Valve controlled, node-level vapor condensation for two-phase heat sink(s)

摘要

Methods of facilitating cooling an electronic system are provided, which include: providing a heat sink(s) configured to cool an electronic component(s), the heat sink(s) including a coolant-carrying channel for a first coolant, the first coolant providing two-phase cooling to the electronic component(s) and being discharged from the heat sink(s) as coolant exhaust with coolant vapor; providing a node-level condensation module coupled in fluid communication with the heat sink(s), the condensation module receiving first coolant exhaust from the heat sink(s) and being liquid-cooled via a second coolant to condense coolant vapor before return to a rack-level return manifold; automatically controlling at least one of liquid-cooling of the heat sink(s), or liquid-cooling of the condensation module(s); and providing a control valve for adjusting flow rate of the second coolant to the condensation module(s), the control valve being automatically controlled based on a characterization of the coolant vapor in the coolant exhaust.

主权项

1. A method of facilitating extraction of heat from an electronic subsystem, the method comprising:
providing at least one heat sink to cool at least one electronic component of the electronic subsystem of an electronics rack, the at least one heat sink comprising at least one coolant-carrying channel for a first coolant to flow therethrough, the first coolant providing two-phase cooling to the at least one electronic component and being discharged from the at least one heat sink as coolant exhaust with coolant vapor; providing a node-level condensation module disposed within the electronic subsystem comprising the at least one electronic component, and coupling in fluid communication the at least one heat sink and the node-level condensation module, the node-level condensation module receiving the first coolant exhaust from the at least one heat sink, the node-level condensation module being liquid-cooled via a second coolant and facilitating condensing of the coolant vapor in the received coolant exhaust within the electronic subsystem before return to a rack-level coolant return manifold of the electronics rack, the node-level condensation module comprising a liquid-to-liquid heat exchanger providing conductive heat transfer from the first coolant to the second coolant to facilitate condensing of the first coolant vapor in the node-level condensation module; automatically controlling at least one of the liquid-cooling of the at least one heat sink or the liquid-cooling of the node-level condensation module; and providing a control valve for adjusting a flow rate of the second coolant to the node-level condensation module, the control valve being automatically controlled by the controller based on a characterization of the coolant vapor in the coolant exhaust.