Patent Description:
Electronic equipment, for example servers, memory banks, computer discs, and the like, is conventionally grouped in equipment racks. Large data centers and other large computing facilities may contain thousands of racks supporting thousands or even tens of thousands of servers.

The racks, including equipment mounted in their backplanes, consume large amounts of electric power and generate significant amounts of heat. Cooling needs are important in such racks. Some electronic devices, such as processors, generate so much heat that they could fail within seconds in case of a lack of cooling.

Immersion cooling (sometimes called immersive cooling) of equipment racks was recently introduced. Electronic components are inserted in an immersion case that is fully or partially filled with a heat-transfer liquid (sometimes called a non-conducting cooling liquid), for example an oil-based dielectric cooling liquid. Good thermal contact is obtained between the electronic components and the heat-transfer liquid. The immersion case may be open-ended on at least one side (e.g. a top side), and is generally filled with the heat-transfer liquid until the electronic components are completely submerged in the heat-transfer liquid.

Technicians or other personnel frequently need to rack equipment in and out, in order to replace defective components or perform other routine maintenance tasks requiring access to the electronic equipment. The act of racking equipment may cause motion of the heat-transfer liquid within the immersion case, leading to overflowing of the heat-transfer liquid and spillage outside of the immersion case. The loss of heat-transfer liquid may lead to the electronic equipment within the immersion case being inadequately covered by the remaining <NUM> heat-transfer liquid and therefore degrading the overall heat transfer capability of the equipment rack. The spilled heat-transfer liquid also creates a safety hazard and needs to be cleaned, creating an additional maintenance burden for facility personnel. Facility operators may also face a substantial cost of replacing spilled heat-transfer liquid.

No. <CIT>discloses an immersion cooling system for cooling an object in an immersion cooling tank that includes an anti-sloshing device adapted to be attached/attachable to an inner surface of the immersion cooling tank. The anti-sloshing device includes a connecting device(s), a first plate fixedly attached to or rotatably attached to the connecting device, and a second plate rotatably attached to the connecting device.

<CIT> discloses a server tank, comprising an tank body and a cover plate and a movable covering part. The tank body comprises a chamber that is enclosed by a bottom wall and side walls of the tank body with an opening that is opposite to the bottom wall. The chamber is configured to be capable of accommodating computer servers and containing a liquid serving as an immersion cooling medium for the servers. The cover plate openably covers the opening of the chamber in which the covering part is adjustable.

There is thus a desire to mitigate at least some of the aforementioned drawbacks.

The subject matter discussed in the background section should not be assumed to be prior art merely as a result of its mention in the background section. Similarly, a problem mentioned in the background section or associated with the subject matter of the background section should not be assumed to have been previously recognized in the prior art. The subject matter in the background section merely represents different approaches.

Embodiments of the present technology have been developed based on developers' appreciation of shortcomings associated with the prior art.

In particular, such shortcomings may comprise (<NUM>) overflowing of heat-transfer liquid when racking in or out electronic equipment; and/or (<NUM>) minimizing cleaning of spilled heat-transfer liquid.

The invention associated with the present technology is defined as in appended claim <NUM>. Preferred embodiments of the invention are presented in dependent claims <NUM>-<NUM>.

Implementations of the present technology each have at least one of the above-mentioned object and/or aspects, but do not necessarily have all of them. It should be understood that some aspects of the present technology that have resulted from attempting to attain the above-mentioned object may not satisfy this object and/or may satisfy other objects not specifically recited herein.

It should also be noted that, unless otherwise explicitly specified herein, the drawings are not to scale.

The examples and conditional language recited herein are principally intended to aid the reader in understanding the principles of the present technology and not to limit its scope to such specifically recited examples and conditions. It will be appreciated that those skilled in the art may devise various arrangements that, although not explicitly described or shown herein, nonetheless embody the principles of the present technology.

Moreover, all statements herein reciting principles, aspects, and implementations of the present technology, as well as specific examples thereof, are intended to encompass both structural and functional equivalents thereof, whether they are currently known or developed in the future. Thus, for example, it will be appreciated by those skilled in the art that any block diagrams herein represent conceptual views of illustrative systems embodying the principles of the present technology.

In the context of the present specification, unless expressly provided otherwise, a computer system may refer, but is not limited to, an "electronic device", an "operation system", a "system", a "computer-based system", a "controller unit", a "monitoring device", a "control device" and/or any combination thereof appropriate to the relevant task at hand.

In the context of the present specification, unless expressly provided otherwise, the words "first", "second", "third", etc. have been used as adjectives only for the purpose of allowing for distinction between the nouns that they modify from one another, and not for the purpose of describing any particular relationship between those nouns.

<FIG> is a schematic diagram of an immersion cooling system <NUM>. In the shown implementation, the cooling system <NUM>, comprises an immersion case <NUM> configured to receive a heat-transfer liquid <NUM> having a top surface <NUM> and to receive one or more electronic assemblies <NUM> immersed in the heat-transfer liquid <NUM>. Each electronic assembly <NUM> may include at least one electronic component to be cooled. An electronic assembly <NUM> is described in greater details herein after. The heat-transfer liquid <NUM> may be, for example and without limitations, a dielectric cooling liquid.

<FIG> shows a perspective view of a cooling system <NUM> in accordance with a non-limiting implementation of the present technology. As shown, the cooling system <NUM> includes a detachable frame, or "board" <NUM> of an electronic assembly <NUM>, and an immersion case <NUM>. The board <NUM> holds electronic components <NUM> of the electronic assembly <NUM> and may be immersed in the immersion case <NUM>. The electronic components <NUM> of the electronic assembly <NUM> include one or more processors <NUM>, among other components. Although the immersion case <NUM>, board <NUM>, and electronic components <NUM> are shown as separate parts, it will be understood by one of ordinary skill in the art that, in some embodiments, two or more of these components could be combined. For example, the electronic components <NUM> could be fixed directly on the board <NUM> and/or the immersion case <NUM>.

It is contemplated that the electronic assemblies <NUM> may generate a significant amount of heat. Consequently, the immersion cooling system <NUM> provides cooling to the electronic assemblies <NUM> to prevent them from being damaged. As used herein, the immersion cooling system <NUM> is a cooling system in which the immersion case <NUM> is open such that the electronic assembly <NUM> is in direct contact with the first heat-transfer liquid <NUM>, which either flows over at least portions of the electronic assembly <NUM>, or in which at least portions of the electronic assembly <NUM> are submerged in the immersion case <NUM>. Further, the board <NUM> including the electronic components <NUM> may be submerged at least in part in the immersion case <NUM>. In this implementation, the board <NUM> may be inserted into the immersion case <NUM> via an open-ended top side <NUM> of the immersion case <NUM>. <FIG> shows the board <NUM> in a partially inserted configuration into the immersion case <NUM>. The open-ended top side <NUM> may remain at least partially open during operation of the electronic assembly <NUM>, providing a non-sealed configuration for the immersion case <NUM>. Such non-sealed configurations may be easier to manufacture and maintain than sealed configurations. Alternatively, the immersion case <NUM> may be closed and sealed once the board <NUM> in inserted, particularly if it is desired to operate the system <NUM> in a sealed configuration.

In some embodiments, the electronic assembly <NUM> may be a server that may be implemented as a conventional computer server. Each electronic assembly <NUM> may be implemented as a Dell™ PowerEdge™ Server running the Microsoft™ Windows Server™ operating system. Needless to say, each electronic assembly <NUM> may be implemented in any other suitable hardware, software, and/or firmware, or a combination thereof.

The electronic assembly <NUM> includes one or more electronic components <NUM> and the board <NUM> on which the one or more electronic assemblies <NUM> are mounted. The board <NUM> is at least in part immersed in the immersion case <NUM> that contains a volume of the heat-transfer liquid <NUM> for cooling of the electronic assembly <NUM>.

In some embodiments, multiple electronic devices, similar to the electronic assembly <NUM>, may be immersed in a single immersion case <NUM>.

<FIG> shows a perspective view of the cooling system <NUM> of <FIG> in accordance with yet another non-limiting implementation of the present technology. <FIG> shows a top elevation view of the cooling system <NUM> of <FIG>. In <FIG>, the board <NUM> is shown in a fully inserted configuration into the immersion case <NUM>. In other words, the board <NUM> is completely immersed in the immersion case <NUM> that contains a volume of the heat-transfer liquid <NUM> for cooling of the electronic assembly <NUM>.

In the embodiment of <FIG>, the cooling system <NUM> is provided with a baffling assembly <NUM> for mitigating movement of the heat-transfer liquid <NUM> in the immersion case <NUM>. Said movements may be for example caused by insertion and/or removal of the board <NUM> in the immersion case <NUM>. In addition, the baffling assembly <NUM> may mitigate movements of the heat-transfer liquid <NUM> and their impact vibrations on a transport vehicle when the immersion case <NUM> is carried or transported. The baffling assembly <NUM> includes a first baffle element <NUM> and a second baffle element <NUM>. The baffling assembly <NUM> is disposed proximate a top portion <NUM> of the immersion case <NUM>. More specifically, the baffling assembly <NUM> is disposed at or near the open-ended top side <NUM> of the immersion case <NUM>. The first baffle element <NUM> extends along a first edge <NUM> of the open-ended top side <NUM> of the immersion case <NUM> (see <FIG>), and the second baffle element <NUM> extends along a second edge <NUM> of the open-ended top side <NUM> of the immersion case <NUM>, the second edge <NUM> opposed to the first edge <NUM>. The first baffle element <NUM> and the second baffle element <NUM> are fixedly attached to a first wall <NUM> and to a second wall <NUM> of the immersion case <NUM>, respectively, the first wall <NUM> opposite to the second wall <NUM> (see <FIG>), via attachment points <NUM>, using, for example and without limitation, screws, nails, anchors, or adhesive. Each of the first baffle element <NUM> and the second baffle element <NUM> has a plurality of attachment points <NUM>. It is contemplated that the baffling assembly <NUM> could also be detachably connected to the immersion case <NUM> using a clamping or mounting system (not shown) provided with the baffling assembly <NUM> and/or the immersion case <NUM>. In some non-limiting implementations, the baffling assembly <NUM> may be attached to the immersion case <NUM> using fasteners (e.g. clips) attached to the board <NUM> or to the immersion case <NUM> itself. For example, the board <NUM> may define openings to accommodate the fasteners. In some implementations, the first baffle element <NUM> and the second baffle element <NUM> extend from the board <NUM>.

As shown, the first baffle element <NUM> and the second baffle element <NUM> have a curved planar shape, where a first convex surface of the first baffle element <NUM> and a second convex surface of the second baffle element <NUM> are facing at least partially away from the top surface <NUM> of the heat-transfer liquid <NUM> of the immersion case <NUM>, the first convex surface being disposed opposite to the second convex surface. The first baffle element <NUM> and the second baffle element <NUM> are staggered with respect to each other in a direction orthogonal to the top surface <NUM>, i.e. the second baffle element <NUM> is elevated with respect to the first baffle element <NUM>. It is contemplated that the first baffle element <NUM> may be elevated with respect to the second baffle element <NUM> instead. In the embodiment shown, the second baffle element <NUM> at least partially overhangs the first baffle element <NUM>. However, it is contemplated that the first baffle element <NUM> could at least partially overhang the second baffle element <NUM> instead. Moreover, the first baffle element <NUM> and the second baffle element <NUM> are disposed at least in part above the surface of the heat-transfer liquid <NUM>. In some implementations, the first baffle element <NUM> and the second baffle element <NUM> have a curved planar shape defining holes.

In some embodiments, the baffling assembly <NUM> may have a single baffle element, or more than two baffle elements, as described hereinafter. The baffle elements may be disposed at different positions relative to the immersion case <NUM>, for instance near, proximate, or just under the first edge <NUM> and/or the second edge <NUM>. The baffle elements may have various shapes and orientations with respect to each other, as will be apparent to the person skilled in the art having the benefit of the present disclosure. For example, the first baffle element <NUM> and the second baffle element <NUM> may extend along an entirety, or along a portion thereof, of the edges of the immersion case <NUM>.

As shown on <FIG>, an overlap area <NUM> may be created by the overhang of the second baffle element <NUM> relative to the first baffle element <NUM>. It is contemplated that the first baffle element <NUM> and the second baffle element <NUM> may be positioned such that there is no overlap area <NUM>.

In some implementations, the baffling assembly <NUM> further include a third and a fourth baffle elements extending along a third and fourth edges of the immersion case <NUM> (i.e. extending along a width of the immersion case <NUM>).

<FIG> shows a perspective view of the cooling system <NUM> of <FIG> in accordance with yet another non-limiting implementation of the present technology. In <FIG>, similarly to <FIG>, the board <NUM> is shown in a fully inserted configuration into the immersion case <NUM>.

In the embodiment shown in <FIG>, the baffling assembly <NUM> includes a plurality of baffle elements <NUM> disposed in a linear array parallel to the first edge <NUM> and to the second edge <NUM> of the immersion case <NUM> (see <FIG>). At least some of the plurality of baffle elements <NUM> may be movable in a direction parallel to the first edge <NUM> and the second edge <NUM>. Alternatively, a distance d between two consecutive baffle elements of the plurality of baffle elements <NUM> may be constant. In some non-limiting implementations, the baffling elements <NUM> may be attached to the immersion case <NUM> using fasteners (e.g. clips) attached to the board <NUM>. For example, the board <NUM> may define openings to accommodate the fasteners.

<FIG> shows a front elevation view of one of the plurality of baffle elements <NUM> of <FIG> in accordance with yet another non-limiting implementation of the present technology. Each of the baffle elements <NUM> as illustrated is a parallelogram-shaped plate member <NUM>. The plate member <NUM> defines a plurality of holes <NUM> for letting at least some of the heat-transfer liquid <NUM> flow therethrough. It is contemplated that the plate member <NUM> could define no holes or a different number of holes <NUM>. The baffle elements <NUM> include attachment points <NUM> that may include, for example and without limitation, screws, nails, anchors, or adhesive to secure the baffle elements to the immersion case <NUM>.

<FIG> shows a perspective view of the cooling system <NUM> of <FIG> in accordance with yet another non-limiting implementation of the present technology. In <FIG>, similarly to <FIG> and <FIG>, the board <NUM> is shown in a fully inserted configuration into the immersion case <NUM>.

In the embodiment shown in <FIG>, similarly to <FIG>, the baffling assembly <NUM> includes a plurality of baffle elements <NUM> disposed in a linear array parallel to the first edge <NUM> and to the second edge <NUM> of the immersion case <NUM>. At least some of the plurality of baffle elements <NUM> may be movable in a direction parallel to the first edge <NUM> and to the second edge <NUM>. Alternatively, the distance d between two consecutive baffle elements of the plurality of baffle elements <NUM> may be constant.

<FIG> shows a front elevation view of one of the plurality of baffle elements <NUM> of <FIG> in accordance with yet another non-limiting implementation of the present technology. Each of the baffle elements <NUM> as illustrated is an oval-shaped plate member <NUM>. The plate member <NUM> defines at least one hole <NUM> for letting at least some of the heat-transfer liquid <NUM> flow therethrough. It is contemplated that the plate member <NUM> could define no holes or a different number of holes <NUM>. The baffle elements <NUM> include attachment points <NUM> that may include, for example and without limitation, screws, nails, anchors, or adhesive to secure the baffle elements to the immersion case <NUM>.

It is contemplated that other geometries of the baffling assembly <NUM> could be used. Each of the plurality of baffle elements <NUM> or <NUM> could have a shape other than a parallelogram or an oval, for example a triangular, hexagonal, or any other suitable polygonal shape. The plurality of baffle elements <NUM> or <NUM> could be disposed in a staggered configuration, with odd baffle elements staggered with respect to even baffle elements (or vice versa) in a direction substantially parallel to the open-ended top side <NUM> of the immersion case <NUM>. The plurality of baffle elements <NUM> or <NUM> may be provided in a fixed configuration or may alternatively be movable. Finally, in some embodiments, the distance d between two consecutive baffle elements of the plurality of baffle elements <NUM> or <NUM> may be variable. In some non-limiting implementations, the baffling elements <NUM> may be attached to the immersion case <NUM> using fasteners (e.g. clips) attached to the board <NUM>. For example, the board <NUM> may define openings to accommodate the fasteners.

While the above-described implementations have been described and shown with reference to particular steps performed in a particular order, it will be understood that these steps may be combined, sub-divided, or re-ordered without departing from the teachings of the present technology. At least some of the steps may be executed in parallel or in series. Accordingly, the order and grouping of the steps is not a limitation of the present technology.

It should be expressly understood that not all technical effects mentioned herein need to be enjoyed in each and every embodiment of the present technology.

Claim 1:
A baffling assembly (<NUM>) for mitigating movement of a heat-transfer liquid (<NUM>) in an immersion case (<NUM>), the immersion case (<NUM>) being configured to contain the heat-transfer liquid in which an electronic device (<NUM>) is at least partially submerged, the baffling assembly comprising at least one baffle element (<NUM>/<NUM>) configured to be disposed proximate a top portion at an open-ended top side (<NUM>) of the immersion case, characterized in that:
the at least one baffle element comprises a first baffle element (<NUM>) and a second baffle element (<NUM>),
the first baffle element (<NUM>) extending laterally along a first edge (<NUM>) of the open-ended top side of the immersion case and the second baffle element (<NUM>) extending laterally along a second edge (<NUM>) of the open-ended top side that is opposite to the first edge (<NUM>) of the open-ended top side of the immersion case, and
the second baffle element (<NUM>) arranged to be elevated above the first baffle element (<NUM>) and at least partially overhang over the first baffle element (<NUM>) to maintain the top-side of the immersion case open-ended.