Immersion cooling system and cooling method thereof

The present disclosure provides an immersion cooling system for a server cabinet including a plurality of server boxes, a cooling tank and a plurality of liquid connecting pipes. Each server box includes an electronic device immersed in the cooling liquid, and the electronic device generates a thermal energy so that part of the cooling liquid evaporates into a hot vapor. The cooling tank is connected to the plurality of server boxes and includes a condenser and a storage part. The condenser is connected to each server box and condenses the hot vapor to form the cooling liquid. The storage part storages the cooling liquid from the condenser. Two ends of the liquid connecting pipe is connected to the storage part and the server box respectively. The cooling liquid in the storage part and the cooling liquid of each server box are maintained in a same liquid level.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION

This application claims priority to China Patent Application No. 202210574852.6, filed on May 24, 2022, the entire contents of which are incorporated herein by reference for all purposes.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The present disclosure relates to a cooling system and a cooling method thereof, and more particularly to an immersion cooling system and a cooling method thereof.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

With the rapid development of 5th Generation mobile networks (5G), artificial intelligence, metaverse and other technologies that require high-speed computing, the requirements for heat dissipation of electronic components are getting higher. In addition, the consumed energy during the heat dissipation process is also emphasized.

One of the conventional ways to dissipate heat from the electronic components is to utilize the high-speed rotation of the fan to generate air convection, so as to remove the heat energy generated by the electronic components. However, the heat dissipation method that utilizes air convection to remove hot air cannot save energy, and also creates huge sound pollution. On the other hand, if the electronic components are immersed in the cooling liquid for cooling, the cooling liquid is evaporated into vapor so as to remove the heat energy generated by the electronic components, then the vapor will be condensed back to the cooling liquid according to the condensation technology. Under such circumstance, a water pump or valve should be added to control the liquid flow between the condensed cooling liquid and the cooling liquid soaking electronic components.

Therefore, there is a need of providing an immersion cooling system and a cooling method thereof to obviate the drawbacks encountered from the prior arts.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

It is an objective of the present disclosure to provide an immersion cooling system and a cooling method thereof. The cooling liquid in the server box and the cooling liquid in the storage part are merged together through the liquid connecting pipe to maintain the same liquid level. Thereby, the cooling liquid condensed in the storage part can naturally flow back to the server box, and no water pump or valve should be added for controlling the flow of the cooling liquid.

In accordance with an aspect of the present disclosure, an immersion cooling system for a server cabinet is provided. The immersion cooling system includes a plurality of server boxes, a cooling tank and a plurality of liquid connecting pipes. Each of the plurality of server boxes has a cooling liquid, and each of the plurality of server boxes includes an electronic device immersed in the cooling liquid, the electronic device of at least one of the plurality of server boxes generates a thermal energy during the operation of the electronic device so that a part of the cooling liquid evaporates into a hot vapor. The cooling tank is connected to the plurality of server boxes and includes a condenser and a storage part. The condenser is connected to a vent hole of each of the plurality of server boxes, wherein the condenser condenses the hot vapor from the server box to form the cooling liquid. The storage part is connected to the condenser, wherein the storage part storages the cooling liquid from the condenser. A first end of each of the plurality of liquid connecting pipes is connected to a bottom portion of the storage part, and a second end of each of the plurality of liquid connecting pipes is connected to a bottom portion of the corresponding server box. The cooling liquid in the storage part flows into each of the plurality of server boxes through each of the plurality of liquid connecting pipes. The cooling liquid in the storage part and the cooling liquid in each of the plurality of server boxes are maintained in a same liquid level.

In accordance with an aspect of the present disclosure, a cooling method of the immersion cooling system is provided. The cooling method of the immersion cooling system includes steps of: providing a cooling liquid, a plurality of server boxes, a cooling tank and a plurality of liquid connecting pipes, wherein a part of the cooling liquid is contained in the plurality of server boxes, and the other part of the cooling liquid is contained in the cooling tank, the cooling tank is connected to the plurality of server boxes and the plurality of liquid connecting pipes; immersing a plurality of electronic devices in the cooling liquid in the corresponding server boxes, wherein each of the plurality of server boxes further includes a vapor space disposed above the cooling liquid, and the vapor space of each of the plurality of server boxes is connected to the cooling tank; operating the electronic device of at least one of the plurality of server boxes, wherein the electronic device of at least one of the plurality of server boxes generates a thermal energy during operation, which causes a part of the cooling liquid evaporates into hot vapor, and the hot vapor flows into the vapor space; utilizing a condenser of the cooling tank to condense the hot vapor from the server box to form the cooling liquid, wherein the cooling liquid flows into a storage part of the cooling tank through a plurality of copper pipes of the condenser; and utilizing the plurality of liquid connecting pipes to connect a bottom portion of the storage part and a bottom portion of each of the plurality of server boxes, and the cooling liquid in the storage part flowing into each of the plurality of server boxes through each of the plurality of liquid connecting pipes, wherein the cooling liquid in the storage part and the cooling liquid in each of the plurality of server boxes are maintained a same liquid level.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT

FIG.1is a schematic block diagram illustrating an immersion cooling system according to an embodiment of the present disclosure. As shown inFIG.1, an immersion cooling system1includes a cooling liquid L, a plurality of server boxes2, a cooling tank3and a plurality of liquid connecting pipes4. A part of the cooling liquid L is contained in the plurality of server boxes2, and the other part of the cooling liquid L is contained in the cooling tank3. Each of the plurality of server boxes2includes an electronic device20. The electronic device20is immersed in the cooling liquid L in the server box2. A vapor space S is formed in each of the plurality of server boxes2above the cooling liquid L, and the vapor space S of each of the plurality of server boxes2is connected to the cooling tank3. The electronic device20of at least one of the plurality of server boxes2generates thermal energy during operation, which causes part of the cooling liquid L evaporates into hot vapor g flowing into the vapor space S. The electronic device20is for example but not limited to a server. It should be noted that each server box2is a pressure-sealed box that avoids leakage of the hot vapor g. In an embodiment, the cooling liquid L is a non-conductive liquid with a boiling point between 50° C. and 60° C. Each server box2further includes a vent hole21, the vent hole21is connected to the cooling tank3and is configured to allow the hot vapor g to flow to the cooling tank3through the vent hole21. The cooling tank3includes a condenser30and a storage part31. The condenser30condenses the hot vapor g from the server box2to form the cooling liquid L. The storage part31is connected to the condenser30, and the storage part31storages the cooling liquid L from the condenser30. The storage part31has a bottom portion32, and each server box2has a bottom portion22. Each of the liquid connecting pipes4has a first end40and a second end41. The first end40of each of the liquid connecting pipe4is connected to the bottom portion32of the storage part31. The second end41of each of the liquid connecting pipe4is connected to the bottom portion22of the corresponding server box2. The bottom portion32of the storage part31is higher than the bottom portion22of every server box20relative to the ground, so the cooling liquid L in the storage part31flows into the server boxes2through the liquid connecting pipes4. The cooling liquid L in the storage part31merges with the cooling liquid L in each of the plurality of server boxes2through the plurality of liquid connecting pipes4to maintain the same liquid level T. It should be noted that the liquid level T in the present disclosure is the measured level of the cooling liquid L in the server box2and the storage part31, namely the liquid level T may have a measurement error range. Consequently, the cooling liquid condensed in the storage part can naturally flow back to the server box, and no water pump or valve should be added for controlling the flow of the cooling liquid.

In an embodiment, the immersion cooling system1further includes a pressure balancing device5. The pressure balancing device5is connected to the cooling tank3, and is configured to balance the pressure in the cooling tank3. The pressure balancing device5may include an inflatable or deflated means such as a balloon or a bellow, but not limited thereto. In an embodiment, the air pressure balancing device5adjusts the air pressure in the cooling tank3through inflation or deflation of the balloon or the bellow. For example, when the rate of generating the hot vapor g by the server box2is too high, the condenser30of the cooling tank3cannot condense the hot vapor g in time, such that the hot vapor g is accumulated in the cooling tank3, resulting in excessive air pressure in the cooling tank3. Under such circumstance, in the pressure balancing device5, the air pressure in the cooling tank3can be adjusted through the inflation of the balloon or the bellow, so as to prevent the cooling tank3from being deformed and damaged.

In an embodiment, the immersion cooling system1shown inFIG.1can be further used in a server cabinet. As shown inFIG.2,FIG.2is a side view illustrating the immersion cooling system used in a server cabinet according to another embodiment of the present disclosure. In this embodiment, the immersion cooling system1is used in a server cabinet10, and the air pressure balancing device5of the immersion cooling system1includes a bellow50and a connecting pipe51connected thereto. In an embodiment, an amount of the bellow50is not limited to one, and an amount of the corresponding connecting pipe51is not limited to one, either. The connecting pipe51is connected to the cooling tank3. When the air pressure in the cooling tank3is too high, in the air pressure balancing device5, part of the hot vapor g in the cooling tank3flows into the bellow50through the connecting pipe51to be absorbed by the inflatable bellow50, thereby adjusting the air pressure in the cooling tank3.

Please refer toFIGS.2and3.FIG.3is a schematic perspective view illustrating the condenser of the immersion cooling system ofFIG.2. In this embodiment, the condenser30includes a first condensing pipe36, a second condensing pipe37, a plurality of copper pipes33which are bent and wound, a hot water output pipe34and a cooling water input pipe35. The first condensing pipe36is connected to a first end331of each of the plurality of copper pipes33. The second condensing pipe37is connected to a second end332of each of the plurality of copper pipes33. The first condensing pipe36and the second condensing pipe37are connected to the hot water output pipe34and the cooling water input pipe35, respectively. In addition, the cooling water input pipe35is further connected to an external cooling tower (not shown), and the cooling tower supplies cooling water (or other condensed liquid) to the condenser30via the cooling water input pipe35. The cooling water is injected into the second condensing pipe37through the cooling water input pipe35(as depicted by the dashed arrow inFIG.2). The cooling water flows into the plurality of copper pipes33through the second condensing pipe37, an outer wall of the copper pipe33is cooled down by the flowing cooling water. Accordingly, the hot vapor g from the server box2condenses into the cooling liquid L when the hot vapor g contacts the outer wall of the copper pipe33. At the same time, the heat energy lost from the hot vapor g during the condensation process is conducted inside of the copper pipe33to heat up the cooling water and turn it into hot water. The hot water is vented through the first condensing pipe36and the hot water output pipe34(as depicted by the solid arrow inFIG.2). In an embodiment, the condenser3further includes a plurality of mounting brackets38connected to the plurality of copper pipes33. The mounting bracket38is configured to fix the condenser3in the cooling tank3.

FIG.4is a schematic flow chart illustrating a cooling method of the immersion cooling system according to an embodiment of the present disclosure. The cooling method of the immersion cooling system of the present disclosure is applicable for the immersion cooling system1stated above. As shown inFIG.4, the cooling method of the immersion cooling system includes steps S1, S2, S3, S4, S5and S6. In the step S1, a cooling liquid L, a plurality of server boxes2, a cooling tank3and a plurality of liquid connecting pipes4are provided. A part of the cooling liquid L is contained in the plurality of server boxes2, and the other part of the cooling liquid L is contained in the cooling tank3. The cooling tank3is connected to the plurality of server boxes2and the plurality of liquid connecting pipes4. In the step S2, a plurality of electronic devices20are immersed in the cooling liquid L in the plurality of server boxes2, respectively. A vapor space S is formed in each of the plurality of server boxes2above the cooling liquid L, and the vapor space S of each of the plurality of server boxes2is connected to the cooling tank3. In the step S3, the electronic device20of at least one of the plurality of server boxes2is operated. The electronic device20of at least one of the plurality of server boxes2generates thermal energy during operation, which causes part of the cooling liquid L evaporates into hot vapor g flowing into the vapor space S. In the step S4, the condenser30of the cooling tank3condenses the hot vapor g from the server box2to form the cooling liquid L. The cooling liquid L flows into the storage part31of the cooling tank3through the plurality of copper pipes33of the condenser30. In the step S5, the bottom portion32of the storage part31is connected to the bottom portion22of each server box2through the plurality of liquid connecting pipes4. In the step S6, the bottom portion32of the storage part31is set to be higher than the bottom portion22of every server box20relative to the ground, so the cooling liquid L in the storage part31flows into the server boxes2through the liquid connecting pipes4. The cooling liquid L in the storage part31merges with the cooling liquid L in each of the plurality of server boxes2through the plurality of liquid connecting pipes4to maintain the same liquid level T.

In an embodiment, the cooling method of the immersion cooling system of the present disclosure further includes a step of providing a pressure balancing device5. The pressure balancing device5is connected to the cooling tank3and is configured to balance the pressure in the cooling tank3.

In an embodiment, the cooling method of the immersion cooling system of the present disclosure further includes steps of: increasing an amount of the plurality of electronic devices20for increasing the hot vapor g being received by the condenser30and increasing the pressure in the cooling tank3; and utilizing the pressure balancing device5connected to the cooling tank3to absorb the hot vapor g in the cooling tank3and to be inflated for maintaining the pressure in the cooling tank3within a constant pressure range.

In an embodiment, the cooling method of the immersion cooling system of the present disclosure further includes steps of: decreasing the amount of the plurality of electronic devices20for decreasing the hot vapor g being received by the condenser30and decreasing the pressure in the cooling tank3; utilizing the pressure balancing device5to vent the vapor in the pressure balancing device5to the cooling tank3and to be deflated for maintaining the pressure in the cooling tank3within a constant pressure range.

From the above descriptions, the present disclosure provides an immersion cooling system and a cooling method thereof. The cooling liquid in the server box and the cooling liquid in the storage part are merged together through the liquid connecting pipe to maintain the same liquid level. Thereby, the cooling liquid condensed in the storage part can naturally flow back to the server box, and no water pump or valve should be added for controlling the flow of the cooling liquid.