Ultra-Compact Micro-Scale Heat Exchanger for Advanced Thermal Management in Datacenters

2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
Raffaele L. Amalfi ◽  
Todd Salamon ◽  
Filippo Cataldo ◽  
Jackson B. Marcinichen ◽  
John R. Thome
Keyword(s):  
Heat Transfer ◽  
Form Factor ◽  
Heat Exchangers ◽  
Heat Transfer Performance ◽  
Transfer Performance ◽  
Two Phase ◽  
Pressure Drops ◽  
Cooling Technology ◽  
Cooling Loop ◽  
Two Phase Cooling

Abstract The present study is focused on the experimental characterization of two-phase heat transfer performance and pressure drops within an ultra-compact heat exchanger (UCHE) suitable for electronics cooling applications. In this specific work, the UCHE prototype is anticipated to be a critical component for realizing a new passive two-phase cooling technology for high-power server racks, as it is more compact and lighter weight than conventional heat exchangers. This technology makes use of a novel combination of thermosyphon loops, at the server-level and rack-level, to passively cool an entire rack. In the proposed two-phase cooling technology, a smaller form factor UCHE is used to transfer heat from the server-level thermosyphon cooling loop to the rack-level thermosyphon cooling loop, while a larger form factor UCHE is used to reject the total heat from the server rack into the facility-level cooling loop. The UCHE is composed of a double-side-copper finned plate enclosed in a stainless steel enclosure. The geometry of the fins and channels on both sides are optimized to enhance the heat transfer performance and flow stability, while minimizing the pressure drops. These features make the UCHE the ideal component for thermosyphon cooling systems, where low pressure drops are required to achieve high passive flow circulation rates and thus achieve high critical heat flux values. The UCHE’s thermal-hydraulic performance is first evaluated in a pump-driven system at the Laboratory of Heat and Mass Transfer (LTCM-EPFL), where experiments include many configurations and operating conditions. Then, the UCHE is installed and tested as the condenser of a thermosyphon loop that rejects heat to a pumped refrigerant system at Nokia Bell Labs, in which both sides operate with refrigerants in phase change (condensation-to-boiling). Experimental results demonstrate high thermal performance with a maximum heat dissipation density of 5455 (kW/m3/K), which is significantly larger than conventional air-cooled heat exchangers and liquid-cooled small pressing depth brazed plate heat exchangers. Finally, a thermal performance analysis is presented that provides guidelines in terms of heat density dissipations at the server- and rack-level when using passive two-phase cooling.

Ultra-Compact Micro-Scale Heat Exchanger for Advanced Thermal Management in Data Centers

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Raffaele L. Amalfi ◽  
Todd Salamon ◽  
Filippo Cataldo ◽  
Jackson B. Marcinichen ◽  
John R. Thome
Keyword(s):  
Heat Transfer ◽  
Heat Exchanger ◽  
Thermal Performance ◽  
Heat Exchangers ◽  
Heat Transfer Performance ◽  
Operating Conditions ◽  
Transfer Performance ◽  
Two Phase ◽  
Maximum Heat ◽  
Pressure Drops

Abstract The present study is focused on the experimental characterization of two-phase heat transfer performance and pressure drops within an ultra-compact heat exchanger (UCHE) suitable for electronics cooling applications. The UCHE is composed of a double-side-copper finned plate with an optimized geometry that enhances the heat transfer performance and flow stability, while minimizing the pressure drops. These features make the UCHE the ideal component for thermosyphon cooling systems, where low pressure drops are required to achieve high passive flow circulation rates and thus achieve high critical heat flux values. The UCHE's thermal-hydraulic performance is first evaluated in a pump-driven system at the Laboratory of Heat and Mass Transfer (LTCM-EPFL), where experiments include many configurations and operating conditions. Then, the UCHE is installed and tested as the condenser of a thermosyphon loop that rejects heat to a pumped refrigerant system at Nokia Bell Labs, in which both sides operate with refrigerants in phase change (condensation-to-boiling). Experimental results demonstrate high thermal performance with a maximum heat dissipation density of 5455 (kW/m3/K), which is significantly larger than conventional air-cooled heat exchangers and liquid-cooled small pressing depth brazed plate heat exchangers. Finally, a thermal performance analysis is presented that provides guidelines in terms of heat density dissipations at the server- and rack-level when using passive two-phase cooling.

An Assessment of Effects of Nanofluids on Heat Transfer Performance of Two-Phase Cooling Systems

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Alexander V. Korobko ◽  
Sana Fateh
Keyword(s):  
Heat Transfer ◽  
Thermal Management ◽  
Data Centers ◽  
Heat Transfer Performance ◽  
Future Research ◽  
Transfer Performance ◽  
Two Phase ◽  
Cooling Systems ◽  
The Impact ◽  
Two Phase Cooling

Abstract The recent increase in complexity of computations and the expansion of edge computing have led to the emergence of high power density data centers with an urgent demand for more advanced thermal management systems. Two-phase passive cooling systems such as thermosyphons and heat pipes have been widely used in industry to maintain the temperature of the servers below the threshold of failure and carry away a large quantity of heat from a small area. Such systems are economically viable and sustainable since they have no moving parts and consume lower power. However, an upgrade to these cooling systems is imminent due to the ever-increasing power densities of the data centers and more challenging thermal management issues faced by the industry. Nanofluids have emerged recently as a new class of cooling liquids claiming to enhance the heat transfer performance in single and two-phase cooling systems. As per several studies presented in this paper, the thermal performance of thermosyphons is shown to be enhanced by employing nanofluids. In this paper, a comprehensive review is presented on the effect of nanofluids in improving the Critical Heat Flux (CHF) and Heat Transfer Coefficient (HTC) in two-phase cooling systems. The boiling phenomenon and working principles of thermosyphons will be discussed to understand the underlying mechanisms affecting heat transfer in the evaporator region, where the heat is absorbed from the source. The impact of nanoparticle features, concentration, and deposition pattern on HTC enhancement will also be studied. Additionally, estimates of the heat dissipation improvement by using nanofluids along with the bottlenecks and challenges faced in applying such fluids practically are reviewed as well. In conclusion, recommendations are made for future research needed to overcome the risks and commercialize the nanofluids in two-phase cooling systems for providing significant improvement in heat transfer performance as compared to conventional working fluids.

Visualization of Boiling Heat Transfer on Micro Porous Coated Surface in Confined Space

2013 ◽  
Author(s):  
Chien-Yuh Yang ◽  
Chien-Fu Liu
Keyword(s):  
Heat Transfer ◽  
Heat Exchangers ◽  
Boiling Heat Transfer ◽  
Heat Transfer Performance ◽  
Heating Surface ◽  
Nucleate Boiling ◽  
Confined Space ◽  
Two Phase ◽  
Nucleate Boiling Heat Transfer ◽  
Coated Surface

Numerous researches have been developed for pool boiling on microporous coated surface in the past decade. The nucleate boiling heat transfer was found to be increased by up to 4.5 times than that on uncoated surface. Recently, the two-phase micro heat exchangers have been considered for high flux electronic devices cooling. The enhancement techniques for improving the nucleate boiling heat transfer performance in the micro heat exchangers have gotten more importance. Previous studies of microporous coatings, however, have been restricted to boiling in unconfined space. No studies have been made on the feasibility of using microporous coatings for enhancing boiling in confined spaces. This study provides an experimental observation of the vapor generation and leaving processes on microporous coatings surface in a 1-mm confined space. It would be helpful for understanding the mechanism of boiling heat transfer and improving the design of two-phase micro heat exchangers. Aluminum particles of average diameter 20 μm were mixed with a binder and a carrier to develop a 150 μm thickness boiling enhancement paint on a 3.0 cm by 3.0 cm copper heating surface. The heating surface was covered by a thin glass plate with a 1 mm spacer to form a 1 mm vertical narrow space for the test section. The boiling phenomenon was recorded by a high speed camera. In addition to the three boiling regimes observed by Bonjour and Lallemand [1], i.e., isolated deformed bubbles, coalesced bubbles and partial dryout at low, moderate and high heat fluxes respectively in unconfined space, a suction and blowing process was observed at the highest heat flux condition. Owing to the space confinement, liquid was sucked and vapor was expelled periodically during the bubble generation process. This mechanism significantly enhanced the boiling heat transfer performance in confined space.

Heat Transfer Performance of Different Nanofluids Flows in a Helically Coiled Heat Exchanger

2013 ◽  
Vol 832 ◽  
pp. 160-165 ◽  
Author(s):  
Mohammad Alam Khairul ◽  
Rahman Saidur ◽  
Altab Hossain ◽  
Mohammad Abdul Alim ◽  
Islam Mohammed Mahbubul
Keyword(s):  
Heat Transfer ◽  
Heat Transfer Coefficient ◽  
Heat Exchanger ◽  
Pressure Drop ◽  
Transfer Coefficient ◽  
Friction Factor ◽  
Heat Exchangers ◽  
Heat Transfer Performance ◽  
Volume Concentration ◽  
Transfer Performance

Helically coiled heat exchangers are globally used in various industrial applications for their high heat transfer performance and compact size. Nanofluids can provide excellent thermal performance of this type of heat exchangers. In the present study, the effect of different nanofluids on the heat transfer performance in a helically coiled heat exchanger is examined. Four different types of nanofluids CuO/water, Al2O3/water, SiO2/water, and ZnO/water with volume fractions 1 vol.% to 4 vol.% was used throughout this analysis and volume flow rate was remained constant at 3 LPM. Results show that the heat transfer coefficient is high for higher particle volume concentration of CuO/water, Al2O3/water and ZnO/water nanofluids, while the values of the friction factor and pressure drop significantly increase with the increase of nanoparticle volume concentration. On the contrary, low heat transfer coefficient was found in higher concentration of SiO2/water nanofluids. The highest enhancement of heat transfer coefficient and lowest friction factor occurred for CuO/water nanofluids among the four nanofluids. However, highest friction factor and lowest heat transfer coefficient were found for SiO2/water nanofluids. The results reveal that, CuO/water nanofluids indicate significant heat transfer performance for helically coiled heat exchanger systems though this nanofluids exhibits higher pressure drop.

The Curvature Effect on the Heat Transfer at the End of a Bayonet Tube With Laminar Flows

2004 ◽  
Author(s):  
F. Sun ◽  
H. Li ◽  
J. Drummond ◽  
G.-X. Wang
Keyword(s):  
Heat Transfer ◽  
Heat Exchangers ◽  
Average Nusselt Number ◽  
Heat Transfer Performance ◽  
Laminar Flows ◽  
Transfer Performance ◽  
Curvature Effect ◽  
Flow And Heat Transfer ◽  
Cooling Agent ◽  
Annular Section

Bayonet tubes, simple refluent heat exchangers, are widely used to heat or cool a media when the heating/cooling agent is readily accessible from one side only. Many studies have been conducted to evaluate the heat transfer performance of bayonet tubes. The majority of these studies focus on the heat transfer in the annular section and little on the end surface. This paper presents a numerical simulation of the laminar flow and heat transfer in a bayonet tube. The simulation is first validated by the experimental data in the literature. The flow and heat transfer in bayonet tubes are then investigated with both flat and curved end surfaces. Both local and average Nusselt number on the end surfaces are calculated under various Re and geometry conditions. Effect of the end surface curvature is studied by comparing the performances of the flat and curved ended bayonet tubes.

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