate cooling during peak loads.
Solution Approach 2:
The system changes operating parameters including coolant flow rate, coolant temperature, and heat exchanger configuration based on processor thermal conditions. This allows optimization of the cooling system's energy efficiency across different operating scenarios while maintaining reliable temperature control.
2Reliability
If coolant flow rate is increased to improve cooling efficiency, then processor temperature is better controlled, but electrical power consumption for pumping increases
Solution Approach 1:
Coolant flow rate is dynamically adjusted based on processor temperature, workload, and thermal conditions. The system uses variable speed pumps and flow control valves to optimize flow rates, ensuring adequate cooling while minimizing pumping power consumption during low-demand periods.
Solution Approach 2:
The cooling system incorporates temperature sensors and control logic that continuously monitor processor temperature and adjust coolant flow rates accordingly. This feedback mechanism ensures optimal cooling efficiency while avoiding excessive pumping power consumption by matching flow rates to actual thermal demand.
3Loss of energy
If coolant output temperature is maximized to improve heat recovery efficiency, then thermal energy reuse is enhanced, but processor cooling capability is reduced
Solution Approach 1:
The cooling system is segmented into multiple zones with different heat exchangers serving different functions. One heat exchanger optimizes for processor cooling by maintaining lower coolant outlet temperatures, while another heat exchanger recovers thermal energy by operating at higher temperatures, allowing both objectives to be achieved simultaneously in different parts of the system.
Solution Approach 2:
Different parts of the cooling system have different temperature characteristics optimized for their specific functions. The primary cooling loop maintains lower temperatures for effective processor cooling, while the heat recovery loop operates at higher temperatures for efficient thermal energy reuse, with each zone having locally optimized quality parameters.
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 reduces electrical power consumption, minimizes thermal cycling, and enables the reuse of waste heat, thereby lowering carbon emissions and operational costs, while maintaining reliable and efficient cooling of data center components.
Implementation Method 1
A liquid cooling loop is fluidly coupled to each of the processors associated with said plurality of computer systems. The liquid cooling loop containing a liquid coolant.
Implementation Method 2
A heat exchanger is coupled to the liquid cooling loop
Data Source
AI summary
Disclosed herein is a data center having a plurality of liquid cooled computer systems. The computer systems each include a processor coupled with a cold plate that allows direct liquid cooling of the processor. The cold plate is further arranged to provide adapted flow of coolant to different portions of the processor whereby higher temperature regions receive a larger flow rate of coolant. The flow is variably adjusted to reflect different levels of activity. By maximizing the coolant temperature exiting the computer systems, the system may utilize the free cooling temperature of the ambient air and eliminate the need for a chiller. A data center is further provided that is coupled with a district heating system and heat is extracted from the computer systems is used to offset carbon emissions and reduce the total cost of ownership of the data center.