Modular thermal energy management designs for data center computing

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-11032941-B2
Application number	US-201916368341-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Mar 28, 2019
Priority date	Mar 28, 2019
Publication date	Jun 8, 2021
Grant date	Jun 8, 2021

Abstract

Systems, apparatuses, methods, and computer-readable media are presented for managing an apparatus for thermal energy management including a first container. The first container includes a first cavity, and is configured to hold a first liquid coolant within the first cavity to at least partially surround a second container. The second container includes a second cavity configured to hold one or more heat sources, and a second liquid coolant to at least partially surround the one or more heat sources. The second container is sealed to separate the first liquid coolant from the second liquid coolant. Other embodiments may be described and/or claimed.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. An apparatus for thermal energy management, comprising:
a first container having one or more cavities including a first cavity, wherein the first container includes a first material in a wall of the first container, one or more input inlets in the wall, and one or more output outlets in the wall,
wherein the first container is arranged to hold a first liquid coolant within the first cavity to at least partially surround one or more containers including a second container, the first liquid coolant, when held, circulates through at least an input inlet of the one or more input inlets and at least an output outlet of the one or more output outlets, and
wherein the second container includes a second material in a wall of the second container, and a second cavity configured to hold one or more heat sources, and a second liquid coolant to at least partially surround the one or more heat sources, the second container is sealed to separate the first liquid coolant from the second liquid coolant; and
wherein the apparatus further comprises a mechanical supporting system to support the one or more containers including the second container, or the one or more heat sources.

2. The apparatus of claim 1 , further comprising a third container placed within the first cavity of the first container, with the first liquid coolant at least partially surrounding the third container, wherein the third container includes a third cavity, and a third liquid coolant within the third cavity to at least partially surround the second container that is placed within the third cavity of the third container.

3. The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the wall of the first container or the wall of the second container includes multiple different materials.

4. The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the output outlet is coupled with an external coolant distribution unit (CDU) that is separately fabricated.

5. The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the one or more heat sources include a memory unit, a server, a computing unit, or a storage unit.

6. The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the one or more heat sources include a die having a hydrophilic coating, or a boiling enhancement coating, at a surface of the die, and the one or more heat sources have been surface treated for operating within the second liquid coolant.

7. The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the second liquid coolant has a thermal conductivity higher than a thermal conductivity of the first liquid coolant.

8. The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the first liquid coolant includes water.

9. The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the second liquid coolant includes diethyl benzene, dibenzyl toluene, diaryl alkyl, partially hydrogenated terphenyl, or a cooling dielectric fluid.

10. The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the mechanical supporting system includes a rack rail with a slider mounting mechanism, a 3-axis suspension system, or wire mesh stiffener structure.

11. The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the second material in the wall of the second container has a thermal conductivity higher than a thermal conductivity of the first material in the wall of the first container.

12. The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the second material in the wall of the second container includes silicone polymer, or aluminum metallic.

13. The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the second container includes a wave generator to generate a closed and forced circulation wave of the second liquid coolant to circulate within the second container.

14. The apparatus of claim 13 , wherein the wave generator includes a piezo diaphragm actuator, pneumatic actuation (pressurized air), or a liquid cooled pump.

15. An apparatus for thermal energy management, comprising:
a first container having one or more cavities including a first cavity, wherein the first container includes a first material in a wall of the first container, one or more input inlets in the wall, and one or more output outlets in the wall,
wherein the first container is arranged to hold a first liquid coolant within the first cavity to at least partially surround one or more containers including a second container, the first liquid coolant, when held, circulates through at least an input inlet of the one or more input inlets and at least an output outlet of the one or more output outlets,
wherein the second container includes a second material in a wall of the second container, and a second cavity configured to hold one or more heat sources, and a second liquid coolant to at least partially surround the one or more heat sources, the second container is sealed to separate the first liquid coolant from the second liquid coolant, and
wherein the second container includes a mechanical vibration unit to change vibration frequency to prevent contaminant build up on the second container.

16. The apparatus of claim 15 , wherein at least one or more parts of the wall of the first container is shared with the second container.

17. The apparatus of claim 16 , wherein a part of the one or more parts of the wall of the first container shared with the second container includes a cold plate.

18. The apparatus of claim 16 , wherein the at least one or more parts of the wall of the first container shared with the second container includes one or more fins.

19. A method for thermal energy management of a thermal energy management system, comprising:
monitoring air flow or bubble events to detect leaks in an air loop of a thermal energy management system, wherein the thermal energy management system includes:
a coolant distribution unit (CDU);
a first container having one or more input inlets in a wall, and one or more output outlets in the wall, wherein an output outlet of the one or more output outlets or an input inlet of the one or more input inlets is coupled with the CDU, the first container includes one or more cavities including a first cavity, the first container is configured to hold a first liquid coolant within the first cavity to at least partially surround one or more containers including a second container, the first liquid coolant, when held, circulates through at least the input inlet or at least the output outlet, the second container includes a second cavity configured to hold one or more heat sources, and a second liquid coolant to at least partially surround the one or more heat sources, the second container is sealed to separate the first liquid coolant from the second liquid coolant; and
wherein the air loop is between the CDU, the first container, and the second container;

sending an alert to a datacenter management system based on the detected leaks; and
stopping the first liquid coolant from circulating through the input inlet or the output outlet based on the detected leaks.

20. The method of claim 19 , wherein the stopping the first liquid coolant from circulating includes:
shutting off liquid coolant flow valves in the CDU; or
shutting down the input inlet to stop supply of the first liquid coolant.

21. The apparatus of claim 19 , further comprising:
collecting data sets for managing the thermal energy management system throughout a lifecycle of the thermal energy management system; and
predicting failures using current inputs and collected dataset based on a statistical model.

22. A thermal energy management system, comprising:
a coolant distribution unit (CDU);
a first container having one or more input inlets in a wall, and one or more output outlets in the wall, wherein an output outlet of

Assignees

• Intel Corp

Inventors

• Le Minh
• Boyd Thomas
• Sahu Bijoyraj
• Chenelly Evan
• Ackerman Christopher Wade
• Alvizo Flores Carlos
• Jahne Craig

Classifications

• H05K7/20263

  Heat dissipaters releasing heat from coolant · CPC title

• H05K7/20772

  within server blades for removing heat from heat source · CPC title

• H05K7/20236

  by immersion · CPC title

• H05K7/20272

  Accessories for moving fluid, for expanding fluid, for connecting fluid conduits, for distributing fluid, for removing gas or for preventing leakage, e.g. pumps, tanks or manifolds · CPC title

• H05K7/20836

  Thermal management, e.g. server temperature control · CPC title