Portable maintenance cdu and maintenance ports for supplying liquid coolant during primary cdu downtime

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-2024256016-A1
Application number	US-202318161935-A
Country	US
Kind code	A1
Filing date	Jan 31, 2023
Priority date	Jan 31, 2023
Publication date	Aug 1, 2024
Grant date	—

Abstract

A system may comprise one or more computing systems, each comprising a group of compute nodes configured to receive liquid coolant. The system also comprises a primary coolant distribution unit (CDU) fluidically coupled to the computing system via a first set of fluid couplings and configured to supply the liquid coolant to the computing system. The system also includes a portable maintenance CDU configured to be removably coupled to the computing system, in a state of the primary CDU still being coupled to the computing system, via a second set of fluid couplings. The maintenance CDU is configured to supply the liquid coolant to the computing system in an installed state in lieu of the primary CDU.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1 . A system comprising:
a computing system comprising a group of compute nodes configured to receive liquid coolant; a primary coolant distribution unit (CDU) fluidically coupled to the computing system via a first set of fluid couplings and configured to supply the liquid coolant to the computing system; and a portable maintenance CDU configured to be removably coupled to the computing system, in a state of the primary CDU still being coupled to the computing system, via a second set of fluid couplings, wherein the maintenance CDU is configured to supply the liquid coolant to the computing system in an installed state.

2 . The system of claim 1 ,
wherein the computing system further comprises:
a supply path comprising a supply manifold fluidically coupled to the group of compute nodes, a first fluid coupling coupled to supply manifold and to the primary CDU, and a second fluid coupling coupled to the supply manifold; and
a return path comprising a return manifold fluidically coupled to the group of compute nodes, a third fluid coupling coupled to the return manifold and to the primary CDU, and a fourth fluid coupling coupled to the return manifold; and
wherein the first set of fluid couplings comprises the first fluid coupling and the third fluid coupling, and the second set of fluid couplings comprises the second fluid coupling and the fourth fluid coupling.

3 . The system of claim 2 ,
wherein the first fluid coupling and the second fluid coupling are coupled to a common fluid path via a junction.

4 . The system of claim 2 ,
wherein the third fluid coupling and the fourth fluid coupling are coupled to a common fluid path via a second junction.

5 . The system of claim 1 , further comprising:
a facility supply line configured to supply facility liquid coolant; a facility return line configured to return facility liquid coolant; a third set of fluid couplings coupling the primary CDU to the facility supply line and the facility return line; and a fourth set of fluid couplings configured to, in the installed state of the maintenance CDU, couple the maintenance CDU to the facility supply line and the facility return line.

6 . The system of claim 5 ,
wherein the first, second, third, and fourth set of fluid couplings comprise quick disconnect fluid couplings.

7 . The system of claim 5 ,
wherein the first, second, third, and fourth set of fluid couplings comprise integral flow control mechanisms.

8 . The system of claim 5 ,
wherein the primary CDU and the maintenance CDU each comprise liquid-to-liquid heat exchangers.

9 . The system of claim 1 ,
wherein the primary CDU and the maintenance CDU each comprise liquid-to-air heat exchangers.

10 . The system of claim 1 , further comprising:
a plurality of computing systems, each comprising a group of compute nodes configured to receive liquid coolant, the computing system being one of the plurality of computing systems; a plurality of primary CDUs, each coupled to a corresponding one of the plurality of computing systems, wherein the primary CDU is one of the plurality of primary CDUs; wherein the maintenance CDU is configured to be removably coupled to each of the plurality of computing systems, one at a time, in a state of the corresponding primary CDU still being coupled to the respective computing system.

11 . A method comprising:
moving a portable maintenance CDU into an installation position adjacent to a computing system, wherein a primary CDU is fluidically coupled to the computing system via a first set of fluid couplings; connecting the maintenance CDU to the computing system via a second set of fluid couplings, in a state of the primary CDU coupled to the computing system; and supplying liquid coolant to the computing system via the maintenance CDU.

12 . The method of claim 11 ,
wherein the primary CDU is coupled to a facility supply line and a facility return line via a third set of fluid couplings; and the method further comprises connecting the maintenance CDU to the facility supply line and the facility return line via a fourth set of fluid couplings.

13 . The method of claim 11 ,
wherein coupling to the computing system via a second set of fluid couplings, in a state of the primary CDU coupled to the computing system maintenance ports of the supply and return paths of the local system of compute nodes.

14 . The method of claim 11 ,
wherein the computing system further comprises:
a supply path comprising a supply manifold fluidically coupled to the group of compute nodes, a first fluid coupling coupled to supply manifold and to the primary CDU, and a second fluid coupling coupled to the supply manifold; and
a return path comprising a return manifold fluidically coupled to the group of compute nodes, a third fluid coupling coupled to the return manifold and to the primary CDU, and a fourth fluid coupling coupled to the return manifold; and
the first set of fluid couplings comprises the first fluid coupling and the third fluid coupling, and the second set of fluid couplings comprises the second fluid coupling and the fourth fluid coupling, and wherein connecting the maintenance CDU to the computing system via the second set of fluid couplings comprises connecting the CDU to the second fluid coupling and to the fourth fluid coupling.

15 . The method of claim 14 ,
wherein the first fluid coupling and the second fluid coupling are coupled to a common fluid path via a junction; and wherein the third fluid coupling and the fourth fluid coupling are coupled to a common fluid path via a second junction.

16 . The method of claim 11 , further comprising:
disconnecting the maintenance CDU from the computing system; moving the maintenance CDU out of the installation position.

17 . The method of claim 16 , further comprising:
moving the maintenance CDU into a second installation position adjacent to a second computing system, wherein a second primary CDU is fluidically coupled to the second computing system; connecting the maintenance CDU to the second computing system, in a state of the primary CDU coupled to the computing system; and supplying liquid coolant to the second computing system via the maintenance CDU.

18 . A system comprising:
a computing system comprising a group of compute nodes configured to receive liquid coolant; a primary coolant distribution unit (CDU) fluidically coupled to the computing system via a first set of fluid couplings and configured to supply the liquid coolant to the computing system; and a second set of fluid couplings configured to be removably coupled with a portable maintenance CDU, in a state of the primary CDU still being coupled to the computing system.

19 . The system of claim 18 ,
wherein the computing system further comprises:
a supply path comprising a supply manifold fluidically coupled to the group of compute nodes, a first fluid coupling coupled to supply manifold and to the primary CDU, and a second fluid coupling coupled to the supply manifold; and
a return path comprising a return manifold fluidically coupled to the group of compute nodes, a third fluid coupling coupled to the return manifold and to the primary CDU, and a fourth fluid coupling coupled to the return manifold; and
wherein the first set of fluid couplings comprises the first fluid coupling and the third fluid coupling, and the second set of fluid couplings comprises the second fluid coupling and the fourth fluid coupling.

Assignees

• Hewlett Packard Entpr Dev Lp

Inventors

• Chialastri David Scott
• Mahendra Pranay
• Volkmann Arthur

Classifications

• H05K7/20763

  Liquid cooling without phase change · 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

• H05K7/20281

  Thermal management, e.g. liquid flow control · CPC title

• H05K7/20836

  Thermal management, e.g. server temperature control · CPC title

• H05K7/20709 Primary

  for server racks or cabinets; for data centers, e.g. 19-inch computer racks · CPC title