HEAT DISSIPATION APPARATUS AND PROCESSOR

A heat dissipation apparatus is provided. The heat dissipation apparatus includes an immersion tank. The immersion tank accommodates a liquid medium. When being used, the board is immersed in the liquid medium, and the liquid medium dissipates heat for the board by absorbing heat. The heat dissipation apparatus further includes a condenser immersed in the liquid medium. The condenser is disposed to dissipate heat for the liquid medium. Heat of the board is transferred to the condenser in the immersion tank by using the liquid medium in the immersion tank as a medium. Then the condenser takes away and dissipates the heat by using a cooling apparatus that is connected to the condenser and that is configured to perform heat exchange for the condenser.

TECHNICAL FIELD

This application relates to the field of communications technologies, and in particular, to a heat dissipation apparatus and a processor.

BACKGROUND

As integration of electronic parts and components is improved, power consumption density of a chip also becomes increasingly high, and a conventional air-cooled heat dissipation manner cannot meet an increasing heat dissipation requirement. With its high heat dissipation efficiency, a liquid cooling technology provides a new solution for heat dissipation of electronic parts and components with high heat flux density, and has been applied to the field of data centers, the field of servers, and other fields.

A comparatively common manner in the prior art is to use an immersion liquid cooling technology. The immersion liquid cooling is a form of a liquid cooling technology. A device is immersed in a liquid, and heat of the device is transferred to the liquid and taken away through direct contact with the liquid. During disposing, as shown inFIG. 1, all boards2are immersed in a same tank1, and the tank1is filled with a working medium that has a comparatively low boiling point and is subject to a phase change. When encountering a board2that generates heat, the working medium liquid absorbs the heat and becomes a gas; when driven by a buoyancy force, the gas naturally rises; when encountering a condenser3at the top (above a liquid surface) of the tank1, the gas condenses into a liquid when cooled; and the liquid drops back into the tank1depending on gravity, to form a heat dissipation cycle. However, when the two-phase working medium with a low boiling point is used, the medium is highly volatile and imposes a high requirement on a sealing design of the tank1. This is difficult to implement in an actual working environment.

SUMMARY

This application provides a heat dissipation apparatus and a processor, to improve an effect of dissipating heat by a heat dissipation apparatus for a board.

According to a first aspect, a heat dissipation apparatus is provided. The heat dissipation apparatus is configured to dissipate heat for a board. During disposing of the heat dissipation apparatus, the heat dissipation apparatus includes an immersion tank. The immersion tank accommodates a liquid medium, and the liquid medium is configured to dissipate heat for the board. When being used, the board is immersed in the liquid medium, and the liquid medium dissipates heat for the board by absorbing heat. In addition, to lower a liquid medium that has absorbed heat, the heat dissipation apparatus further includes a condenser immersed in the liquid medium, and the condenser is disposed to dissipate heat for the liquid medium. After the board generates heat, the heat heats up a liquid medium near the board. Density of the liquid medium decreases after the liquid medium is heated up, and the heated liquid medium rises. After the heated liquid medium gets in contact with the condenser, the heat is transferred to the condenser. After temperature of the liquid medium decreases, the density increases, and the liquid medium sinks to a tank bottom again. In this way, a “natural convection” cycle is formed by using a change relationship between the density and the temperature of the liquid medium, and heat of the board is continuously transferred to the condenser in the immersion tank by using the liquid medium in the immersion tank as a medium. Then the condenser takes away and dissipates the heat by using a cooling apparatus that is connected to the condenser and that is configured to perform heat exchange for the condenser. It can be learned from the foregoing descriptions that in the foregoing embodiment, the heat is directly taken away through backflow of the liquid medium due to the temperature, thereby decreasing a sealing requirement for the heat dissipation apparatus, and ensuring a heat dissipation effect for the board.

During disposing of the immersion tank, the immersion tank includes two parts. One part is a tank body for accommodating the liquid medium, and the other part is a cover connected to the tank body. During disposing of the cover, the cover and the tank body may be of a split structure, or the cover may be connected to the tank body in a rotary manner.

When the condenser is connected to the cooling apparatus, the connection is performed by using a pipe. In a connection, the pipe includes a liquid inlet pipe and a liquid outlet pipe that penetrate the tank body. The liquid inlet pipe is connected to a liquid inlet of the condenser. The liquid outlet pipe is connected to a liquid outlet of the condenser. The liquid inlet pipe and the liquid outlet pipe are separately connected to the cooling apparatus. Aliquid flows in the condenser and the cooling apparatus through the liquid inlet pipe and the liquid outlet pipe to form circulation, so as to dissipate heat.

During disposing of the condenser, a quantity of condensers may be disposed as required. One condenser may be disposed in one immersion tank, or a plurality of condensers may be disposed in one immersion tank. For example, in a implementation solution, when there are two or more condensers, liquid inlets of the two or more condensers are connected to the liquid inlet pipe in parallel, and liquid outlets of the two or more condensers are connected to the liquid outlet pipe in parallel.

In a correspondence between a condenser and a board, one condenser may correspond to one board, or one condenser may correspond to two or more boards. During disposing, a layout may be performed according to an actual heat dissipation requirement.

When the board is fastened in the tank body, disposing may be performed in different manners. For example, in a implementation solution, a slot for fastening the board is disposed in the tank body, so that the board can be easily fastened.

During disposing of the slot, one, two, or more slots may be used. In a implementable solution, when there are two or more slots, the two or more slots are arranged in an array.

It can be learned from the foregoing descriptions that when the condenser absorbs heat, the condenser needs to be located above the board. Therefore, in this embodiment of this application, each corresponding condenser is located above a corresponding slot, and each condenser corresponds to at least one slot.

During disposing of the condenser, different disposing manners may be used. For example, each condenser is connected to the tank body in a rotary manner, and when the condenser rotates to a first specified location, the condenser avoids an opening of the slot. The condenser is connected to the tank body in a rotary manner, so that a location of the condenser can be changed. During mounting of the board, the condenser may be rotated to avoid the opening of the slot, so that the board can be easily inserted.

Certainly, in addition to the foregoing manner, another manner may be alternatively used. For example, the immersion tank includes a tank body and a cover connected to the tank body, and each condenser is fixedly connected to the cover of the immersion tank. The condenser is fastened on the cover. When the cover is removed, an opening of a slot can be directly exposed, so that the board can be easily fastened.

During disposing of the cooling apparatus, different apparatuses may be used. For example, the cooling apparatus is an outdoor dry cooler/cooling tower, or an indoor chiller.

In addition, the cooling apparatus may be alternatively an air-cooled heat dissipation module or a natural heat dissipation module.

In addition to the aforementioned technical solutions, the condenser may be alternatively an immersion tank, and a cooler is an external water source. In this case, the immersion tank is immersed in the water source, for example, immersed in a natural water source such as a river or a lake.

According to a second aspect, a processor is provided. The processor includes the heat dissipation apparatus according to any one of the foregoing implementations, and a board inserted into the heat dissipation apparatus. After the board generates heat, the heat heats up a liquid medium near the board. Density of the liquid medium decreases after the liquid medium is heated up, and the heated liquid medium rises. After the heated liquid medium gets in contact with a condenser, the heat is transferred to the condenser. After temperature of the liquid medium decreases, the density increases, and the liquid medium sinks to a tank bottom again. In this way, a “natural convection” cycle is formed by using a change relationship between the density and the temperature of the liquid medium, and heat of the board is continuously transferred to the condenser in an immersion tank by using the liquid medium in the immersion tank as a medium. Then the condenser takes away and dissipates the heat by using a cooling apparatus that is connected to the condenser and that is configured to perform heat exchange for the condenser. It can be learned from the foregoing descriptions that in the foregoing embodiment, the heat is directly taken away through backflow of the liquid medium due to the temperature, thereby decreasing a sealing requirement for the heat dissipation apparatus, and ensuring a heat dissipation effect for the board.

DESCRIPTION OF EMBODIMENTS

For ease of understanding of a heat dissipation apparatus provided in the embodiments of this application, an application scenario of the heat dissipation apparatus is first described. The heat dissipation apparatus is configured to dissipate heat for a board30. When a processor works, the board30in the processor generates a large amount of heat during operation. To ensure proper operation of the board30, heat needs to be dissipated for the board30. Therefore, an embodiment of this application provides a heat dissipation apparatus to dissipate heat for the board30.

First,FIG. 1shows a structure of a heat dissipation apparatus according to an embodiment of this application. The heat dissipation apparatus provided in this embodiment of this application includes an immersion tank10. The immersion tank10is configured to carry a liquid medium and a board30. A structure of the immersion tank10is shown inFIG. 1. The immersion tank10includes two parts. One part is a tank body12configured to accommodate the liquid medium and the board30. The other part is a cover11connected to the tank body12. During disposing of the tank body12, the tank body12is of a tubular structure, for example, a cuboid-shaped, circular, or elliptical cylindrical structure or a tubular structure of another shape is used. When the liquid medium is being filled, an opening is provided on the tank body12, and the liquid medium and the board30may be placed into the tank body12through the opening. Different media may be used as the liquid medium, for example, water, oil, or another liquid medium.

When the board30is carried, the board30is placed in the tank body12and is immersed in the liquid medium. To keep the board30in a stable posture in the liquid medium, when the board30is fastened in the tank body12, disposing may be performed in different manners. For example, in a implementation solution, a slot for fastening the board30is disposed in the tank body12. When the board30is placed in the tank body12, the tank body12is directly inserted into the slot for fastening, and the board30is clamped and fastened by using a side wall of the slot. Alternatively, a fastener may be disposed in the slot, and the board30is fastened by using the fastener. When the fastener is used, the fastener may be disposed on the side wall of the slot, and the board30is fastened in the slot through clamping between the fastener and the board30. Because the fastener is a comparatively common clamping structure, a structure of the fastener and a status of clamping between the fastener and the board30are not described in detail herein.

When the board30is being placed, a quantity of boards30may be determined according to an actual requirement. To be, one board30may be disposed in the tank body12, or two or more boards30may be disposed. Disposed slots are in a one-to-one correspondence with the quantity of boards30. Therefore, there may also be one, two, or more slots. When two or more slots are used, the two or more slots are arranged in an array, for example, the slots are arranged in one or more rows. For ease of understanding of a manner of disposing the board30provided in this embodiment of this application, a structure shown inFIG. 2is used as an example for description. Six boards30are disposed in the tank body12shown inFIG. 2, the six boards30are arranged in a single row, and the boards30are arranged in a direction parallel to a surface of the liquid medium. Certainly,FIG. 2merely shows a arrangement manner of the boards30. A quantity of boards30provided in this embodiment of this application is not limited to six, and another different quantity of boards30, such as five, seven, or ten boards30, may be alternatively used. During arrangement, a different quantity of rows, such as two, three, or four rows, may be alternatively disposed based on space in the tank body12. A arrangement manner of the boards30is limited by an arrangement manner of the slots. Therefore, when the boards30may be arranged in different manners, the corresponding slots may also be arranged in different manners.

Still referring toFIG. 2, when a board30is fastened in a slot, to dissipate heat of the board30through the liquid medium as soon as possible, all sides of the disposed board30are in contact with the liquid medium. This is similar to that the board30is suspended in the liquid medium. In this way, a contact area between the liquid medium and the board30is increased, and a heat dissipation effect is improved. Certainly, in addition to the placement manner of the board30shown inFIG. 2, another manner may be alternatively used. For example, a bottom of the board30is in contact with a bottom of the tank body12. Alternatively, another side may get in contact with the liquid medium to achieve a heat dissipation effect. Alternatively, the board30is fastened in the tank body12in another placement manner. However, in a implementation solution, the board30is disposed in a manner in which all sides are in contact with the liquid medium, so that heat generated by the board30can be absorbed by the liquid medium as soon as possible.

To seal the opening on the tank body12, the immersion tank10further includes a cover11. The cover11covers the opening of the tank body12. During disposing of the cover11, the cover11and the tank body12may be of a split structure, or the cover11may be connected to the tank body12in a rotary manner. For example, when the split structure is used, the cover11and the tank body12may be connected by using a threaded connection or a fastener, so that the cover11covers the opening of the tank body12and is fastened. As shown inFIG. 3, when the rotary connection is used, the cover11and the tank body12are connected in a rotary manner at one end, and are fastened by using a fastener at the other end. When the fastener is buckled, the cover11covers the opening of the tank body12. When the cover11covers the opening of the tank body12, the cover11and the tank body12may be sealed or not sealed. For example, when sealing is performed, a sealing gasket may be disposed on the cover11. When the cover11covers the opening of the tank body12, the sealing gasket is used for sealing.

Certainly, regardless of which manner is used between the cover11and the tank body12, the cover11can be opened to expose the opening of the tank body12, so that the board30can be placed in the tank body12for fastening.

When heat is dissipated for the board30by using the heat dissipation structure provided in this embodiment of this application, in addition to the aforementioned liquid medium, a condenser20immersed in the liquid medium is further disposed. The condenser20is configured to dissipate heat for the liquid medium, so that the liquid medium can continuously absorb heat of the board30. It can be learned from the foregoing descriptions that during heat transfer, heat is first transferred from the board30to the liquid medium, and then transferred from the liquid medium to the condenser20. In an entire heat transfer process, the heat of the board30first heats up a liquid medium near the board30, and after the liquid medium absorbs the heat, temperature of the liquid medium increases, and density of the liquid medium decreases. In addition, a liquid medium far away from the board30has comparatively low temperature and comparatively high density. Therefore, the liquid medium whose temperature increases rises, that is, the liquid medium located around the board30rises. When dissipating heat for the liquid medium, the disposed condenser20needs to cool the heated liquid medium. Therefore, when the condenser20is disposed, the condenser20is located above the board30, and with respect to a structure of the immersion tank10, the condenser20is located above the slot, so that heat can be dissipated for the rising liquid medium through the condenser20as soon as possible. It can be learned from the foregoing descriptions that in an entire heat dissipation process, a closed-loop flow is formed due to a temperature difference. An entire flow process is that: A liquid medium located around the board30absorbs heat, and temperature of the liquid medium increases; the liquid medium that has absorbed heat starts to rise; a liquid medium far away from the board30is filled around the board30to continue to dissipate heat for the board30; the liquid medium that has absorbed heat continues to rise and gets in contact with the condenser20, and performs heat exchange through the condenser20; after the heat exchange, temperature of the liquid medium decreases, density increases, and the liquid medium starts to sink. In addition, the liquid medium far away from the board30flowing towards the board30also drives the cooled liquid medium to start to sink, so as to form an overall ring flow process from bottom to top and from top to bottom.

In a correspondence between a condenser20and a board30, one condenser20may correspond to one board30, or one condenser20may correspond to two or more boards30. During disposing, a layout may be performed according to an actual heat dissipation requirement. As shown inFIG. 2,FIG. 2shows that one condenser20corresponds to one board30. However,FIG. 4shows a disposing manner in which one condenser20corresponds to two boards30. In addition,FIG. 5shows a disposing manner in which one condenser20corresponds to three boards30. Certainly, it should be understood thatFIG. 2,FIG. 4, andFIG. 5are merely examples of some implementations. A case of a correspondence between a board30and a condenser20provided in this embodiment of this application is not limited to the manners described above, and another different correspondence manner may be alternatively used as required. However, regardless of which correspondence manner is used, when the condenser20provided in this embodiment of this application absorbs heat, the condenser20needs to be located above the board30. Therefore, each corresponding condenser20in this embodiment of this application is located above a corresponding slot, and each condenser20corresponds to at least one slot.

As shown inFIG. 2andFIG. 3, when the board30works, the condenser20needs to be located above the board30, to cool a liquid medium heated by the board30. However, when the board30is being placed into the tank body12, the condenser20needs to be moved away, so as to insert the board into the slot in the tank body12. Therefore, during disposing of the condenser20, the condenser20needs to be able to have two different states: When the board30is being inserted, the condenser20needs to be moved away to expose an opening of the slot; and after the board30is inserted, the condenser20needs to be located above the board30to dissipate heat for the board30. Therefore, during disposing of the condenser20provided in this embodiment of this application, each condenser20may be connected to the tank body12in a rotary manner and may be locked at different specified locations. For example, when the condenser20rotates to a first specified location, the condenser20avoids the opening of the slot; or when the condenser20rotates to a second specified location, the condenser20blocks the opening of the slot. When the condenser20is connected to the tank body12in a rotary manner, one end of the condenser20is connected to a side wall of the tank body12in a rotary manner by using a damping shaft. In this case, when the condenser20rotates to the first specified location or the second specified location, locking may be implemented by using a damping effect of the damping shaft. Certainly, the condenser20may be alternatively locked by using a common combination of a fastener and a slot in the prior art. For example, a rotating shaft is fixedly connected to the condenser20, a slot is disposed on the rotating shaft, and an elastic protrusion is disposed in a shaft hole through which the rotating shaft passes, so that the condenser20is locked at different specified locations through cooperation between the elastic protrusion and the slot. Certainly, in addition to the foregoing manner of connecting the condenser20to the tank body12in a rotary manner, another manner may be alternatively used. For example, each condenser20is fixedly connected to the cover11of the immersion tank10. The cover11is detachably connected to the tank body12in the manner described above. However, regardless of which connection manner is used, when the cover11is removed from the tank body12, the condenser20can avoid the opening of the slot. As shown inFIG. 3, when the cover11is connected to the tank body12in a rotary manner, the condenser20is fastened on a side that is of the cover11and that faces the tank body12. When the cover11is opened, the condenser20rotates with the cover11, thereby avoiding the opening of the slot and facilitating insertion of the board30. When the cover11covers the tank body12, the condenser20rotates with the cover11and is located above the board30. When the condenser20is fastened on the cover11, the condenser20may be connected to the cover11by using a bracket, so that when the cover11is connected to the tank body12, the condenser20can be immersed in the liquid medium. It should be understood that the aforementioned manner in which the condenser20avoids the opening of the slot is merely a example, and the condenser20may be alternatively adjusted in another connection manner. For example, the condenser20may be adjusted to be in different locations by using a connecting rod component.

When the condenser20dissipates heat for the liquid medium, temperature of the condenser20also increases. To continuously dissipate heat, an embodiment of this application further provides a cooling apparatus60. The disposed condenser20takes away and dissipates heat by using a cooling apparatus60that is connected to the condenser20and that is configured to perform heat exchange for the condenser20. The condenser20may be connected to the cooling apparatus60in different manners. As shown inFIG. 6andFIG. 7, the condenser20is connected to the cooling apparatus60by using a pipe. In a connection, a liquid inlet pipe40and a liquid outlet pipe50penetrate a side wall of the tank body12. The liquid inlet pipe40is connected to a liquid inlet of the condenser20. The liquid outlet pipe50is connected to a liquid outlet of the condenser20. In addition, the liquid inlet pipe40and the liquid outlet pipe50are separately connected to the cooling apparatus60. A liquid flows in the condenser20and the cooling apparatus60through the liquid inlet pipe40and the liquid outlet pipe50to form circulation, so as to dissipate heat. When there are two or more condensers20, liquid inlets of the two or more condensers20are connected to the liquid inlet pipe40in parallel, and liquid outlets of the two or more condensers20are connected to the liquid outlet pipe50in parallel. A quantity of condensers20may be set to different quantities as required, for example, different quantities such as 3, 4, and 6. InFIG. 6, there are 16 condensers20, and the 16 condensers20are connected to the liquid inlet pipe40and the liquid outlet pipe50in parallel.FIG. 7shows three condensers20, and the three condensers20are connected to the liquid inlet pipe40and the liquid outlet pipe50in parallel. During disposing of the liquid inlet pipe40and the liquid outlet pipe50, the liquid inlet pipe40and the liquid outlet pipe50shown inFIG. 6are not limited to penetrating the side wall of the tank body12. Another manner may be alternatively used. For example, when the condenser20is fixedly connected to the cover11, the liquid inlet pipe40and the liquid outlet pipe50separately penetrate the cover11.

During disposing of the cooling apparatus60, different cooling apparatuses60may be used as the cooling apparatus60. As shown inFIG. 8, a cooling apparatus60shown inFIG. 8is an air-cooled heat dissipation module. The air-cooled heat dissipation module includes a fan61. A pipe is disposed inside the air-cooled heat dissipation module to circulate a single-phase medium, and a pump is disposed on the pipe to drive the single-phase medium to circulate. Two ends of the pipe are respectively connected to the liquid inlet pipe40and the liquid outlet pipe50, so as to form a loop with the pipe inside the condenser20. After absorbing heat, the single-phase medium inside the condenser20flows into the air-cooled heat dissipation module for cooling by the fan61, and then flows back to the condenser20. Alternatively, a two-phase working medium may be used for the pipe, and the two-phase working medium naturally circulates under an action of gravity. In this case, the medium in the condenser20undergoes a phase change after absorbing heat, for example, the medium changes from a liquid state to a gas state, a gas medium enters the cooling apparatus60and changes to a liquid state through a phase change after being cooled by the fan61, and a liquid medium flows back to the condenser20again.

Certainly, in addition to the structure shown inFIG. 8, a structure shown inFIG. 9may be alternatively used. A cooling apparatus60shown inFIG. 9is a natural heat dissipation module. The natural heat dissipation module does not include a fan61. Other structures are similar to those shown inFIG. 8. For a pipe connection manner and a heat dissipation manner inside the natural heat dissipation module, refer to the manner inFIG. 8. An only difference fromFIG. 8lies in that the cooling through the fan61inFIG. 8is changed to cooling a medium through natural heat dissipation.

In addition to the structures shown inFIG. 8andFIG. 9, the cooling apparatus60may alternatively cool the condenser20by using a different structure such as an outdoor dry cooler/cooling tower or an indoor chiller.

In addition to the foregoing described structures, another structure may be alternatively used for the condenser20and the cooling apparatus60provided in this embodiment of this application. As shown inFIG. 10, the condenser20may be alternatively an immersion tank10, and a cooler is an external water source. In this case, heat absorbed by a liquid medium in the immersion tank10is transferred to the immersion tank10, the immersion tank10is immersed in a water source, for example, immersed in a natural water source such as a river or a lake, or in an indoor cold water source, and the heat of the immersion tank10is absorbed by the external water source, so as to achieve an effect of dissipating heat for the board30.

In the foregoing examples, a manner in which a plurality of boards30are disposed in one immersion tank10is used for description. However, one board30may be alternatively disposed in the immersion tank10. As shown inFIG. 11, one board30is disposed in each immersion tank10. The immersion tank10and the board30are in a one-to-one correspondence, and a condenser20in the immersion tank10is connected to an external cooling apparatus60by using a pipe. In a structure shown inFIG. 11, a plurality of boards30correspond to a plurality of immersion tanks10. This can also implement an effect of dissipating heat for the boards30.

During disposing of the immersion tanks10, regardless of whether the immersion tanks10and the boards30are disposed in a one-to-one manner, or are disposed in a one-to-many manner, when a liquid medium absorbs heat, a volume of the liquid medium increases, and in this case, pressure in the immersion tank10may be excessively high. Therefore, a safety valve is disposed on the immersion tank10, to avoid a safety accident caused by excessive pressure in the immersion tank10.

In addition, an embodiment of this application further provides a processor. The processor includes the heat dissipation apparatus according to any one of the foregoing implementations, and the board30inserted into the heat dissipation apparatus. After the board30generates heat, the heat heats up a liquid medium near the board30. Density of the liquid medium decreases after the liquid medium is heated up, and the heated liquid medium rises. After the heated liquid medium gets in contact with a condenser20, the heat is transferred to the condenser20. After temperature of the liquid medium decreases, the density increases, and the liquid medium sinks to a tank bottom again. In this way, a “natural convection” cycle is formed by using a change relationship between the density and the temperature of the liquid medium, and heat of the board30is continuously transferred to the condenser20in the immersion tank10by using the liquid medium in the immersion tank10as a medium. Then the condenser20takes away and dissipates the heat by using a cooling apparatus60that is connected to the condenser20and that is configured to perform heat exchange for the condenser20. It can be learned from the foregoing descriptions that in the foregoing embodiment, the heat is directly taken away through backflow of the liquid medium due to the temperature, thereby decreasing a sealing requirement for the heat dissipation apparatus, and ensuring a heat dissipation effect for the board30.