Hot aisle containment cooling unit and method for cooling

Abstract

A cooling unit, which is configured to contain and cool air between two rows of equipment racks defining a hot aisle, includes a housing configured to be secured mounted on the two rows of equipment racks such that the housing spans the hot aisle, a heat exchanger supported by the housing and coupled to and in fluid communication with a coolant supply and a coolant return, and an air movement assembly supported by the housing and configured to move air over the heat exchanger. Other embodiments of the cooling unit and methods of cooling are further disclosed.

1 . A cooling unit for containing and cooling air between two rows of equipment racks defining a hot aisle, the cooling unit comprising:
 a housing configured to be mounted on the two rows of equipment racks such that the housing spans the hot aisle above the hot aisle;   a first heat exchanger supported by the housing and coupled to and in fluid communication with a coolant supply and a first coolant return, the first heat exchanger including a body having a first surface and a second, opposing surface; and   a second heat exchanger coupled to and in fluid communication with the first heat exchanger and a second coolant return, the second heat exchanger including a body having a first surface and a second, opposing surface,   the arrangement being such that the first surface of the second heat exchanger faces the second surface of the first heat exchanger, and air from the hot aisle flows to the second surface of the second heat exchanger and from the first surface of the first heat exchanger.   
     
     
         2 . The cooling unit of  claim 1 , wherein each of the first and the second heat exchangers comprise micro-channel coils. 
     
     
         3 . The cooling unit of  claim 2 , wherein the micro-channel coils are disposed parallel to the hot-aisle. 
     
     
         4 . The cooling unit of  claim 2 , wherein the micro-channel coils further comprise a ladder-type structure. 
     
     
         5 . The cooling unit of  claim 2 , wherein the micro-channel coils further comprise fins disposed on the exterior of the micro-channel coils that absorb heat from the air flowing from the hot aisle.