Patent Application
20090027856
High density enclosures like blade and cellular systems are limited by their ability to dissipate heat into the air with fans and heat sinks. Liquid cooling can significantly improve cooling capacity and power density of such systems by removing heat more efficiently and in less space than an air cooled system. The multiple fluid connections or couplings required for maintenance adds complexity and increases the risk of fluid leakage. The risk of a leak effecting nearby equipment discourages the use of liquid cooling.
Chassis rail blocks 110 are part of chassis 104. Chassis rail blocks 110 are configured to allow blade 102 to be inserted into enclosure 100. Enclosure 100 may contain a plurality of chassis rail blocks 110 configured to accept a plurality of blades 102. Chassis rail blocks 110 are liquid cooled. Chassis rail blocks 110 act as wet heat sinks for Blade/cell rail blocks 112. In one example embodiment of the invention, tubes or hollow passageways extend down the length of chassis rail blocks 110. Input conduit 108 is coupled to the tubes or passageways of chassis rail block 110 and feed cooling liquid into both chassis rail blocks 110. Exhaust conduit 109 is coupled to the tubes or passageways of chassis rail blocks 110 and returns the coolant back to a heat exchanger (not shown for clarity). Once the cooling fluid enters the chassis, the cooling fluid is wholly contained inside chassis 104 and is not coupled to blade/cell rail blocks 112.
The input and exhaust conduits (108 and 109) for each set of two chassis rail blocks 110 may be coupled together and connected to a common cooling fluid hookup. This allows a single fluid coupling to supply cooling fluid to all the blades in enclosure 100. Because the cooling fluid does not enter the blades, the cooling system may be tested for leaks before any blades are installed into enclosure 100. In one example embodiment of the invention, air may be forced past blade 102, as shown by arrows 116, as an additional source of cooling for blade 102.
In one example embodiment of the invention, two chassis rail blocks 110 make up a set of chassis rail blocks. Each set of chassis rail blocks act as the wet heat sinks for each of the plurality of blades mounted into an enclosure. In another example embodiment of the invention, the blades may only be liquid cooled from one side of the blades. The blades would only have one blade/cell rail block 112 located on one side of the blades. The single blade/cell rail block 112 would couple to a single chassis rail block. The empty side of the blade would couple to a normal chassis frame in the enclosure (i.e. a side without a heat sink).
During normal operation, heat from components 106 is transferred to blade/cell rail blocks 112. In one example embodiment of the invention, optional phase change thermal pipes 114 may be coupled to blade/cell rail blocks 112 and positioned over components 106. Phase change thermal pipes 114 may be used to help transfer heat from components 106 to blade/cell rail blocks 112. Blade/cell rail blocks 112 are in thermal contact with chassis rail blocks 110 and heat is transferred from the blade/cell rail blocks 112 to the chassis rail blocks 110. Cooling fluid removes heat from chassis rail blocks 110 as cooling fluid circulates through chassis rail blocks 110. Advantageously, cooling fluid stays inside chassis 104 and does not circulate into blade/cell rail block 112. Because there is no fluid transfer between chassis 104 and blade/cell rail block 112, blade 102 can be installed or removed from chassis 104 without danger of fluid leakage.
In one example embodiment of the invention, thermal grease or other substances may be used to increase the thermal coupling between chassis rail blocks 110 and blade/cell rail blocks 112.
In one example embodiment of the invention, tubes or hollow passageways extend inside wet heat sinks 232. Input conduit 208 is coupled to the tubes or passageways inside wet heat sinks 232 and feed cooling liquid into both wet heat sinks 232. Exhaust conduit 209 is coupled to the tubes or passageways of wet heat sinks 232 and returns the coolant back to a heat exchanger (not shown for clarity). The cooling fluid is wholly contained inside chassis 204 and is not coupled to conduits on blade 202. The mating sides of wet and dry heat sinks (232 and 230) may be serrated to increase the contact surface are between the wet and dry heat sinks (232 and 230).
The input and exhaust conduits (208 and 209) for each set of two wet heat sinks may be coupled together and connected to a common cooling fluid hookup. This allows a single fluid coupling to supply cooling fluid to all the blades in enclosure 200. Because the cooling fluid stays inside chassis 204, the cooling system may be tested for leaks before any blades are installed into enclosure 200. In one example embodiment of the invention, air may be forced past blade 202, as shown by arrows 116, as an additional source of cooling for blade 202.
During normal operation, heat from components 206 is transferred to dry heat sinks 230. In one example embodiment of the invention, optional phase change thermal pipes may be coupled to dry heat sinks 230 and positioned over components 206. Phase change thermal pipes may be used to help transfer heat from components 206 to dry heat sinks 230. Dry heat sinks 230 are in thermal contact with wet heat sinks 232 and heat is transferred from dry heat sinks 230 to the wet heat sinks 232. Cooling fluid removes heat from wet heat sinks 232 as cooling fluid circulates through wet heat sinks 232. Advantageously, cooling fluid stays inside chassis 204 and does not circulate into dry heat sinks 230. Because there is no fluid transfer between chassis 204 and dry heat sinks 230, blade 202 can be installed or removed from chassis 204 without danger of fluid leakage.
In one example embodiment of the invention, thermal grease or other substances may be used to increase the thermal coupling between dry heat sink 230 and wet heat sink 232.
