Immersion cooling
AssigneeBitfury Group Limited
InventorKar-Wing Lau
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A method of apparatus for immersion cooling electronic equipment including immersing the electronic equipment in a pressure-sealed tank containing a heat transfer fluid and including a vapor space fluidicly coupled to a condenser; operating the electronic equipment to generate heat and evaporate some of the heat transfer fluid, causing heat transfer fluid vapor to enter the condenser; condensing the heat transfer fluid vapor in the condenser to produce a condensate; returning the condensate to the tank; and increasing power consumption to increase heat generated by the electronic equipment and develop an increased pressure of the heat transfer fluid vapor to bring the apparatus into an equilibrium condition.
Claims14
A method of immersion cooling a system comprising electronic equipment, the method comprising:
- immersing the electronic equipment in a pressure-sealed tank holding heat transfer fluid in liquid form, and including a vapor space above a surface of the liquid heat transfer fluid, wherein the vapor space is connected to a condenser;
- operating the electronic equipment to generate heat so as to evaporate some of the heat transfer fluid and cause heat transfer fluid vapor to enter the condenser;
- condensing the heat transfer fluid vapor in the condenser to produce heat transfer fluid condensate;
- returning the heat transfer fluid condensate to the tank;
- and
- increasing power consumption by the electronic equipment to increase heat generated and develop an increased pressure of the heat transfer fluid vapor, wherein the increased pressure increases effectiveness of the condenser to bring the system into an equilibrium condition.
An apparatus for immersion cooling of electronic equipment, comprising:
- a pressure-sealed tank holding heat transfer fluid in liquid form into which the electronic equipment can be immersed, and including a vapor space above a surface of the liquid heat transfer fluid;
- a condenser having an inlet connected to the vapor space for receiving heat transfer fluid vapor, a sealable vapor outlet, and a condensate outlet;
- and
- a condensate return line through which condensed heat transfer fluid can return from the condensate outlet to the tank.
A method of commencing immersion cooling of electronic equipment, comprising:
- immersing the electronic equipment in a pressure-sealed tank holding heat transfer fluid in liquid form, and including a vapor space above a surface of the liquid heat transfer fluid, wherein the vapor space is connected to a condenser, the condenser being disposed above the tank and including a vapor outlet with a valve operable for sealing the vapor outlet;
- commencing operation of the electronic equipment to generate heat, so as to evaporate some of the heat transfer fluid, to produce heat transfer fluid vapor in the vapor space;
- opening the valve to allow the heat transfer fluid vapor generated to drive air from the vapor space through the condenser and out through the vapor outlet until substantially all of the air has been driven out of the vapor space;
- closing the valve;
- continuing operation of the electronic equipment to generate heat so as to produce heat transfer fluid vapor;
- condensing the heat transfer fluid vapor in the condenser to produce heat transfer fluid condensate;
- and
- returning the heat transfer fluid condensate to the tank.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.