Modular IT rack cooling assemblies and methods for assembling same

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-9839163-B2
Application number	US-201615362487-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Nov 28, 2016
Priority date	Mar 2, 2011
Publication date	Dec 5, 2017
Grant date	Dec 5, 2017

Abstract

A modular server rack cooling structure for cooling at least one server in at least one server rack of a data center assembly includes at least a first supporting member and at least a first heat exchanger. The first heat exchanger is coupled to the first supporting member, which is configured to position the first heat exchanger in heat transfer relationship with the at least one server. The first heat exchanger is not attached to the at least one server rack. The modular server rack cooling structure is also applied to a system that includes at least a first rack and at least a second rack disposed opposite from one another to form a hot aisle or a cold aisle. A method is disclosed for installing additional heat exchangers on the support structure of a modular server rack cooling structure to meet increased cooling capacity requirements without requiring additional space.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A modular server rack cooling structure for cooling at least one server in at least one rack of a data center, the modular server rack cooling structure comprising:
a first supporting member including a first plurality of beam members, wherein the first plurality of beam members are directly coupled to each other to form a substantially U-shaped configuration;
a second supporting member including a second plurality of beam members, wherein the second plurality of beam members are directly coupled to each other to form a substantially U-shaped configuration, wherein the first and second supporting members are disposed in a diametrically opposed orientation;
a third supporting member including a third plurality of beam members, wherein the third plurality of beam members are directly coupled to an upper end of each of the first and second plurality of beam members;
a first heat exchanger directly coupled to the first plurality of beam members of the first supporting member such that the first heat exchanger is positioned in heat transfer relationship with a first plurality of servers, wherein the first heat exchanger is not attached to the at least one rack;
a second heat exchanger coupled to the second plurality of beam members of the second supporting member such that the second heat exchanger is positioned in heat transfer relationship with a second plurality of servers, wherein the second heat exchanger is not attached to the at least one rack;
a third heat exchanger coupled to the third plurality of beam members of the third supporting member, the third heat exchanger positioned at a right angle with respect to the first heat exchanger and the second heat exchanger; and
a fourth heat exchanger coupled to the third plurality of beam members of the third supporting member and extending upward from the third plurality of beam members at an acute angle with respect to the third plurality of beam members.

2. The modular server rack cooling structure according to claim 1 , wherein the first heat exchanger has a dimension defining an edge that is rotatably coupled to a beam member of the first plurality of beam members.

3. The modular server rack cooling structure according to claim 2 , wherein at least one of the first and second plurality of beam members is a horizontal beam member or a vertical beam member.

4. The modular server rack cooling structure according to claim 1 , wherein the first plurality of beam members comprises at least first, second and third beam members, the first beam member substantially orthogonally coupled to the second beam member and the third beam member substantially orthogonally coupled to the second beam member to form a substantially U-shaped configuration, and wherein the first heat exchanger has a dimension defining an edge that is rotatably coupled to the first beam member, the second beam member, or the third beam member.

5. The modular server rack cooling structure according to claim 4 , wherein the dimension defining the edge of the first heat exchanger has a substantially longitudinal dimension defining a longitudinal edge of the first heat exchanger and wherein the longitudinal edge of the first heat exchanger is rotatably coupled to the first beam member or the third beam member.

6. The modular server rack cooling structure according to claim 5 , wherein the second plurality of beam members comprises at least first, second, and third beam members, the first beam member substantially orthogonally coupled to the second beam member and the third beam member substantially orthogonally coupled to the second beam member to form a substantially U-shaped configuration.

7. The modular server rack cooling structure according to claim 6 , wherein the second heat exchanger is disposed vertically, horizontally or diagonally.

8. The modular server rack cooling structure according to claim 1 , wherein the at least one rack is at least a first rack and the data center further includes at least a second rack for supporting at least one server, wherein the at least a first rack and the at least a second rack are disposed opposite one another to form a hot aisle or a cold aisle between the at least a first rack and the at least a second rack, wherein the at least a second rack is disposed adjacent the second plurality of beam members of the second supporting member.

9. The modular server rack cooling structure according to claim 1 , further comprising at least one forced fluid-flow device configured and disposed with respect to the first heat exchanger to provide a flow of fluid between the at least one server and the first heat exchanger.

10. The modular server rack cooling structure according to claim 6 , wherein the third plurality of beam members comprises at least first and second beam members extending from the first supporting member to the second supporting member, wherein the third heat exchanger has a dimension defining an edge that is rotatably coupled to the first beam member or the second beam member of the third plurality of beam members.

11. A modular data center system, comprising:
at least a first rack and at least a second rack disposed opposite one another to form a hot aisle or a cold aisle between the at least a first rack and the at least a second rack, each rack supporting at least one server;
a modular server rack cooling structure comprising:
a first supporting member including a first plurality of beam members, wherein the first plurality of beam members are directly coupled to each other to form a substantially U-shaped configuration, wherein the first supporting member is disposed adjacent the at least a first rack;
a second supporting member including a second plurality of beam members, wherein the second plurality of beam members are directly coupled to each other to form a substantially U-shaped configuration, wherein the second supporting member is disposed adjacent the at least a second rack such that the first and second supporting members are disposed in a diametrically opposed orientation;
a third supporting member including a third plurality of beam members, wherein the third plurality of beam members are directly coupled to an upper end of each of the first and second plurality of beam members;
a first heat exchanger coupled to the first plurality of beam members of the first supporting member such that the first heat exchanger is positioned in heat transfer relationship with at least one server of the at least a first rack, wherein the first heat exchanger is not attached to the at least a first rack;
a second heat exchanger coupled to the second plurality of beam members of the second supporting member such that the second heat exchanger is in heat transfer relationship with at least one server of the at least a second rack, wherein the second heat exchanger is not attached to the at least a second rack;
a third heat exchanger coupled to the third plurality of beam members of the third supporting member, the third heat exchanger positioned at a right angle with respect to the first heat exchanger and the second heat exchanger; and

a fourth heat exchanger coupled to the third plurality of beam members of the third supporting member and extending upward from the third plurality of beam members at an acute angle with respect to the third plurality of beam members.

12. The modular data center system according to claim 11 , wherein the first heat exchanger has a dimension defining an edge that is rotatably coupled to a beam member of the first plurality of beam members, and the second heat exchanger has a dimension defining an edge that is rotatably coupled to a beam member of the second plurality o

Assignees

• Inertech Ip Llc

Inventors

• Keisling Earl
• Costakis John
• Mcdonnell Gerald

Classifications

• H05K7/20745 Primary

  within rooms for removing heat from cabinets, e.g. by air conditioning device · CPC title

• H05K7/20736

  within cabinets for removing heat from server blades · CPC title

• Y10T29/49826

  Assembling or joining · CPC title

• H05K7/20827

  within rooms for removing heat from cabinets, e.g. air conditioning devices · CPC title

• H05K7/20781

  within cabinets for removing heat from server blades · CPC title