Data center energy efficiency enhancement using a two-phase heat sink with ultra-high heat transfer coefficient

Abstract

This paper presents the latest progress on characterization of our membrane assisted phase-change heat sink (MHS) at conditions suitable for implementation in data centers (DCs). Experiments are conducted using water as the working fluid at a vapor space pressure ($P_{vapor}$) of 16 kPa, corresponding to a saturation temperature of $\sim$ 55$^{\circ}$C. This temperature is sufficiently lower than the silicon junction temperature of ~80$^{\circ}$C. As anticipated, the overall performance of MHS at sub-atmospheric pressure is lower compared to analogous tests at atmospheric pressure. In agreement with previous studies on MHS, the critical heat flux limit (CHF) increases with enhancement of the heat transfer area ratio ($A_r$) and liquid space pressure ($P_{pool}$). We report a maximum CHF of 670 W/cm$^2$ on a surface with an enhanced area ratio of 3.45, multiple times greater than the CHF reported hitherto by a comparable two-phase heat sink in literature. Heat transfer coefficients (HTC) as high as $\sim$ 1 MW/m$^2$-K are obtained. These record performance data along with unique characteristics of the MHS promise to greatly benefit next generation highly energy efficient DCs.