Systems and assemblies for cooling server racks

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-10448539-B2
Application number	US-201715590596-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	May 9, 2017
Priority date	Mar 15, 2013
Publication date	Oct 15, 2019
Grant date	Oct 15, 2019

Abstract

A cooling assembly for cooling server racks includes a server rack enclosure sub-assembly that includes at least one panel member defining a volume for receiving one or more server racks having a front portion and a rear portion, at least one of the panel members is a rear panel member; at least one frame member defines an opening for receiving the rear portion of the server racks to form a hot space between the rear panel member and the combination of the frame member and the rear portion of the server racks; a cooling sub-assembly disposed in thermal communication with the hot space to cool at least one server supported in the server rack and including a chassis receiving at least one heat exchange member for exchanging heat between a refrigerant fluid flowing through the heat exchange member and fluid flowing through the hot space heated by the server.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A cooling assembly for cooling server racks comprising:
a server rack enclosure sub-assembly comprising:
a plurality of panel members defining a volume for receiving at most two server racks having a front portion and a rear portion, at least one of the plurality of panel members being a rear panel member and at least two of the plurality of panel members being side panel members: and
at least one frame member defining an opening for receiving the rear portion of the at most two server racks to form a hot space between the rear panel member, the side panel members, and a combination of the at least one frame member and the rear portion of the at most two server racks; and
a cooling sub-assembly disposed over and in thermal communication with the hot space to enable cooling of at least one server supported in the at most two server racks, the cooling sub-assembly comprising a set of one or more structural members configured and disposed to support at least one heat exchange member to enable the thermal communication with the at least one server rack enclosure sub-assembly for the cooling of the at least one server, the at least one heat exchange member configured to exchange heat between a refrigerant flowing through the at least one heat exchange member and another fluid flowing through the hot space that has been heated by the at least one server,
wherein the set of one or more structural members is configured and disposed to support at least one refrigerant fluid supply line and at least one refrigerant fluid return line, the at least one refrigerant fluid supply line and the at least one refrigerant fluid return line in thermal and fluid communication with the at least one heat exchange member.

2. The cooling assembly according to claim 1 , wherein the at least one frame member includes one or more horizontal frame members, one or more vertical frame members, or both.

3. The cooling assembly according to claim 2 , wherein at least one of the one or more horizontal frame members is supported by one or more of the one or more vertical frame members.

4. The cooling assembly according to claim 2 , wherein the one or more vertical frame members and/or the one or more horizontal frame members further comprises a sealing member to form a seal between (1) the one or more vertical frame members and/or the one or more horizontal frame members and (2) the rear portion of the at most two server racks.

5. The cooling assembly according to claim 1 , wherein the rear panel member includes at least one door to enable access to the rear portion of the at most two server racks.

6. A cooling assembly for cooling server racks comprising: a server rack enclosure sub-assembly comprising:
a plurality panel members defining a volume for receiving at most two server racks having a front portion and a rear portion, at least one of the plurality of panel members being a rear panel member and at least two of the plurality of panel members being side panel members: and
at least one frame member defining an opening for receiving the rear portion of the at most two server racks to form a hot space between the rear panel member, the side panel members, and a combination of the at least one frame member and the rear portion of the at most two server racks; and
a cooling sub-assembly disposed over and in thermal communication with the hot space to enable cooling of at least one server supported in the at most two server racks, the cooling sub-assembly comprising a set of one or more structural members configured and disposed to support at least one heat exchange member to enable the thermal communication with the at least one server rack enclosure sub-assembly for the cooling of the at least one server, the at least one heat exchange member configured to exchange heat between a first fluid flowing through the at least one heat exchange member and a second fluid flowing through the hot space that has been heated by the at least one server,
wherein the set of one or more structural members is configured and disposed to support a plurality of fans which are (a) in fluid communication with the at least one heat exchange member to enable the cooling of the at least one server and (b) disposed to draw the second fluid flowing in the hot space through the at least one heat exchange member and over a top of the cooling sub-assembly.

7. The cooling assembly according to claim 6 , wherein the at least one frame member includes one or more horizontal frame members, one or more vertical frame members, or both.

8. The cooling assembly according to claim 7 , wherein at least one of the one or more horizontal frame members is supported by one or more of the one or more vertical frame members.

9. The cooling assembly according to claim 7 , wherein one or more of the one or more vertical frame members or one or more of the one or more horizontal members or both the one or more of the one or more vertical frame members and the one or more of the one or more horizontal frame members further comprises a sealing member to form a seal between the respective frame member and the rear portion of the at most two server racks.

10. The cooling assembly according to claim 6 , wherein the rear panel member includes at least one door to enable access to the rear portion of the at most two server racks.

Assignees

• Inertech Ip Llc

Inventors

• Keisling Earl
• Costakis John
• Mcdonnell Gerald
• Welch Michael

Classifications

• H05K7/2079

  within rooms for removing heat from cabinets · CPC title

• H05K7/20609 Primary

  Air circulating in closed loop within cabinets wherein heat is removed through air-to-liquid heat-exchanger · CPC title

• H05K7/20736

  within cabinets for removing heat from server blades · CPC title

• H05K5/02

  Details · CPC title

• H05K7/20145

  Means for directing air flow, e.g. ducts, deflectors, plenum or guides · CPC title