Systems and methods for immersion-cooled datacenters
A liquid-submersible thermal management system includes a cylindrical outer shell and an inner shell positioned in an interior volume of the outer shell. The cylindrical outer shell has a longitudinal axis oriented vertically relative to a direction of gravity, and the inner shell defines an immersion chamber. The liquid-submersible thermal management system a spine positioned inside the immersion chamber and oriented at least partially in a direction of the longitudinal axis with a heat-generating component located in the immersion chamber. A working fluid is positioned in the immersion chamber and at least partially surrounding the heat-generating component. The working fluid receives heat from the heat-generating component.
1. A liquid-submersible thermal management system comprising:
a cylindrical outer shell having a longitudinal axis oriented vertically relative to a direction of gravity;
an inner shell positioned in an interior volume of the outer shell, the inner shell defining an immersion chamber;
a spine positioned inside the immersion chamber and oriented at least partially in a direction of the longitudinal axis;
a heat-generating component located in the immersion chamber; and
a working fluid positioned in the immersion chamber and at least partially surrounding the heat-generating component, the working fluid configured to receive heat from the heat-generating component.
2. The liquid-submersible thermal management system of claim 1 , wherein the working fluid has a boiling temperature less than 90° C.
3. The liquid-submersible thermal management system of claim 1 , wherein the exterior surface of the outer shell is corrosion resistant.
4. The liquid-submersible thermal management system of claim 1 , wherein a liquid phase of the working fluid fills an entire volume of the immersion chamber around the heat-generating component.
5. The liquid-submersible thermal management system of claim 1 further comprising a bilge pump configured to displace a fluid from the interior volume of the outer shell and adjust buoyancy of the system.
6. The liquid-submersible thermal management system of claim 1 , wherein the heat-generating component is a disc server blade.
7. The liquid-submersible thermal management system of claim 1 , wherein the inner shell is cylindrical and shares the longitudinal axis with the outer shell.
8. The liquid-submersible thermal management system of claim 1 , wherein the spine includes a working fluid conduit oriented in a direction of the longitudinal axis and configured to flow a liquid phase of the working fluid upward in the cooling chamber.
9. The liquid-submersible thermal management system of claim 1 further comprising a ballast positioned on or in a bottom of the outer shell to orient the longitudinal axis in the direction of gravity.
10. The liquid-submersible thermal management system of claim 1 further comprising a surface fluid conduit connected to an opening of the outer shell and providing fluid communication into the interior volume of the outer shell.
11. The liquid-submersible thermal management system of claim 1 , wherein the spine supports the heat-generating component.
12. A liquid-submersible thermal management system comprising:
an outer shell having a longitudinal axis and an opening at a first end of the longitudinal axis;
an inner shell positioned in the interior volume of the outer shell, the inner shell defining a cooling chamber;
a heat-generating component located in the cooling chamber;
a working fluid positioned in the cooling chamber and at least partially surrounding the heat-generating component, the working fluid configured to receive heat from the heat-generating component;
a spine oriented in a direction of the longitudinal axis, the spine including a working fluid conduit configured to flow a liquid phase of the working fluid upward in the cooling chamber; and
a nozzle positioned on the working fluid conduit to spray droplets of the liquid phase of the working fluid toward the heat-generating components.
13. The liquid-submersible thermal management system of claim 12 , wherein the nozzle provides the liquid phase in droplets less than 0.5 mm in diameter.
14. The liquid-submersible thermal management system of claim 12 , further comprising a fluid pump to force the liquid phase through the nozzle.
15. The liquid-submersible thermal management system of claim 12 , wherein an interior pressure of the working fluid is greater than 1.25 atmospheres.
16. A liquid-submersible thermal management system comprising:
an outer shell having a longitudinal axis and an opening at a first end of the longitudinal axis;
an inner shell positioned in an interior volume of the outer shell, the inner shell defining an immersion chamber;
a heat-generating component located in the immersion chamber; and
a liquid working fluid positioned in the immersion chamber and completely filling the immersion chamber to surround the heat-generating component, the working fluid configured to receive heat from the heat-generating component.
17. The liquid-submersible thermal management system of claim 16 , further comprising:
a heat exchanger;
a first fluid conduit providing fluid communication between a hot fluid pickup at a first side of the cooling chamber and the heat exchanger; and
a second fluid conduit providing fluid communication between the heat exchanger and a fluid return at a second side of the cooling chamber.
18. The liquid-submersible thermal management system of claim 17 , wherein the heat exchanger is external to the inner shell.
19. The liquid-submersible thermal management system of claim 18 , wherein the heat exchanger is a liquid-cooled heat exchanger.
20. The liquid-submersible thermal management system of claim 16 , wherein the liquid working fluid is a hydrocarbon.