WATER-COOLED AND FLOW-CONTROLLED HEAT DISSIPATION SYSTEM USED IN CABINET AND CONTROL METHOD THEREOF

This disclosure relates to a water-cooled and flow-controlled heat dissipation system used in a cabinet and a control method thereof. The heat dissipation system includes a water supply apparatus, multiple water blocks, a pipe assembly, multiple throttles, and a control unit. The pipe assembly has a distribution pipe, a converging pipe, multiple inlet pipes, and multiple outlet pipes. One end of the distribution pipe and one end of the converging pipe are communicated with the water supply apparatus. Each inlet pipe has two ends communicated with the distribution pipe and to each water block respectively. Each outlet pipe has two ends communicated with the converging pipe and to each water blocks. Each throttle is installed in each inlet pipe, each outlet pipe, or each water block. The control unit is electrically connected to the throttles and controls the opening degree of each throttle.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Field of the Invention

This disclosure relates to a water-cooled and flow-controlled heat dissipation system and in particular relates to a water-cooled and flow-controlled heat dissipation system used in a cabinet and a control method thereof.

Description of Related Art

The related water-cooled heat dissipation system applied to the server cabinet primarily uses a main pump to deliver the working fluid from the water box to the water blocks corresponding to the heat sources inside different servers in a distributed way. Thus, the effect of water cooling can be achieved. However, the flow rate of the working fluid is always affected by the pipe length when it flows by means of the pipe connection. For example, the longer the pipe is, the slower the flow rate becomes.

However, the servers in the cabinet are usually arranged in an up and down configuration or in a vertical direction and the distance between the uppermost server and the lowermost one is the longest. Consequently, the flow rates obtained by the two above-mentioned servers are different because of the above-mentioned pipe connection. As a result, the heat dissipation or cooling effect becomes uneven. If the minimal heat dissipation or cooling effect is required, the power of the pump needs to be increased, which results in waste and higher cost of energy.

In view of this, the inventor pays attention to research with the application of related theory and tries to improve and overcome the above disadvantages regarding the related art, which becomes the improvement target of the inventor.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

This disclosure provides a water-cooled and flow-controlled heat dissipation system used in a cabinet and a control method thereof. The heat dissipation system makes the working fluids in each water blocks have uniform bypass flow rate such that the heat dissipation system may have the function of uniform flows, heat dissipation, and cooling.

In an embodiment of this disclosure, this disclosure provides a water-cooled and flow-controlled heat dissipation system used in a cabinet in which the cabinet has a plurality of servers and a plurality of heat generating components installed in each server. The water-cooled and flow-controlled heat dissipation system includes a water supply apparatus, a plurality of water blocks, a pipe assembly, a plurality of throttles, and a control unit. Each of the water blocks is installed in each server and thermally attached to each of the heat generating components. The pipe assembly has a distribution pipe, a converging pipe, a plurality of inlet pipes, and a plurality of outlet pipes. One end of the distribution pipe and one end of the converging pipe are communicated with the water supply apparatus. One end of each of the inlet pipes is communicated with the distribution pipe and the other end of each of the inlet pipes is communicated with each water block. One end of each of the outlet pipes is communicated with the converging pipe and the other end of each of the outlet pipes is communicated with each water block. Each of throttles is installed in each inlet pipe, in each outlet pipe, or in each water block. The control unit is electrically connected to the throttles and is used to control the opening degree of each throttle.

In an embodiment of this disclosure, this disclosure provides a control method of a water-cooled and flow-controlled heat dissipation system. The control method includes the steps of (a) providing a cabinet which has a plurality of servers and a plurality of heat generating components installed in each servers, (b) providing a plurality of water blocks, each of which is installed in each servers and thermally attached to each heat generating component, (c) providing a water supply apparatus and a pipe assembly, wherein the pipe assembly has a distribution pipe, a converging pipe, a plurality of inlet pipes, and a plurality of outlet pipes, wherein one end of the distribution pipe and one end of the converging pipe are communicated with the water supply apparatus, wherein one end of each of the inlet pipes is communicated with the distribution pipe and the other end of the each of the inlet pipes is communicated with each water block, wherein one end of each of the outlet pipes is communicated with the converging pipe and the other end of the each of the outlet pipes is communicated with each water block, (d) providing a plurality of throttles, each of which is installed in each inlet pipe, in each outlet pipe, or in each water block, (e) providing a plurality of flow sensors, wherein each of the flow sensors is installed in each inlet pipe, in each outlet pipe, or in each water block, wherein the each of the flow sensors is used to sense flowrate and generate a flowrate signal, and (f) providing a control unit which is electrically connected to the throttles, wherein the control unit receives the flowrate signal less than a predetermined flowrate to increase the opening degree of the corresponding throttle and receives the flowrate signal greater than the predetermined flowrate to decrease the opening degree of the corresponding throttle.

Based on the above description, the transport power of the working fluid in each water block may have uniform bypass flow rate to stabilize the flow rate and the flow speed of the working fluid in each water block. Therefore, beneficial effects of uniform flows, heat dissipation, and cooling may be achieved.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

The detailed description and technical details of this disclosure are explained below with reference to accompanying figures. However, the accompanying figures are for reference and explanation only, but not to limit the scope of this disclosure.

Please refer toFIGS. 1 to 4. This disclosure provides a water-cooled and flow-controlled heat dissipation system used in a cabinet and a control method thereof. The water-cooled and flow-controlled heat dissipation system10includes a water supply apparatus1, a plurality of water blocks2, a pipe assembly3, a plurality of throttles4, and a control unit5.

As shown inFIGS. 1 and 2, the cabinet100has a plurality of servers101and a plurality of heat generating components102installed in each server101. The heat generating components102may be CPUs, display cards, etc. In this embodiment, the servers101are stacked in an up and down configuration, but not limited to this.

As shown inFIGS. 1-3, the water supply apparatus1has a water box11and a pump12communicated with the water box11. The water box11is used to provide the working fluid like water for heat dissipation or cooling. In this embodiment, the pump12is installed in the water box11, but not limited to this.

As shown inFIGS. 2 and 3, each of the water blocks2is installed in each server101and thermally attached to each heat generating component102. The water blocks2are used to facilitate heat dissipation of the heat generating components102.

As shown inFIGS. 1 to 3, the pipe assembly3has a distribution pipe31, a converging pipe32, a plurality of inlet pipes33, and a plurality of outlet pipes34. One end of the distribution pipe31and one end of the converging pipe32are communicated with the water box11of the water supply apparatus1. One end of each of the inlet pipes33is communicated with the distribution pipe31and the other end of each of the inlet pipes33is communicated with each water block2. One end of each of the outlet pipes34is communicated with the converging pipe32and the other end of each of the outlet pipes34is communicated with each water block2. The pump12is used to pump (or drive) the working fluid in the water box11to flow to the converging pipe32through the distribution pipe31, the inlet pipes33, and the outlet pipes34in sequence to further enhance the heat dissipation of the heat generating components102in the servers101.

As shown inFIGS. 1 to 3, each of the throttles4in this embodiment is installed in each inlet pipe33, but not limited to this. In some other embodiments, each of the throttles4may be installed in each outlet pipe34, or in each water block2. Each of the throttles4generates an opening degree signal based on the opening degree thereof.

As shown inFIG. 3, the control unit5is electrically connected to the throttles4and to the pump12. The control unit5may control the opening degree of each throttle4and the rotating speed of the pump12.

As shown inFIGS. 1 to 3, the water-cooled and flow-controlled heat dissipation system10of this disclosure further includes a plurality of flowrate sensors6. In this embodiment, each of the flowrate sensors6is installed in each inlet pipe33, but not limited to this. In some other embodiments, each of the flowrate sensors6may be installed in each outlet pipe34or each water block2. Each of the flowrate sensors6is used to sense a flowrate and generate a flowrate signal.

As shown inFIGS. 2 and 3, the water-cooled and flow-controlled heat dissipation system10further includes a plurality of temperature sensors7. In this embodiment, each of the temperature sensors7is installed in each outlet pipe34, but not limited to this. In some other embodiments, each of the temperature sensors7may be installed in each inlet pipe33, in each water block2, or on each heat generating component102. Each of the temperature sensors7is used to sense a temperature and generate a temperature signal.

The control unit5receives each temperature signal and each flowrate signal and then controls the opening degree of each throttle4. The control unit5receives each flowrate signal and each opening degree signal and then controls the rotating speed of the pump12.

As shown inFIGS. 1 to 3, the water-cooled and flow-controlled heat dissipation system10of this disclosure further includes a cooling unit8. The converging pipe32is arranged as a first converging pipe321and a second converging pipe322. One end of the first converging pipe321is communicated with the outlet pipes34and the other end of the first converging pipe321is communicated with the cooling unit8. One end of the second converging pipe322is communicated with the cooling unit8and the other end of the second converging pipe322is communicated with the water box11. The cooling unit8is used to cool the working fluid flowed to the first converging pipe321. The working fluid flows to the water box11through the second converging pipe322. In this way, the working fluid may be circulated and reused. The cooling unit8includes the heat dissipation components such as the cooling fins, the vapor chambers, the fans, and the cooling chips, etc.

As shown inFIG. 4, the control method of a water-cooled and flow-controlled heat dissipation system10of this disclosure includes the steps (a)-(h) and is described below. First, as shown in the step (a) ofFIG. 4and inFIGS. 1 and 2, a cabinet100is provided and the cabinet100has a plurality of servers101and a plurality of heat generating components102installed in each server101.

Second, as shown in the step (b) ofFIG. 4and inFIGS. 2 and 3, a plurality of water blocks2are provided, each of the water blocks2is installed in each server101and thermally attached to each heat generating component102.

Third, as shown in the step (c) ofFIG. 4and inFIGS. 1 to 3, a water supply apparatus1and a pipe assembly3are provided in which the pipe assembly3has a distribution pipe31, a converging pipe32, a plurality of inlet pipes33, and a plurality of outlet pipes34. One end of the distribution pipe31and one end of the converging pipe32are communicated with the water supply apparatus1. One end of each of the inlet pipes33is connected to the distribution pipe31and the other end of each of the inlet pipes33is communicated with each water block2. One end of each of the outlet pipes34is communicated with the converging pipe32and the other end of each of the outlet pipes34is communicated with each water block2.

Fourth, as shown in the step (d) ofFIG. 4and inFIGS. 1 to 3, a plurality of throttles4are provided, each of which is installed in each inlet pipe33, in each outlet pipe34, or in each water block2.

Fifth, as shown in the step (e) ofFIG. 4and inFIGS. 1 to 3, a plurality of flowrate sensors6are provided. Each of the flowrate sensors6is installed in each inlet pipe33, each outlet pipe34, or each water block2. Each of the flowrate sensors6is used to sense a flowrate and generate a flowrate signal.

Sixth, as shown in the step (f) ofFIG. 4and inFIG. 3, a control unit5is provided, which is electrically connected to the throttles4. The control unit5receives the flowrate signal less than a predetermined flowrate to increase the opening degree of each throttle4and receives the flowrate signal greater than the predetermined flowrate to decrease the opening degree of each throttle4.

In this way, the transport power of the working fluid in each water blocks21may have uniform bypass flow rate to stabilize the flow rate and the flow speed of the working fluid in each water block21. Therefore, beneficial effects of uniform flows, heat dissipation, and cooling may be achieved.

Seventh, as shown in the step (g) ofFIG. 4and with reference also toFIGS. 2 and 3, a plurality of temperature sensors7are provided. Each of the temperature sensors7is installed in each inlet pipe33, each outlet pipe34, each water block2, or on each heat generating component102. Each of the temperature sensors7is used to sense a temperature and generate a temperature signal. The control unit5receives the temperature signals to calculate the predetermined flowrate.

Therefore, the working fluid in thermal contact with the heat generating component102having higher temperature may obtain greater bypass flow such that the working fluid has greater flow rate and greater flow speed to rapidly transfer the heat generated from the heat generating component102to the cooling unit8. Consequently, efficiency of heat dissipation of the water-cooled and flow-controlled heat dissipation system10may be increased.

Eighth, as shown in the step (h) ofFIG. 4and with reference also toFIGS. 2 and 3, the water supply apparatus1has a pump12which is electrically connected to the control unit5, an opening degree signal is generated by each of the throttles4based on the opening degree thereof. The control unit5receives each flowrate signal less than the predetermined flowrate and receives each opening degree signal greater than a predetermined opening degree to increase the rotating speed of the pump12; the control unit5receives each flowrate signal greater than the predetermined flowrate and receives each opening degree signal less than the predetermined opening degree to decrease the rotating speed of the pump12.

Thus, the flow rate of the working fluid is adjusted through the opening degree of each throttle4until the flowrate signal reaches the predetermined flowrate. If the opening degree of each throttle4reaches the limits (e.g., the opening degree of the throttle4cannot be increased or decreased any more), the rotating speed of the pump12is adjusted such that each flowrate signal reaches the predetermined flowrate. Further, the efficiency of heat dissipation and cooling of the water-cooled and flow-controlled heat dissipation system10may be stabilized.

Although this disclosure has been described with reference to the foregoing embodiment, it will be understood that the disclosure is not limited to the details thereof. Various equivalent variations and modifications can still occur to those skilled in this art in view of the teachings of this disclosure. Thus, all such variations and equivalent modifications are also embraced within the scope of this disclosure as defined in the appended claims.