Leak detection apparatus for an information handling system

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-11802807-B2
Application number	US-201916583084-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Sep 25, 2019
Priority date	Sep 25, 2019
Publication date	Oct 31, 2023
Grant date	Oct 31, 2023

Abstract

A leak inhibition/detection device includes an absorbent material, a leak sensor in contact with the absorbent material, and an enclosure surrounding the absorbent material. The leak inhibition/detection device is configured to surround a joint between tubing and a cold plate/evaporator or a radiator/condenser of a liquid cooling module of an information handling system.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. An information handling system, comprising:
a processor; and
a liquid cooling module thermally coupled to the processor, the liquid cooling module including:
a cold plate/evaporator configured to transfer heat from the processor to a coolant;
a radiator/condenser configured to removing heat from the coolant;
tubing connecting the cold plate/evaporator and the radiator/condenser;
a pump to circulate the coolant through the tubing; and
at least one leak inhibition/detection device positioned to surround a joint between the tubing and the cold plate/evaporator or the radiator/condenser, the leak inhibition/detection device including an absorbent material, a leak sensor, and an enclosure, wherein the leak sensor is an optical sensor that detects a change in optical properties of the absorbent material as a cooling liquid is absorbed, wherein the leak sensor provides a signal that includes an indication of an amount of the coolant that has been absorbed by the absorbent material, wherein a size of a leak is determined based on a rate of change in the signal from the leak sensor.

2. The information handling system of claim 1 , wherein the absorbent material includes a fiber or a polymer.

3. The information handling system of claim 2 , wherein the fiber includes a natural fiber or a synthetic fiber.

4. The information handling system of claim 1 , wherein the processor is configured to:
receive a signal from the leak sensor; and
shut down the system.

5. The information handling system of claim 4 , wherein shutting down the system includes writing unsaved data from a memory to a storage and powering down the information handling system.

6. The information handling system of claim 4 , wherein the processor is further configured to notify a user of the information handling system after receiving the signal from the leak sensor and prior to shutting down the system.

7. The information handling system of claim 1 , wherein the absorbent material is configured to be in direct contact with the joint.

8. A liquid cooling module for removing heat from an information handling system, the liquid cooling module including:
a cold plate/evaporator configured to transfer heat to a coolant;
a radiator/condenser configured to removing heat from the coolant;
a pump to circulate the coolant through tubing connecting the cold plate/evaporator and the radiator/condenser; and
at least one leak inhibition/detection device configured to surround a joint between the tubing and the cold plate/evaporator or the radiator/condenser, the leak inhibition/detection device including an absorbent material, a leak sensor, and an enclosure, wherein the leak sensor is an optical sensor that detects a change in optical properties of the absorbent material as a cooling liquid is absorbed, wherein the leak sensor provides an indication of an amount of the coolant that has been absorbed by the absorbent material, wherein a size of a leak is determined based on a rate of change in the signal from the leak sensor.

9. The liquid cooling module of claim 8 , wherein the absorbent material includes a fiber or a polymer.

10. The liquid cooling module of claim 9 , wherein the fiber includes a natural fiber or a synthetic fiber.

11. The liquid cooling module of claim 8 , wherein the leak sensor is configured to provide a signal to initiate a shutdown of the information handling system when a leak is detected.

12. The liquid cooling module of claim 8 , wherein the absorbent material is configured to be in direct contact with the joint.

13. An apparatus comprising:
an absorbent material;
a leak sensor in contact with the absorbent material; and
an enclosure surrounding the absorbent material,
wherein the apparatus is configured to surround a joint between a tubing and a cold plate/evaporator or a radiator/condenser of a liquid cooling system of an information handling system, wherein the leak sensor is an optical sensor that detects a change in optical properties of the absorbent material as a cooling liquid is absorbed, wherein the leak sensor provides an indication of an amount of the cooling liquid that has been absorbed by the absorbent material, wherein a size of a leak is determined based on a rate of change in the signal from the leak sensor.

14. The apparatus of claim 13 , wherein the absorbent material includes a fiber or a polymer.

15. The apparatus of claim 14 , wherein the fiber includes a natural fiber or a synthetic fiber.

16. The apparatus of claim 13 , wherein the leak sensor is configured to provide a signal to initiate a shutdown of the information handling system when a leak is detected.

17. The apparatus of claim 13 , wherein the absorbent material is configured to be in direct contact with the joint.

Assignees

• Dell Products Lp
• Dell Products Lp

Inventors

• Li Chao Hung (Brian)
• Lu Wen Hung (Steven)

Classifications

• G01M3/183 Primary

  for pipe joints or seals · CPC title

• F28F27/00

  Control arrangements or safety devices specially adapted for heat-exchange or heat-transfer apparatus (control arrangements in general G05) · CPC title

• G05B15/02

  electric · CPC title

• G05D7/0676

  by action on flow sources (G05D7/0688, G05D7/0694 take precedence) · CPC title

• H05K7/20309

  Evaporators · CPC title