EP-4736227-A2 - IMMERSION TANK FOR COOLING ELECTRONICS

Abstract

An immersion tank system includes an outer frame and an immersion tank disposed within the outer frame. A method for operating an immersion tank system includes inserting a payload into an immersion tank, flowing a source fluid from an external environment through tubing coupled to the immersion tank to a heat exchanger, cooling a working fluid using the heat exchanger and the source fluid, flowing the working fluid through one or more ports of the immersion tank, filling the immersion tank comprising the payload via the one or more ports to a predetermined level with the working fluid, transferring heat from the payload to the working fluid, exhausting gas and/or liquid from one or more vents defining a top surface of the immersion tank, and engaging one or more variable speed pumps for flowing the working fluid to the heat.

Inventors

• LANTERMAN, Bryan
• HOLST, JOHN
• KROES, John
• KOEHN, Lance
• HODGSON, TREVOR
• MILLER, JOSEPH RICHARD
• CREEVY, Lawrence

Assignees

• Laurel Technologies Partnership

Dates

Publication Date

20260506

Application Date

20240627

Claims (20)

1. 1. An immersion tank system comprising: an outer frame; an immersion tank disposed within the outer frame, the immersion tank further comprising: one or more ports; one or more pumps; a control system; one or more sensors; and a heat exchanger.
2. 2. The immersion tank system of claim 1, wherein the one or more ports are configured to fill or drain the immersion tank.
3. 3. The immersion tank system of claim 1, wherein the one or more ports are disposed on a surface of the immersion tank.
4. 4. The immersion tank system of claim 3, wherein the surface is a bottom surface of the immersion tank.
5. 5. The immersion tank system of claim 1, wherein the one or more pumps are variable speed pumps.
6. 6. The immersion tank system of claim 1, further comprising sliding rails.
7. 7. The immersion tank system of claim 1, further comprising a shock cage disposed within the outer frame, the shock cage including a front access cover.
8. 8. The immersion tank system of claim 7, wherein shock mounts coupled to the outer frame provide shock absorption for the immersion tank.
9. 9. The immersion tank system of claim 7, wherein the immersion tank is configured to slide into and out of the shock cage on sliding rails.
10. 10. The immersion tank system of claim 1, wherein the immersion tank further comprises a sealed access cover.
11. 11. The immersion tank system of claim 1, wherein at least one of the one or more sensors is a leak detection sensor.
12. 12. The immersion tank system of claim 1, wherein at least one of the one or more sensors is a fluid level sensor.
13. 13. The immersion tank system of claim 1, wherein at least one of the one or more sensors is a tank breather health sensor.
14. 14. The immersion tank system of claim 1, wherein at least one of the one or more sensors is a fluid quality sensor.
15. 15. The immersion tank system of claim 1, wherein the heat exchanger comprises a brazed plate heat exchanger.
16. 16. The immersion tank system of claim 1, wherein the immersion tank is configured to vent into an expansion tank.
17. 17. A method for operating an immersion tank system adaptable for multiple environments, comprising: a) inserting a payload into an immersion tank; b) flowing a source fluid from an external environment through tubing coupled to the immersion tank to a heat exchanger; c) cooling a working fluid using the heat exchanger and the source fluid; d) flowing the working fluid through one or more ports of the immersion tank; e) filling the immersion tank comprising the payload via the one or more ports to a predetermined level with the working fluid; f) transferring heat from the payload to the working fluid; g) exhausting gas and/or liquid from one or more vents defining a top surface of the immersion tank, wherein the gas and/or liquid is exhausted into an expansion tank coupled to the immersion tank; and h) engaging one or more variable speed pumps for flowing the working fluid to the heat exchanger; and repeating b) through h) until the payload is removed from the immersion tank.
18. 18. The method of claim 17, further comprising monitoring leaks using one or more control sensors in a shock cage enclosing the immersion tank.
19. 19. The method of claim 17, further comprising monitoring a health metric of the working fluid using a fluid quality sensor.
20. 20. The method of claim 17, further comprising monitoring a fluid level of the working fluid in the expansion tank using a fluid level sensor.

Description

IMMERSION TANK FOR COOLING ELECTRONICS CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS [0001] This application claims priority to US Provisional Application No. 63/524,337 filed on June 30, 2023, and US Patent Application No. 18/632,034 filed April 10, 2024, the contents of which are incorporated by reference in their entireties for all purposes. BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION [0002] Large scale server systems or any power dense electronic systems that perform high density computing generate and/or dissipate a large amount of heat during their operation. Furthermore, thermal management for electronics that generate heat as a byproduct of their primary function may benefit from cooling systems. These servers are often rack mounted and fans are built into the system to cool the rack of servers. [0003] Despite the progress made in the area of high density computing systems, there is a need in the art for improved methods and systems related to cooling of high density computing systems. SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION [0004] The present disclosure generally relates to immersion cooled systems and in particular to thermal management for high density computing. [0005] According to one embodiment, an immersion tank system includes an outer frame and an immersion tank disposed within the outer frame. The immersion tank further includes one or more ports, one or more pumps, a control system, one or more sensors, and a heat exchanger. [0006] The immersion tank system may include various optional embodiments. The one or more ports may fill or drain the immersion tank. The one or more ports may be disposed on a surface of the immersion tank. The surface may be a bottom surface of the immersion tank. The one or more pumps may be variable speed pumps. The immersion tank system may further include sliding rails. The immersion tank system may further include a shock cage disposed within the outer frame and the shock cage may include a front access cover. Shock mounts coupled to the outer frame may provide shock absorption for the immersion tank. The immersion tank may slide into and out of the shock cage on the sliding rails. The immersion tank may further include a sealed access cover. At least one of the one or more sensors may be a leak detection sensor. At least one of the one or more sensors may be a fluid level sensor. At least one of the one or more sensors may be a tank breather health sensor. At least one of the one or more sensors may be a fluid quality sensor. The heat exchanger may include a brazed plate heat exchanger. The immersion tank may vent into an expansion tank. [0007] According to another embodiment, a method for operating an immersion tank system adaptable for multiple environments includes inserting a payload into an immersion tank, flowing a source fluid from an external environment through tubing coupled to the immersion tank to a heat exchanger, cooling a working fluid using the heat exchanger and the source fluid, flowing the working fluid through one or more ports of the immersion tank, filling the immersion tank comprising the payload via the one or more ports to a predetermined level with the working fluid, transferring heat from the payload to the working fluid, and exhausting gas and/or liquid from one or more vents defining a top surface of the immersion tank. The gas and/or liquid is exhausted into an expansion tank coupled to the immersion tank. The method further includes engaging one or more variable speed pumps for flowing the working fluid to the heat. Various steps may be repeated until the payload is removed from the immersion tank. [0008] The method may include various optional embodiments. The method may further include monitoring leaks using one or more control sensors in a shock cage enclosing the immersion tank. The method may further include monitoring a health metric of the working fluid using a fluid quality sensor. The method may further include monitoring a fluid level of the working fluid in the expansion tank using a fluid level sensor. The method may further include draining the working fluid from the immersion tank via the one or more ports prior to removing the payload from the immersion tank. [0009] According to yet another embodiment, a method for accessing an immersion tank system includes providing an immersion tank including one or more ports, one or more variable speed pumps, a control system, one or more control sensors, one or more health sensors, and a heat exchanger. The method further includes removing a shock cage front access panel from a shock cage enclosing the immersion tank, attaching a pump, and draining a working fluid from the immersion tank through the one or more ports, sliding the immersion tank out of the shock cage, removing an immersion tank cover from the immersion tank, and removing a payload from the immersion tank system. [0010] The method may include various optional embodiments. The method may further include monitoring leaks using one or more contr