NODE UNIT, ELECTRONIC DEVICE AND IMMERSION COOLING TYPE EQUIPMENT

A node unit includes a base plate, at least one function module, and a non-conductive coolant. The function module includes a heat-generating element, a heat-dissipating structure, and a pump. The heat-generating element is disposed on the base plate, the heat-dissipating structure is disposed on the heat-generating element, and the pump is disposed on the heat-dissipating structure. The base plate and the at least one function module are immersed in the non-conductive coolant. The pump is configured to drive the non-conductive coolant to flow into the heat-dissipating structure and discharge from the heat-dissipating structure. An electronic device and an immersion cooling type equipment are also mentioned.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION

This application claims the priority benefit of Taiwan application serial no. 112125350, filed on Jul. 6, 2023. The entirety of the above-mentioned patent application is hereby incorporated by reference herein and made a part of this specification.

BACKGROUND

Technical Field

The disclosure relates to an electronic equipment and a node unit and an electronic device thereof, and more particularly, to an immersion cooling type equipment and a node unit and an electronic device thereof.

Description of Related Art

In conventional immersion cooling type server equipment, a pump-driven equipment located below the equipment circulates a cooling liquid to flow through the heat-generating element (e.g., the central processing unit) of the servers, facilitating heat exchange. The cooling liquid then circulates outside the equipment to cool down before being recirculated back into the equipment for further heat exchange. However, if the server has multiple adjacent heat-generating elements, the heat between these heat-generating elements tends to transfer to each other, and the flow efficiency of the cooling liquid between the heat-generating elements is reduced, resulting in decreased cooling effectiveness.

SUMMARY

The disclosure provides a node unit, an electronic device, and an immersion cooling type equipment with good heat dissipation effect.

The node unit of the disclosure includes a base plate, at least one function module, and a non-conductive coolant. The function module includes a heat-generating element, a heat-dissipating structure, and a pump. The heat-generating element is disposed on the base plate, the heat-dissipating structure is disposed on the heat-generating element, and the pump is disposed on the heat-dissipating structure. The base plate and the at least one function module are immersed in the non-conductive coolant. The pump is configured to drive the non-conductive coolant to flow into the heat-dissipating structure and discharge from the heat-dissipating structure.

The electronic device of the disclosure includes a device body, at least one node unit, and one a non-conductive coolant. The node unit is disposed on the device body and includes a base plate and at least one function module. The at least one function module includes a heat-generating element, a heat-dissipating structure, and a pump. The heat-generating element is disposed on the base plate, the heat-dissipating structure is disposed on the heat-generating element, and the pump is disposed on the heat-dissipating structure. The device body and the at least one node unit are immersed in the non-conductive coolant. The pump is configured to drive the non-conductive coolant to flow into the heat-dissipating structure and discharge from the heat-dissipating structure.

The immersion cooling type equipment of the disclosure includes a tank, an electronic device, and a non-conductive coolant. The electronic device is disposed in the tank and includes a device body and at least one node unit. The at least one node unit is disposed on the device body and have a base plate and at least one function module. The at least one function module includes a heat-generating element, a heat-dissipating structure, and a pump. The heat-generating element is disposed on the base plate, the heat-dissipating structure is disposed on the heat-generating element, and the pump is disposed on the heat-dissipating structure. The non-conductive coolant is accommodated in the tank. The electronic device is immersed in the non-conductive coolant. The pump is configured to drive the non-conductive coolant to flow into the heat-dissipating structure and discharge from the heat-dissipating structure.

Based on the above, the node unit of the disclosure uses the pump to drive the non-conductive coolant to flow into the heat-dissipating structure disposed on the heat-generating element, so that the heat-generating element and the non-conductive coolant may be effectively heat exchanged actively. This design of the node unit provides effective heat dissipation for the heat-generating element. Moreover, since the pump is directly disposed on the heat-dissipating structure rather than being disposed away from the heat-dissipating structure, there is no need for additional pipelines connecting the pump to the heat-dissipating structure. Furthermore, the pump only requires a small amount of power to drive the non-conductive coolant to the heat-dissipating structure, thereby saving equipment costs.

DESCRIPTION OF THE EMBODIMENTS

Referring toFIG.1, an immersion cooling type equipment100provided in the disclosure includes a tank110, an electronic device120, and a non-conductive coolant130. The electronic device120is, for example, a server, which is disposed in the tank110and includes a device body122and at least one node unit124. The node unit124is disposed in the device body122. The non-conductive coolant130is accommodated in the tank110. The electronic device120and the device body122and the node unit124thereof are immersed in the non-conductive coolant130to dissipate heat through the non-conductive coolant130.

After the non-conductive coolant130absorbs the heat of the electronic device120in the tank110, the non-conductive coolant130circulates to a heat exchange equipment outside the tank110for heat exchange to cool down, and then circulates back into the tank110to continuously dissipate heat from the electronic device120.

In one embodiment, the amount of the node unit124is, for example, two, but the amount of the node unit124is not limited thereto. Moreover, the non-conductive coolant130may be mineral oil, fluorinated liquid, synthetic oil, or other suitable non-conductive coolant, and the disclosure is not limited thereto.

Referring toFIG.2AandFIG.2B, the node unit124provided in the disclosure includes a base plate1241, a function module1242, and a non-conductive coolant130. The function module1242includes a heat-generating element1242a, a heat-dissipating structure1242b, and a pump1242c. The heat-generating element1242ais disposed on the base plate1241, the heat-dissipating structure1242bis disposed on the heat-generating element1242a, and the pump1242cis disposed on the heat-dissipating structure1242b. The base plate1241and the function module1242are immersed in the non-conductive coolant130. The pump1242cis configured to drive the non-conductive coolant130to flow into the heat-dissipating structure1242band discharge from the heat-dissipating structure1242b.

As mentioned above, the node unit124of the disclosure uses the pump1242cto drive the non-conductive coolant130to flow into the heat-dissipating structure1242bdisposed on the heat-generating element1242a, so that the heat-generating element1242aand the non-conductive coolant130may be effectively heat exchanged actively. This design of the node unit124provides effective heat dissipation for the heat-generating element1242a.

Since the pump1242cis directly disposed on the heat-dissipating structure1242brather than being disposed away from the heat-dissipating structure1242b, there is no need for additional pipelines connecting the pump1242cto the heat-dissipating structure1242b. Furthermore, the pump1242conly requires a small amount of power to drive the non-conductive coolant130to the heat-dissipating structure1242b, thereby saving equipment costs.

In one embodiment, the heat-generating element1242ais, for example, a central processing unit (CPU), and the heat-dissipating structure1242bis, for example, a cooling plate, but the types of the heat-generating element1242aand the heat-dissipating structure1242bare not limited thereto. For example, in other embodiments, the heat-generating element1242amay be other types of electronic components, and the heat-dissipating structure1242bmay be a heat dissipation fin set.

Referring toFIG.2B, the heat-dissipating structure1242bin this embodiment has a top surface T1and a bottom surface B1opposite to each other, the bottom surface B1contacts the heat-generating element1242a, and the pump1242cis disposed on the top surface T1. In addition, the pump1242chas a first opening O1and a third opening O3. The heat-dissipating structure1242bhas a second opening O2, a fourth opening O4, and a fifth opening O5. The first opening O1is connected to the second opening O2. The non-conductive coolant130is adapted to flow from the pump1242cinto the heat-dissipating structure1242bthrough the first opening O1and the second opening O2driven by the pump1242c.

That is, the non-conductive coolant130flows into the pump1242cfrom the third opening O3and flows out of the pump1242cthrough the first opening O1. In addition, the non-conductive coolant130flows into the heat-dissipating structure1242bthrough the second opening O2and the fifth opening O5, and finally flows out of the heat-dissipating structure1242bthrough the fourth opening O4.

As shown inFIG.1, the electronic device120in this embodiment further includes a partition plate126. The partition plate126is disposed between two node units124. Such a design may prevent the flow field of the non-conductive coolant130of the two node units124from influencing each other, so as to achieve the expected heat dissipation effect.

FIG.3is a schematic view of a node unit according to another embodiment of the disclosure. The difference between the embodiment shown inFIG.3and the aforementioned embodiment is that the amount of the function module1242of the node unit124′ inFIG.3is two. In addition, the node unit124′ further includes at least one pipe1243. The pipe1243is connected between the heat-dissipating structures1242bof the two function modules1242. In this embodiment, the amount of the pipe1243is, for example, two, but the amount of the pipe1243is not limited thereto.

By disposing of the pipe1243between the heat-dissipating structures1242bof the two function modules1242, the two heat-dissipating structures1242bmay communicate with each other. That is, the non-conductive coolant130flows from the fourth opening O4(FIG.2B) of one of the heat-dissipating structure1242bto the fifth opening O5(FIG.2B) of another heat-dissipating structure1242bthrough the pipe1243. Thus, each pump1242chas the ability to drive the non-conductive coolant130to flow in the two heat-dissipating structures1242b. Accordingly, even if any one of the two pumps1242cfails, the remaining pump1242cmay continue to drive the non-conductive coolant130to flow in the two heat-dissipating structures1242b.

To sum up, the node unit of the disclosure uses the pump to drive the non-conductive coolant to flow into the heat-dissipating structure disposed on the heat-generating element, so that the heat-generating element and the non-conductive coolant may be effectively heat exchanged actively. This design of the node unit provides effective heat dissipation for the heat-generating element. Moreover, since the pump is directly disposed on the heat-dissipating structure rather than being disposed away from the heat-dissipating structure, there is no need for additional pipelines connecting the pump to the heat-dissipating structure. Furthermore, the pump only requires a small amount of power to drive the non-conductive coolant to the heat-dissipating structure, thereby saving equipment costs. In addition, the design uses a pipe disposed between the heat-dissipating structures of the two function modules to ensure that when one of the pumps of the two function modules fails, the other pump may continuously supply the non-conductive coolant to the two heat-dissipating structures, thereby ensuring continuous heat exchange between the non-conductive coolant and the heat-generating element. Furthermore, by disposing of the partition plate between the two node units, the flow field of the non-conductive coolant of the two node units in the electronic device is isolated, thereby achieving effective heat dissipation.