Patent application number | Description | Published |
20110232889 | COMPUTER RACK COOLING USING INDEPENDENTLY-CONTROLLED FLOW OF COOLANTS THROUGH A DUAL-SECTION HEAT EXCHANGER - Embodiments of the present invention include a cooling system and method for cooling a computer rack by circulating liquid coolant through different sections of a rack heat exchanger under separately controlled flow and temperature conditions. In a method according to one embodiment, a first liquid coolant is supplied to a first section of an air-to-liquid heat exchanger. A second liquid coolant is supplied to a second section of the air-to-liquid heat exchanger at a different temperature than the first liquid coolant. Airflow is generated through rack-mounted computer components to the first and second sections of the air-to-liquid heat exchanger. The flow rates of the first and second liquid coolants are independently controlled to enforce a target cooling parameter. The independent operation of the first and second fin tube sections allows for the increased use of un-chilled water without sacrificing heat removal objectives. | 09-29-2011 |
20110286175 | LIQUID COOLANT CONDUIT SECURED IN AN UNUSED SOCKET FOR MEMORY MODULE COOLING - An apparatus for cooling a memory module installed in a computer system includes a liquid coolant conduit that is connected to a conduit support structure having a form factor selectively securable within a first preconfigured memory module socket of the computer system in order to position the liquid coolant conduit above the first socket. A heat pipe provides direct thermal contact between the liquid conduit and a heat spreader assembly in direct thermal contact with a face of the memory module. The apparatus may include a second heat pipe and second heat spreader assembly for similarly cooling a second memory module. In alternative configurations, the apparatus may cool memory modules on opposing sides of the conduit or memory modules that are both on the same side of the conduit. | 11-24-2011 |
20120298335 | AIR-COOLING WALL WITH SLIDABLE HEAT EXCHANGERS - An air-cooling apparatus is provided which includes an air-cooling wall cooling airflow passing through an electronics rack(s) of a data center. The air-cooling wall is disposed separate from and in spaced relation to the air inlet or air outlet side(s) of the electronics rack(s), and includes a wall panel support structure disposed separate from the electronics rack(s), which supports one or more slidable wall panels. The slidable wall panel(s) includes an air-to-liquid heat exchanger slidably supported and disposed in spaced relation to the air outlet or air inlet side of the electronics rack(s). The heat exchanger extracts heat from air passing across the heat exchanger and is slidable within the support structure in a direction transverse to the direction of airflow through the rack(s). Slidable support of the heat exchanger by the support structure facilitates access to the air outlet or air inlet sides of the electronics rack(s). | 11-29-2012 |
20120300398 | MULTI-RACK, DOOR-MOUNTED HEAT EXCHANGER - An air-cooling apparatus is provided which includes a securing mechanism for holding two or more separate electronics racks in fixed relation adjacent to each other, and a multi-rack door sized and configured to span the air inlet or air outlet sides of the racks. The securing mechanism holds the electronics racks in fixed relation with their air inlet sides facing a first direction, and air outlet sides facing a second direction. The door includes a door frame with an airflow opening. The airflow opening facilitates the ingress or egress of airflow through the electronics racks, and the door further includes an air-to-liquid heat exchanger supported by the door frame, and disposed so that air flowing through the airflow opening passes across the heat exchanger. In operation, the heat exchanger extracts heat from the air passing through the separate electronics racks. | 11-29-2012 |
20130166094 | OPERATING EFFICIENCY OF A REAR DOOR HEAT EXCHANGER - Improving the operating efficiency of a rear door heat exchanger, including: determining, by a ventilation management module, a temperature differential between two temperature sensors in the rear door heat exchanger, the temperature differential indicative of cooling efficiency in the rear door heat exchanger; determining, by the ventilation management module, whether the temperature differential is greater than a predetermined threshold; and responsive to determining that the temperature differential is greater than the predetermined threshold, taking corrective action by the ventilation management module. | 06-27-2013 |
20130168068 | THERMALLY ENHANCED COLD PLATE HAVING HIGH CONDUCTIVITY THERMAL TRANSFER PATHS - A cold plate comprises a cold plate body having a base for thermally engaging a heat-generating device, a plurality of internal channels extending through the cold plate body for the passage of a liquid coolant, a first region between the base and the plurality of internal channels, and a second region between the plurality of internal channels and a top that is generally opposite the base from the plurality of internal channels. The cold plate body is made from a first thermally conductive material. The cold plate also comprises at least one thermally conductive member extending around the plurality of channels from the first region below the plurality of channels to the second region above the plurality of channels. The at least one thermally conductive member has a greater thermal conductivity than the first thermally conductive material to move heat from the first region to the second region. | 07-04-2013 |
20130263450 | HEAT EXCHANGER DOOR FOR AN ELECTRONICS RACK - An air-cooling method is provided which includes providing a heat exchanger door and a catch bracket. The door is hingedly mounted to the air inlet or outlet side of an electronics rack, and includes: a door frame spanning at least a portion of the air inlet or outlet side of the rack, wherein the frame includes an airflow opening which facilitates airflow through the rack; an air-to-coolant heat exchanger supported by the door frame and disposed so that airflow through the airflow opening passes thereacross; and a door latch mechanism to selectively latch the heat exchanger door to the rack. The catch bracket is attached to the rack and sized to extend from the rack into the heat exchanger door through a catch opening, and the door latch mechanism is configured and mounted within the heat exchanger door to physically engage the catch bracket within the heat exchanger door. | 10-10-2013 |
20130264024 | PROCESS FOR OPTIMIZING A HEAT EXCHANGER CONFIGURATION - A heat exchanger core optimization method is provided for a heat exchanger door which resides at an air inlet or outlet side of an electronics rack, and includes an air-to-coolant heat exchanger with a heat exchanger core. The core includes a first coolant channel coupled to a coolant inlet manifold downstream from a second coolant channel, and the first channel has a shorter channel length than the second channel. Further, coolant channels of the core are coupled to provide counter-flow cooling of an airflow passing across the core. The core optimization method determines at least one combination of parameters that optimize for a particular application at least two performance metrics of the heat exchanger. This method includes obtaining performance metrics for boundary condition(s) of possible heat exchanger configurations with different variable parameters to determine a combination of parameters that optimize the performance metrics for the heat exchanger. | 10-10-2013 |
20130264026 | HEAT EXCHANGER DOOR FOR AN ELECTRONICS RACK - An air-cooling apparatus is provided which includes a heat exchanger door and a catch bracket. The door is hingedly mounted to the air inlet or outlet side of an electronics rack, and includes: a door frame spanning at least a portion of the air inlet or outlet side of the rack, wherein the frame includes an airflow opening which facilitates airflow through the rack; an air-to-coolant heat exchanger supported by the door frame and disposed so that airflow through the airflow opening passes thereacross; and a door latch mechanism to selectively latch the heat exchanger door to the rack. The catch bracket is attached to the rack and sized to extend from the rack into the heat exchanger door through a catch opening, and the door latch mechanism is configured and mounted within the heat exchanger door to physically engage the catch bracket within the heat exchanger door. | 10-10-2013 |
20130264027 | PROCESS FOR OPTIMIZING A HEAT EXCHANGER CONFIGURATION - A heat exchanger door and heat exchanger core optimization method are provided. The door resides at an air inlet or outlet side of an electronics rack, and includes an air-to-coolant heat exchanger with a heat exchanger core. The core includes a first coolant channel coupled to a coolant inlet manifold downstream from a second coolant channel, and the first channel has a shorter channel length than the second channel. Further, coolant channels of the core are coupled to provide counter-flow cooling of an airflow passing across the core. The core optimization method determines at least one combination of parameters that optimize for a particular application at least two performance metrics of the heat exchanger. This method includes obtaining performance metrics for boundary condition(s) of possible heat exchanger configurations with different variable parameters to determine a combination of parameters that optimize the performance metrics for the heat exchanger. | 10-10-2013 |
20130264030 | STRUCTURAL CONFIGURATION OF A HEAT EXCHANGER DOOR FOR AN ELECTRONICS RACK - A heat exchanger door is provided which includes a door assembly spanning at least a portion of the air inlet or outlet side of an electronics rack. The door assembly includes an airflow opening which facilitates air ingress or egress of airflow through the electronics rack. The door assembly further includes an air-to-coolant heat exchanger and a structural support. The heat exchanger is disposed so that airflow through the airflow opening passes across the heat exchanger. The heat exchanger includes a heat exchanger core and a heat exchanger casing coupled to the core. The core includes at least one coolant-carrying channel which loops through the casing. The structural support is attached to the heat exchanger casing to define with the casing a tubular door support structure. The looping of the coolant-carrying channel(s) through the heat exchanger casing resides within the tubular door support structure. | 10-10-2013 |
20130265719 | STRUCTURAL CONFIGURATION OF A HEAT EXCHANGER DOOR FOR AN ELECTRONICS RACK - A method is provided which includes providing a heat exchanger door that includes a door assembly spanning at least a portion of the air inlet or outlet side of an electronics rack. The door assembly includes an airflow opening which facilitates air ingress or egress of airflow through the electronics rack. The door assembly further includes an air-to-coolant heat exchanger and a structural support. The heat exchanger is disposed so that airflow through the airflow opening passes across the heat exchanger. The heat exchanger includes a heat exchanger core and a heat exchanger casing coupled to the core. The core includes at least one coolant-carrying channel which loops through the casing. The structural support is attached to the heat exchanger casing to define with the casing a tubular door support structure. The looping of the coolant-carrying channel(s) through the heat exchanger casing resides within the tubular door support structure. | 10-10-2013 |
20140043759 | MULTI-RACK, DOOR-MOUNTED HEAT EXCHANGER - An air-cooling apparatus is provided which includes a securing mechanism for holding two or more separate electronics racks in fixed relation adjacent to each other, and a multi-rack door sized and configured to span the air inlet or air outlet sides of the racks. The securing mechanism holds the electronics racks in fixed relation with their air inlet sides facing a first direction, and air outlet sides facing a second direction. The door includes a door frame with an airflow opening. The airflow opening facilitates the ingress or egress of airflow through the electronics racks, and the door further includes an air-to-liquid heat exchanger supported by the door frame, and disposed so that air flowing through the airflow opening passes across the heat exchanger. In operation, the heat exchanger extracts heat from the air passing through the separate electronics racks. | 02-13-2014 |
20140043760 | MULTI-RACK, DOOR-MOUNTED HEAT EXCHANGER - An air-cooling apparatus is provided which includes a securing mechanism for holding two or more separate electronics racks in fixed relation adjacent to each other, and a multi-rack door sized and configured to span the air inlet or air outlet sides of the racks. The securing mechanism holds the electronics racks in fixed relation with their air inlet sides facing a first direction, and air outlet sides facing a second direction. The door includes a door frame with an airflow opening. The airflow opening facilitates the ingress or egress of airflow through the electronics racks, and the door further includes an air-to-liquid heat exchanger supported by the door frame, and disposed so that air flowing through the airflow opening passes across the heat exchanger. In operation, the heat exchanger extracts heat from the air passing through the separate electronics racks. | 02-13-2014 |
20140043761 | MULTI-RACK, DOOR-MOUNTED HEAT EXCHANGER - An air-cooling apparatus is provided which includes a securing mechanism for holding two or more separate electronics racks in fixed relation adjacent to each other, and a multi-rack door sized and configured to span the air inlet or air outlet sides of the racks. The securing mechanism holds the electronics racks in fixed relation with their air inlet sides facing a first direction, and air outlet sides facing a second direction. The door includes a door frame with an airflow opening. The airflow opening facilitates the ingress or egress of airflow through the electronics racks, and the door further includes an air-to-liquid heat exchanger supported by the door frame, and disposed so that air flowing through the airflow opening passes across the heat exchanger. In operation, the heat exchanger extracts heat from the air passing through the separate electronics racks. | 02-13-2014 |
20140043762 | MULTI-RACK, DOOR-MOUNTED HEAT EXCHANGER - An air-cooling apparatus is provided which includes a securing mechanism for holding two or more separate electronics racks in fixed relation adjacent to each other, and a multi-rack door sized and configured to span the air inlet or air outlet sides of the racks. The securing mechanism holds the electronics racks in fixed relation with their air inlet sides facing a first direction, and air outlet sides facing a second direction. The door includes a door frame with an airflow opening. The airflow opening facilitates the ingress or egress of airflow through the electronics racks, and the door further includes an air-to-liquid heat exchanger supported by the door frame, and disposed so that air flowing through the airflow opening passes across the heat exchanger. In operation, the heat exchanger extracts heat from the air passing through the separate electronics racks. | 02-13-2014 |
20140060798 | Configuring A Liquid Cooling System Associated With Electrical Computing Racks - Apparatuses and computer program products for configuring a liquid cooling system are provided. Embodiments include a valve controller determining a temperature of liquid within a particular portion of the liquid cooling system; determining whether the temperature of the liquid within the particular portion of the liquid cooling system exceeds a predetermined threshold; if predetermined threshold is not exceeded, configuring, one or more valves such that liquid directly exiting a first liquid cooling apparatus of a first electrical component rack is used in a second liquid cooling apparatus to cool a second electrical component rack; and if the predetermined threshold is exceeded, configuring the one or more valves such that liquid directly exiting a main supply line of the liquid cooling system is used in the second liquid cooling apparatus to cool the second electrical component rack. | 03-06-2014 |
20140060799 | Configuring A Liquid Cooling System Associated With Electrical Computing Racks - Configuring a liquid cooling system according to a particular embodiment of the present invention include a valve controller determining a temperature of liquid within a particular portion of the liquid cooling system; determining whether the temperature of the liquid within the particular portion of the liquid cooling system exceeds a predetermined threshold; if predetermined threshold is not exceeded, configuring, one or more valves such that liquid directly exiting a first liquid cooling apparatus of a first electrical component rack is used in a second liquid cooling apparatus to cool a second electrical component rack; and if the predetermined threshold is exceeded, configuring the one or more valves such that liquid directly exiting a main supply line of the liquid cooling system is used in the second liquid cooling apparatus to cool the second electrical component rack. | 03-06-2014 |