TWI659188B - Immersion cooling apparatus and server system thereof - Google Patents

Abstract

An immersion cooling device includes a cooling liquid chamber, an additional chamber, a pressure relief port, and a barrier. The heating element is immersed in the cooling liquid in the cooling liquid chamber. The additional chamber extends horizontally from one side of the coolant chamber. The pressure relief port is formed at the end of the additional chamber and communicates with the external chamber. The crossbar can be traversed in the additional chamber to separate the first and second variable spaces between the cooling fluid chamber and the additional chamber. When the cooling fluid absorbs the heat energy of the heating element, it generates steam to make the first variable. The space has vapor pressure, and the pressure relief port communicates the second variable space with the outside world so that the second variable space has outside pressure. When the vapor pressure is greater than the external pressure, the pressure difference between the vapor pressure and the external pressure drives the bar to move to the second variable space to a position where the vapor pressure is equal to the external pressure.

Description

Immersed cooling equipment and its server system

The present invention relates to an immersion cooling device and a server system thereof, and more particularly to an immersion cooling device with an additional chamber and a server system thereof.

Generally speaking, in the traditional two-phase immersion cooling system, in order to avoid the pressure in the cooling liquid chamber caused by the large amount of coolant vapor generated when the heat dissipation capacity of the two-phase immersion cooling system cannot keep up with the heating efficiency of the server Large changes (this situation will affect the physical characteristics of the coolant such as the boiling point of the coolant). Usually, a pressure relief valve is installed directly in the vapor zone of the coolant chamber. When the vapor pressure is higher than a set value (such as one atmosphere), the vent The pressure valve will be opened, and a part of the mixed gas of the cooling liquid vapor and the air will be discharged outside the cooling liquid chamber, thereby preventing the excessively high vapor pressure in the cooling liquid chamber from occurring. However, when the mixed gas is discharged outside the cooling liquid chamber, part of the cooling liquid vapor will also leave the cooling liquid chamber, which will cause the total amount of cooling liquid in the cooling liquid chamber to decrease, thereby increasing the maintenance of the two-phase immersion cooling system. cost.

An object of the present invention is to provide an immersion cooling device with an additional chamber and a server system thereof to solve the above-mentioned problems.

According to an embodiment, the immersion cooling device of the present invention is used to dissipate a heating element. The immersion cooling device includes a cooling fluid chamber, an additional chamber, a pressure relief port, and a barrier. The cooling liquid chamber is used for storing a cooling liquid and accommodating the heating element so that the heating element is immersed in the cooling liquid. The additional chamber communicates with the cooling fluid chamber and extends horizontally from one side of the cooling fluid chamber. The pressure relief port is formed at one end of the additional chamber away from the cooling fluid chamber and communicates with the external chamber and the additional chamber. The stopper can be traversed in the additional cavity to separate a first variable space and a second variable space in the cooling liquid chamber and the additional cavity. The cooling liquid absorbs the heating element. When the thermal energy is generated, steam is generated so that the first variable space has a vapor pressure, and the pressure relief port communicates the second variable space with the outside world so that the second variable space has an external pressure. When the vapor pressure is greater than the external pressure, a pressure difference between the vapor pressure and the external pressure drives the barrier to move to the second variable space to a position where the vapor pressure is equal to the external pressure.

According to another embodiment, the server system with heat dissipation function of the present invention includes a server and an immersion cooling device. The immersion cooling device is used to dissipate heat from the server. The immersion cooling device includes a cooling fluid chamber, an additional chamber, a pressure relief port, and a barrier. The cooling liquid chamber is used for storing a cooling liquid and accommodating the server so that the server is immersed in the cooling liquid. The additional chamber communicates with the cooling fluid chamber and extends horizontally from one side of the cooling fluid chamber. The pressure relief port is formed at one end of the additional chamber away from the cooling fluid chamber and communicates with the external chamber and the additional chamber. The barrier can be traversed in the additional chamber to separate a first variable space and a second variable space in the cooling liquid chamber and the additional chamber. The cooling liquid absorbs the server. When the thermal energy is generated, steam is generated so that the first variable space has a vapor pressure, and the pressure relief port communicates the second variable space with the outside world so that the second variable space has an external pressure. When the vapor pressure is greater than the external pressure, a pressure difference between the vapor pressure and the external pressure drives the barrier to move to the second variable space to a position where the vapor pressure is equal to the external pressure.

Compared with the prior art, when the pressure of the vapor is greater than the external pressure, the pressure relief valve is directly opened to discharge part of the cooling gas vapor and air mixed gas out of the cooling liquid chamber. The present invention can utilize the additional provided by the additional chamber. Add space to accommodate the cooling fluid chamber to store the steam generated by the cooling fluid to absorb the heat generated during the operation of the server, so that the steam in the cooling fluid chamber can be prevented without the need to discharge the cooling fluid outside the cooling fluid chamber. The effect of high pressure reduces the maintenance cost of immersion cooling equipment.

The advantages and spirit of the present invention can be further understood through the following embodiments and the accompanying drawings.

Please refer to FIG. 1 and FIG. 2. FIG. 1 is a schematic perspective view of a server system 10 according to an embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 2 is a cross-section of the server system 10 of FIG. 1. Schematic cross-section of line AA. As shown in FIG. 1 and FIG. 2, the server system 10 includes a server 12 and an immersion cooling device 14. The immersion cooling device 14 is used to dissipate the server 12. It should be noted that the present invention The provided immersion cooling device 14 can also be used for heat dissipation of other heating elements, such as magnetic disk arrays, and the related description can be referred to the following description by analogy, and will not be repeated here. The immersion cooling device 14 includes a cooling liquid chamber 16, an additional chamber 18, a pressure relief port 20, and a stopper 22. The cooling liquid chamber 16 is a cooling liquid storage tank chamber for storing a cooling liquid 24 and accommodating the server 12 so that the server 12 can be immersed in the cooling liquid 24. The cooling liquid 24 may be an inert dielectric liquid. (Such as mineral oil, silicone oil, etc.). The additional chamber 18 is connected to the cooling liquid chamber 16 and extends horizontally from one side of the cooling liquid chamber 16 to provide additional cooling liquid vapor containing space. The pressure relief port 20 is formed at the end of the additional chamber 18 away from the cooling fluid chamber 16 and communicates with the additional chamber 18 and the outside, and the stopper 22 is horizontally traversed in the additional chamber 18 to cool the liquid chamber. A first variable space 26 and a second variable space 28 are separated from the inside of the additional chamber 18 and the second variable space 28. It can be seen from FIG. 2 that the first variable space 26 can contain cooling liquid vapor and has a vapor pressure. The second variable space 28 can communicate with the pressure relief port 20 and have an external pressure (for example, an atmospheric pressure).

In practical applications, in order to enable the pressure relief port 20 to have a one-way pressure relief function, it is possible to reliably prevent foreign objects or other gases from entering the cooling fluid chamber 16 through the pressure relief port 20 to affect the heat dissipation effect of the cooling fluid 24, as in Section 2 As shown in the figure, in this embodiment, the immersion cooling device 14 may further include a one-way pressure relief valve 30. The one-way pressure relief valve 30 is provided in the pressure relief port 20, and the one-way pressure relief valve 30 is used for The first variable space 26 is allowed to release the pressure to the outside in one direction so that the vapor pressure in the first variable space 26 is equal to the external pressure. The related description of the design of the one-way pressure release is common in the prior art, and is not repeated here. In addition, the immersion cooling device 14 may further include a sensor 32. The sensor 32 may be provided in the additional chamber 18 to detect whether the pressure relief function of the one-way pressure relief valve 30 is working normally. For example, That is, the sensor 32 can be a pressure gauge, whereby the stopper 22 is moved to a position where the first variable space 26 can unilaterally release pressure to the outside through the one-way pressure relief valve 30 of the pressure relief port 20, However, when the sensor 32 detects that the vapor pressure in the first variable space 26 is getting higher and higher, the sensor 32 can correspondingly determine that the pressure relief function of the one-way pressure relief valve 30 has failed, Corresponding reminder messages (such as warning sounds) can be issued to remind the user to immediately shut down the server system 10 for maintenance of pressure relief function, thereby reliably avoiding the excessively high vapor pressure of the coolant chamber 16 The problem occurred.

In addition, in order to improve the heat dissipation efficiency of the immersion cooling device 14, as shown in FIG. 2, the immersion cooling device 14 may further include at least one heat dissipation fin structure 34 (two are shown in FIG. 2, but not Due to this limitation), the radiating fin structure 34 can be disposed on an inner top surface 36 of one of the cooling liquid chambers 16 to directly radiate the vapor of the cooling liquid 24, so that the thermal energy generated by the server 12 during operation can be reduced. It is partially excluded to the outside via the heat dissipation fin structure 34. In addition, in this embodiment, the immersion cooling device 14 may further include at least one heat dissipation fin structure 38 (one is shown in FIG. 2 but is not limited thereto). The heat dissipation fin structure 38 may be provided in the cooling liquid. An outer top surface 40 of the chamber 16 and an outer top surface 42 of the additional chamber 18 are provided, so that the thermal energy generated by the server 12 during operation can be further quickly discharged to the outside through the heat dissipation fin structure 38.

The following is a detailed description of the pressure relief operation of the immersion cooling device 14. Please refer to FIG. 2 and FIG. 3. FIG. 3 is the pressure relief when the stopper 22 of FIG. 2 is moved to the end of the corresponding additional chamber 18. Schematic cross-section at the time. When the vapor pressure in the first variable space 26 is equal to (or less than) the pressure inside and outside the second variable space 28, the stopper 22 may stop at the initial position as shown in FIG. When the vapor pressure in the first variable space 26 is greater than the pressure inside and outside the second variable space 28 (for example, when the heat dissipation capacity of the immersion cooling device 14 cannot keep up with the heating efficiency of the server 12, a large amount of coolant vapor is generated When the vapor pressure in the coolant chamber 16 is greatly changed), the pressure difference between the vapor pressure in the first variable space 26 and the outer pressure of the second variable space 28 will drive the stopper 22 to The second variable space 28 moves. At this time, according to the physical characteristic that the gas pressure is inversely proportional to the volume of the space, as the bar 22 moves to the second variable space 28, the volume of the space of the first variable space 26 will be related. Correspondingly, the vapor pressure which is originally greater than the external pressure will decrease accordingly, until the stop 22 is driven to traverse to a position where the vapor pressure is equal to the external pressure again.

In this way, compared with the design of directly opening the pressure relief valve to discharge part of the cooling gas vapor and air mixed gas out of the cooling liquid chamber under the condition that the vapor pressure is greater than the external pressure in the prior art, the present invention can utilize an additional chamber The extra space is provided to co-accept the cooling fluid chamber with the cooling fluid to absorb the steam generated by the thermal energy of the server during operation, so that the cooling fluid can be prevented without the need to discharge the cooling fluid outside the cooling fluid chamber. The effect of excessive vapor pressure in the chamber reduces the maintenance costs of the immersion cooling equipment.

It is worth mentioning that if the pressure difference between the vapor pressure in the first variable space 26 and the external pressure is large enough to drive the bar 22 to the second variable space 28 to a corresponding addition as shown in FIG. 3 The pressure relief position at the end of the chamber 18, at this time, because the first variable space 26 can already communicate with the outside through the one-way pressure relief valve 30 in the pressure relief port 20, the first variable space 26 can be directly One-way pressure relief is performed to the outside through the one-way pressure relief valve 30 until the vapor pressure of the first variable space 26 is equal to the external pressure, thereby ensuring that the immersion cooling device 14 is provided with an additional addition provided by the additional chamber In the case where the space is unable to reduce the vapor pressure back to the external pressure, the pressure can be directly released through the pressure relief port 20. It should be noted that, in practical applications, after the first variable space 26 is vented to the outside via the pressure relief port 20 so that the vapor pressure of the first variable space 26 is equal to the external pressure, the user can place the barrier 22 Push back (for example, manually (such as pushing the stopper 22 back with the relevant jig), motor drive, hydraulic drive, or pneumatic drive, etc.) to the corresponding additional chamber 18 as shown in Figure 2 to approach the coolant chamber The initial position of the front end is to effectively prevent the leakage of the coolant vapor. As for the related description of the above-mentioned return drive design, it is common in the prior art, so it will not be repeated here. The above description is only a preferred embodiment of the present invention, and all equivalent changes and modifications made in accordance with the scope of patent application of the present invention shall fall within the scope of the present invention.

10‧‧‧Server System

12‧‧‧Server

14‧‧‧immersion cooling equipment

16‧‧‧ coolant chamber

18‧‧‧ additional chamber

20‧‧‧Relief port

22‧‧‧ stop

24‧‧‧ Coolant

26‧‧‧First variable space

28‧‧‧Second Variable Space

30‧‧‧ one-way pressure relief valve

32‧‧‧Sensor

34, 38‧‧‧ cooling fin structure

36‧‧‧ inner top surface

40, 42‧‧‧ outer top surface

FIG. 1 is a schematic perspective view of a server system according to an embodiment of the present invention. Fig. 2 is a schematic cross-sectional view of the server system of Fig. 1 along the section line A-A. FIG. 3 is a schematic cross-sectional view when the stopper of FIG. 2 is moved to the pressure relief position corresponding to the end of the additional chamber.

Claims (10)

An immersion cooling device is used to dissipate a heating element. The immersion cooling device includes: a cooling liquid chamber for storing a cooling liquid and accommodating the heating element so that the heating element is immersed in the cooling An additional chamber, which communicates with the cooling fluid chamber and extends horizontally from one side of the cooling fluid chamber; a pressure relief port formed in the additional chamber away from the cooling fluid chamber A terminal that communicates with the additional chamber and the outside; and a bar that can be traversed in the additional chamber in translation so as to separate a first variable space between the cooling fluid chamber and the additional chamber and a In the second variable space, the cooling fluid generates steam when absorbing the thermal energy of the heating element, so that the first variable space has a vapor pressure, and the pressure relief port communicates the second variable space with the outside world so that the second The variable space has an external pressure; wherein when the vapor pressure is greater than the external pressure, a pressure difference between the vapor pressure and the external pressure drives the barrier to move to the second variable space to make the vapor pressure To the position of outside pressure. The immersion cooling device according to claim 1, wherein when the pressure difference between the vapor pressure and the external pressure drives the stop to move to a pressure relief position corresponding to the end of the additional chamber, the first A variable space is vented to the outside through the pressure relief port, so that the vapor pressure is equal to the outside pressure. The immersion cooling device according to claim 2, wherein after the first variable space is depressurized to the outside through the pressure relief port so that the vapor pressure is equal to the outside pressure, the stopper is pushed back to the corresponding addition. The chamber is near an initial position of a front end of one of the coolant chambers. The immersion cooling device according to claim 2, further comprising: a one-way pressure relief valve provided in the pressure relief port, for allowing the first variable space to be unidirectionally vented to the outside to make the vapor pressure Is equal to the external pressure; and a sensor is disposed in the additional chamber to detect whether the pressure relief function of the one-way pressure relief valve works normally. The immersion cooling device according to claim 1, further comprising: at least one heat dissipation fin structure disposed on an inner top surface or an outer top surface of the cooling liquid chamber. A server system with a heat dissipation function includes: a server; and an immersion cooling device for cooling the server. The immersion cooling device includes: a coolant chamber for storing A coolant and the server are accommodated so that the server is immersed in the coolant; an additional chamber is connected to the coolant chamber and extends horizontally from one side of the coolant chamber to a side; a drain A pressure port is formed at one end of the additional chamber away from the cooling fluid chamber and communicates the additional chamber with the outside; and a stopper that traverses the additional chamber in a translatable manner in the cooling liquid. A first variable space and a second variable space are separated from the cavity and the additional cavity. The cooling fluid generates steam when absorbing the thermal energy of the server, so that the first variable space has a vapor pressure. The pressure relief port communicates the second variable space with the outside world so that the second variable space has an outside pressure; wherein when the vapor pressure is greater than the outside pressure, a pressure difference between the vapor pressure and the outside pressure drives Move the barrier to the second variable space to a position where the vapor pressure is equal to the external pressure. The server system according to claim 6, wherein when the pressure difference between the vapor pressure and the external pressure drives the stop to move to a pressure relief position corresponding to the end of the additional chamber, the first The variable space is vented to the outside through the pressure relief port, so that the vapor pressure is equal to the outside pressure. The server system according to claim 7, wherein after the first variable space is vented to the outside through the pressure relief port so that the vapor pressure is equal to the outside pressure, the stopper is pushed back to the corresponding additional cavity The chamber is near an initial position of a front end of one of the coolant chambers. The server system according to claim 7, wherein the immersion cooling device further comprises: a one-way pressure relief valve provided in the pressure relief port, for allowing the first variable space to unilaterally release pressure to the outside to The vapor pressure is made equal to the external pressure; and a sensor is disposed in the additional chamber to detect whether the pressure relief function of the one-way pressure relief valve works normally. The server system according to claim 6, wherein the immersion cooling device further comprises: at least one heat dissipation fin structure disposed on an inner top surface or an outer top surface of the cooling liquid chamber.