Immersion tank storage system for a data center

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-12557241-B2
Application number	US-202318373543-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Sep 27, 2023
Priority date	Apr 1, 2021
Publication date	Feb 17, 2026
Grant date	Feb 17, 2026

Abstract

An immersion tank storage system for a data center, includes: a frame defining a plurality of storage levels disposed above one another; a plurality of immersion tanks supported by the frame, each immersion tank configured to contain electronic devices and an immersion cooling liquid for cooling thereof, each storage level being configured to house first and second immersion tanks; and means for synchronously moving the first and second immersion tanks housed in at least one of the storage levels between: a storage position in which the first and second immersion tanks are spaced from each other by a first distance; and an access position in which the first and second immersion tanks are spaced from each other by a second distance greater than the first distance, wherein in the access position, the first and second immersion tanks are accessible by an operator for accessing the electronic devices contained therein.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1 . An immersion tank storage system for a data center, comprising:
a frame defining a plurality of storage levels disposed above one another; a plurality of immersion tanks supported by the frame, each immersion tank being configured to contain electronic devices and an immersion cooling liquid in which the electronic devices are immersed for cooling thereof, each storage level being configured to house first and second immersion tanks of the plurality of immersion tanks; and means for synchronously moving the first and second immersion tanks housed in at least one of the storage levels between:
a storage position in which the first and second immersion tanks are spaced from each other by a first distance; and
an access position in which the first and second immersion tanks are spaced from each other by a second distance greater than the first distance, wherein in the access position, the first and second immersion tanks are accessible by an operator for accessing the electronic devices contained therein.

2 . The immersion tank storage system of claim 1 , wherein, throughout a range of motion between the storage position and the access position, the first and second immersion tanks remain generally symmetrical to each other relative to a fixed vertical plane extending between the first and second immersion tanks.

3 . The immersion tank storage system of claim 1 , wherein the means for synchronously moving the first and second immersion tanks comprises:
a first moving platform supporting the first immersion tank housed in the at least one of the storage levels, the first moving platform being movable relative to the frame; and a second moving platform supporting the second immersion tank housed in the at least one of the storage levels, the second moving platform being movable relative to the frame, the first and second moving platforms being operatively connected to each other such that the first and second moving platforms are movable synchronously to translate the first and second immersion tanks between the storage and access positions.

4 . The immersion tank storage system of claim 1 , wherein the means for synchronously moving the first and second immersion tanks comprises:
an actuator; and at least one rotary member operatively connected to the actuator and rotatable thereby, wherein rotation of the at least one rotary member by the actuator causes displacement of the first and second immersion tanks between the storage and access positions.

5 . The immersion tank storage system of claim 4 , wherein the actuator is a motor.

6 . The immersion tank storage system of claim 4 , wherein each of the at least one rotary member is a lead screw.

7 . The immersion tank storage system of claim 4 , wherein the at least one rotary member includes two rotary members laterally spaced apart from one another, the two rotary members being operatively connected to the actuator by a flexible link.

8 . The immersion tank storage system of claim 4 , wherein the means for synchronously moving the first and second immersion tanks further comprises:
a first moving platform supporting the first immersion tank housed in the at least one of the storage levels; and a second moving platform supporting the second immersion tank housed in the at least one of the storage levels, the first and second moving platforms being operatively connected to each other by the at least one rotary member, the first and second moving platforms being movable synchronously by the at least one rotary member to translate the first and second immersion tanks between the storage and access positions.

9 . The immersion tank storage system of claim 1 , wherein:
the first and second immersion tanks are offset from one another in a depth direction of the frame; the first and second immersion tanks housed in the at least one of the storage levels are moved along the depth direction from the storage position to the access position; and in the access position, the first and second immersion tanks are disposed, in the depth direction, at least partially outwardly from opposite ends of the frame along the depth direction.

10 . The immersion tank storage system of claim 9 , wherein the means for synchronously moving the first and second immersion tanks comprises:
a first retractable support and a second retractable support for supporting the first and second immersion tanks housed in the at least one of the storage levels when the first and second immersion tanks are moved to the access position, the first and second retractable supports being operatively connected to the frame and movable between a retracted position and a deployed position, the first and second retractable supports extending further from the frame along the depth direction in the deployed position than in the retracted position in order to support the first and second immersion tanks respectively in the access position.

11 . The immersion tank storage system of claim 1 , wherein each of the immersion tanks weighs between 500 and 3500 kg.

12 . A method for storing and accessing immersion tanks in a data center, comprising:
providing a frame defining a plurality of storage levels disposed above one another; providing a plurality of immersion tanks supported by the frame, each storage level housing a first immersion tank and a second immersion tank; synchronously moving the first and second immersion tanks housed in at least one of the storage levels between a storage position and an access position,
in the storage position, the first and second immersion tanks being spaced from each other by a first distance (D1); and
in the access position, the first and second immersion tanks being spaced from each other by a second distance (D2) greater than the first distance (D1), wherein in the access position, the first and second immersion tanks are accessible by an operator for accessing the electronic devices contained therein.

13 . The method of claim 12 , wherein synchronously moving the first and second immersion tanks comprises maintaining the first and second immersion tanks generally symmetrical to each other relative to a fixed vertical plane extending therebetween throughout a range of motion between the storage position and the access position.

14 . The method of claim 12 , wherein synchronously moving the first and second immersion tanks comprises actuating an actuator to cause the first and second immersion tanks to move between the storage and access positions.

15 . The method of claim 12 , wherein synchronously moving the first and second immersion tanks comprises deploying first and second retractable supports for supporting the first and second immersion tanks housed in the at least one of the storage levels when the first and second immersion tanks are moved to the access position.

Assignees

• OVH

Inventors

• Bauchart Gregory Francis Louis
• Chehade Ali
• Meneboo Alexandre Alain Jean-Pierre

Classifications

• H10W40/73

  for cooling by change of state · CPC title

• H10W40/30

  wherein the packaged device is completely immersed in a fluid other than air, e.g. immersed in a cryogenic fluid · CPC title

• H05K7/20272

  Accessories for moving fluid, for expanding fluid, for connecting fluid conduits, for distributing fluid, for removing gas or for preventing leakage, e.g. pumps, tanks or manifolds · CPC title

• H05K7/20772

  within server blades for removing heat from heat source · CPC title

• H05K7/20781

  within cabinets for removing heat from server blades · CPC title