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Method and apparatus for providing supplemental cooling to server racks

a technology of server racks and cooling devices, which is applied in the direction of electrical equipment, electrical apparatus, electrical apparatus contruction details, etc., can solve the problems of uneven heat load in the electronics enclosure, and achieve the effect of reducing the disruption of cooling

Inactive Publication Date: 2009-02-19
COOLIGY INC
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  • Summary
  • Abstract
  • Description
  • Claims
  • Application Information

AI Technical Summary

Benefits of technology

[0009]The rear door including the one or more heat exchangers is configured to provide access to the cables and equipment located within the electronics enclosure. Such access can be provided by swinging the door open on hinges like a standard door. In the case where there are multiple heat exchangers, the door can be configured into segments, one segment per heat exchanger, and each segment includes hinges so as to be opened independently from the other segments. Such a configuration reduces the cooling disruption to the other electronics servers within the electronics enclosure. In some embodiments, each segment swivels open like a standard door. In other embodiments, each segment is configured to swivel up or down. In still other embodiments, each segment is configured to be disconnected from the electronics enclosure and moved out of the way, in which case each heat exchanger is connected using either flexible tubing that can be bent out of the way or quick disconnects. In other embodiments, the entire rear door, or each segment of the rear door, can be configured to slide open and closed like a drawer.

Problems solved by technology

In most applications, a heat load within the electronics enclosure is not evenly distributed.

Method used

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  • Method and apparatus for providing supplemental cooling to server racks
  • Method and apparatus for providing supplemental cooling to server racks
  • Method and apparatus for providing supplemental cooling to server racks

Examples

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first embodiment

[0057]FIG. 4 illustrates an isometric view of an electronics enclosure with an access mechanism in a closed position. An electronics enclosure 110 includes a rear panel 120 including one or more heat exchangers. The one or more heat exchangers are coupled to flexible fluid lines 140 for input and output of cooling fluid. In some embodiments, the electronics enclosure 110 includes a plenum and duct work of the type described above in relation to FIGS. 1-3. In other embodiments, the electronics enclosure 110 may or may not include a plenum and / or duct work between the back of the electronics servers 160 (FIG. 5A) and the rear panel 120.

[0058]FIG. 5A illustrates an isometric view of the electronics enclosure 110 with the access mechanism in an open position. Slide rails 150 are coupled to the rear panel 120 and to the rear end of the electronics enclosure 110. The slide rails 150 enable the rear panel 120 to slide back and forth relative to the electronics enclosure 110, similar to a d...

second embodiment

[0062]FIG. 6 illustrates an isometric view of an electronics enclosure with an access mechanism. The rear panel of an electronics enclosure 210 is replaced with a plurality of heat exchangers 222, 224, 226 and duct work 232, 234, 236. The inclusion of three sets of heat exchangers and duct works is for exemplary purposes only, more or less than three sets of heat exchangers and duct works can be used. Each of the heat exchangers 222, 224, 226 is coupled to fluid lines 240 for input and output of cooling fluid. The fluid lines can be flexible or hard-plumbed. Air output from the back of the electronics enclosure 210 is directed to each of the heat exchangers 222, 224, 226 via the duct work 232, 234, 236, respectively. The heat exchangers 222, 224, 226 are each positioned substantially horizontally, and the duct work 232, 234, 236 redirects the substantially horizontal air flow out the back of the electronic enclosure 210 to a substantially upward vertical air flow directed to the hea...

third embodiment

[0065]In FIG. 6, the heat exchangers and duct work are configured to direct air upward. In an alternative configuration, the heat exchangers and duct work are configured to direct air downward. FIG. 7 illustrates an isometric view of an electronics enclosure with an access mechanism. The access mechanism of FIG. 7 is configured similarly as the access mechanism of FIG. 6 except that the heat exchanges and duct work are configured to direct air downward. Specifically, the heat exchangers 322, 324, 326 replace the heat exchangers 222, 224, 226 of FIG. 6, and duct work 332, 334, 336 replaces duct works 232, 234, 236 of FIG. 6. Each of the heat exchangers 322, 324, 326 is coupled to fluid lines 340 for input and output of cooling fluid. The fluid lines 340 can be flexible or hard-plumbed. Air output from the back of the electronics enclosure 310 is directed to each of the heat exchangers 322, 324, 326 via the duct works 332, 334, 336, respectively. The heat exchangers 322, 324, 326 are ...

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Abstract

A cooling system includes a re-configurable duct work assembly for a server rack or other electronics enclosure. Heat generating devices are positioned within the electronics enclosure and heat exchangers are coupled to the heat generating devices via the duct work. The duct work is positioned within a plenum between the back of the electronics servers and the heat exchangers. The interior of the electronics enclosure is conceptually segmented into heat zones. The duct work is used to selectively direct heated air to the heat exchangers. In some embodiments, the heated air output from a single heat zone is directed by the duct work to a corresponding single heat exchanger. In other embodiments, the heated air output from a group of adjacent heat zones is combined within a single duct work guide that directs the combined heated air to a corresponding number of adjacent heat exchangers.

Description

RELATED APPLICATIONS[0001]This application claims priority of U.S. provisional application, Ser. No. 60 / 964,025, filed Aug. 7, 2007, and entitled “Method and Apparatus for Providing Supplemental Cooling to Server Racks”, by these same inventors. This application incorporates U.S. provisional application, Ser. No. 60 / 964,025 in its entirety by reference.FIELD OF THE INVENTION[0002]The invention relates to a method of and apparatus for cooling a heat generating device in general, and specifically, to a method of and apparatus for cooling server applications using duct work and fluid-based cooling systems.BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION[0003]Cooling of high performance integrated circuits with high heat dissipation is presenting significant challenge in the electronics cooling arena. Conventional cooling with heat pipes and fan mounted heat sinks are not adequate for cooling chips with every increasing wattage requirements, including those exceeding 100 W.[0004]Electronics servers, such as...

Claims

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Application Information

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Patent Type & Authority Applications(United States)
IPC IPC(8): H05K7/20
CPCH05K7/20736
Inventor BREWER, RICHARD GRANTCHOI, HAE-WONHOM, JAMESWERNER, DOUGLAS E.
Owner COOLIGY INC
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