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EP-4736591-A1 - SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR REAR-DOOR COOLING UNITS

EP4736591A1EP 4736591 A1EP4736591 A1EP 4736591A1EP-4736591-A1

Abstract

A cooling system for electrical equipment comprising:a rack;a rear-door cooling unit (100) mounted to the rack, the rear-door cooling unit (100) being pivotable about a first axis between an open position and a closed position and defining a first side (150) proximate the rack, and a second side opposite the first side;a liquid-to-air heat exchanger (1200) mounted within the rear-door cooling unit (100);a fan (114), a controller (140), and a power supply unit (132a, 132b), each of the fan (114), the controller (140), and the power supply unit (132a, 132b) mounted to the rear-door cooling unit (100) at the second side, and accessible from the second side when the rear-door cooling unit (100) is in the closed position.

Inventors

  • Djuranec, Stefan
  • ARCHIBALD, MATTHEW R.
  • Weiler, Hans-Jörg
  • Marcinkowski, Christophe

Assignees

  • Hoffman Enclosures, Inc.

Dates

Publication Date
20260506
Application Date
20240701

Claims (15)

  1. 1. A cooling system for electrical equipment comprising: a rack; a rear-door cooling unit ( 100) mounted to the rack, the rear-door cooling unit (100) being pivotable about a first axis between an open position and a closed position and defining a first side (150) proximate the rack, and a second side opposite the first side; a liquid-to-air heat exchanger (1200) mounted within the rear-door cooling unit (100); a fan (114), a controller (140), and a power supply unit (132a, 132b), each of the fan (114), the controller (140), and the power supply unit (132a, 132b) mounted to the rear-door cooling unit (100) at the second side, and accessible from the second side when the rear-door cooling unit (100) is in the closed position.
  2. 2. The cooling system of claim 1, wherein each of the fan (114), the controller (140), and the power supply unit (132a, 132b) are configured for tool less removal.
  3. 3. The cooling system of any of the preceding claims, wherein each of the fan (114), the controller (140), and the power supply unit (132a, 132b) includes a blind mate connector that engages a corresponding blind mate connector of the rear-door cooling unit (100).
  4. 4. The cooling system of any of the preceding claims, wherein the rear-door cooling unit (100) includes a hinge at a first lateral side (146) of the rear-door cooling unit (100), the hinge at least partially defining the first axis.
  5. 5. The cooling system of claim 4, wherein the liquid-to-air heat exchanger (1200) includes a supply header (122) and a return header (120), wherein each of the supply header (122) and the return header (120) are positioned at a second lateral side (147) of the rear-door cooling unit (100), opposite the first lateral side (146), each of the supply header (122) and the return header (120) including a quick disconnect fitting (1302, 1304).
  6. 6. The cooling system of any of the preceding claims, wherein the rear-door cooling unit (100) includes apertures (800) configured to receive hosing (120, 122) in a bottom feed configuration.
  7. 7. The cooling system of any of the preceding claims, wherein the power supply unit (132a, 132b) is one of a plurality of power supply units.
  8. 8. The cooling system of any of the preceding claims, wherein the fan (114) is one of a plurality of fans, each of the plurality of fans mounted to the rear-door cooling unit (100) at the second side (147).
  9. 9. The cooling system of any of the preceding claims, wherein each of the fan (114), the controller (140), and the power supply unit (132a, 132b) are hot swappable.
  10. 10. The cooling system of any of the preceding claims, wherein a second axis extends through the first side (150) and the second side, and wherein a maximum depth (DI) of the rear-door cooling unit (100) in a direction parallel to the second axis is between about 200 mm and about 250 mm.
  11. 11. The cooling system of any of the preceding claims, wherein a lateral axis is defined between opposing lateral sides (146, 147) of the rear-door cooling unit (100), wherein the controller (140) is configured for removal from the rear-door cooling unit (100) in a direction parallel to the lateral axis.
  12. 12. The cooling system of claim 11, wherein the power supply unit (132a, 132b) is configured for removal from the rear-door cooling unit (100) in a direction parallel to a lateral axis defined between opposing sides of the rear-door cooling unit (100).
  13. 13. A method of cooling electrical equipment including: providing a rack; mounting a rear-door cooling unit (100) to the rack, the rear-door cooling unit (100) being pivotable about a first axis between an open position and a closed position and defining a first side (150) proximate the rack, and a second side opposite the first side; mounting a liquid-to-air heat exchanger (1200) within the rear-door cooling unit (100); inserting a fan (1 14), a controller (140), and a power supply unit (132a, 132b) into the rear-door cooling unit (100), each of the fan (114), the controller (140), and the power supply unit (132a, 132b) mounted to the rear-door cooling unit (100) at the second side, and accessible from the second side when the rear-door cooling unit (100) is in the closed position; operating a flow control valve (128) to allow a flow of fluid through the liquid-to-air heat exchanger (1200); and operating the fan (114) to produce an air flow across the liquid-to-air heat exchanger (1200).
  14. 14. The method of claim 13, wherein each of the one or more of the fan (114), the controller ( 140), or the power supply unit (132a, 132b) are configured for tool less removal.
  15. 15. The method of any of claims 13 and 14, further comprising connecting a hosing (122) to a quick disconnect fitting (1302) of the liquid-to-air heat exchanger (1200), wherein the rear-door cooling unit (100) defines a first lateral side (110) and a second lateral side (108) opposite the first lateral side (110). wherein the first axis is positioned at the first lateral side (110) and wherein the quick-disconnect fitting ( 1302) is positioned at the second lateral side (108).

Description

SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR REAR-DOOR COOLING UNITS CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS [0001] This application claims priority to U.S. Provisional Patent Application No. 63/51 1,501 filed June 30, 2023, the entirety of which is incorporated by reference. BACKGROUND [0002] Cooling systems can be provided for electrical components in data centers. In some cases, equipment in a data center can be cooled through various means, including through liquid-based cooling systems, air-based cooling systems, or combinations thereof. Electrical equipment within a data center can be housed in racks and can include piping and manifolds for receiving a liquid coolant pumped through a liquid cooling circuit. The liquid coolant can be delivered to components of electrical equipment to provide a heat transfer from those components to the heat of the liquid coolant. SUMMARY [0003] Embodiments of the present disclosure can provide a cooling system for electrical equipment. The cooling system can include a rack, a rear-door cooling unit, a liquid-to-air heat exchanger, a fan, a controller, and a power supply unit. The rear-door cooling unit can be mounted to the rack, and can be pivotable about a first axis between an open position and a closed position. The rear-door cooling unit can define a first side proximate the rack, and a second side opposite the first side. The liquid-to-air heat exchanger can be mounted within the rear-door cooling unit. The fan, the controller, and the power supply unit, can be mounted to the rear-door cooling unit at the second side, and can be accessible from the second side when the rear-door cooling unit is in the closed position. [0004] In some embodiments, each of the fan, the controller, and the power supply unit can be configured for tool less removal. In some embodiments, each of the fan, the controller, and the power supply unit includes a blind mate connector that engages a corresponding blind mate connector of the rear-door cooling unit. In some embodiments, the rear-door cooling unit can include a hinge at a first lateral side of the rear-door cooling unit, the hinge at least partially defining the first axis. In some embodiments, the liquid-to-air heat exchanger can include a supply header and a return header, wherein each of the supply header and the return header are positioned at a second lateral side of the rear-door cooling unit, opposite the first lateral side, each of the supply header and the return header including a quick disconnect fitting. In some embodiments, the rear-door cooling unit includes apertures configured to receive hosing in a botom feed configuration. In some embodiments, the power supply unit is one of a plurality of power supply units. In some embodiments, the fan is one of a plurality7 of fans, each of the plurality of fans mounted to the rear-door cooling unit at the second side. In some embodiments, each of the fan. the controller, and the power supply unit are hot swappable. In some embodiments, a second axis extends through the first side and the second side, and a maximum depth of the rear-door cooling unit in a direction parallel to the second axis is between about 200 mm and about 250 mm. In some embodiments, a lateral axis is defined between opposing lateral sides of the rear-door cooling unit, wherein the controller is configured for removal from the rear-door cooling unit in a direction parallel to the lateral axis. In some embodiments, the power supply unit is configured for removal from the rear-door cooling unit in a direction parallel to the lateral axis. [0005] Embodiments of the present disclosure can provide a cooling system including a rear-door cooling unit. The rear-door cooling unit can include a first lateral portion including a first lateral surface. A second lateral portion can be opposite the first lateral portion, the second lateral portion including a second lateral surface, the second lateral surface being parallel to the first lateral surface and a lateral axis being defined between the first lateral surface and the second lateral surface. A heat exchanger can include a supply port and a return port, both of the supply port and the return port positioned within the second lateral portion. A fan assembly can define a fan rotation axis, the fan rotation axis being perpendicular to the lateral axis. A removable controller can be insertable into the rear-door cooling system in an insertion direction that is parallel to the lateral axis. A first power supply unit can be insertable into the rear-door cooling unit in a direction that is parallel to the lateral axis. [0006] In some embodiments, the rear-door cooling unit defines an internal portion and an external portion opposite the internal portion, wherein each of the fan assembly, the removable controller, and the power supply unit is mounted at the external portion. In some embodiments, the cooling system further comprises a rack, and the rear-door cooling unit is mounted to the rac