Modular it rack cooling assemblies and methods for assembling same

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.

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:
 at least a first supporting member; and   at least a first heat exchanger, the at least a first heat exchanger coupled to the at least a first supporting member, the at least a first supporting member configured to position the at least a first heat exchanger in heat transfer relationship with the at least one server, wherein the at least a first heat exchanger is not attached to the at least one rack.   
     
     
         2 . The modular server rack cooling structure according to  claim 1 , wherein the at least a first supporting member comprises a beam member, and wherein the at least a first heat exchanger has a dimension defining an edge of the at least a first heat exchanger and wherein the edge of the at least a first heat exchanger is rotatably coupled to the beam member. 
     
     
         3 . The modular server rack cooling structure according to  claim 2 , wherein the beam member is a horizontal beam member or a vertical beam member. 
     
     
         4 . The modular server rack cooling structure according to  claim 1 , wherein the at least a first supporting member 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 at least a first heat exchanger has a dimension defining an edge of the at least a first heat exchanger and wherein the edge of the at least a first heat exchanger 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 at least a first heat exchanger has a substantially longitudinal dimension defining a longitudinal edge of the at least a first heat exchanger and wherein the longitudinal edge of the at least a 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 at least a second supporting member comprises a beam member, and wherein the at least a second heat exchanger has a dimension defining an edge of the at least a second heat exchanger and wherein the edge of the at least a second heat exchanger is rotatably coupled to the beam member of the at least a second supporting member. 
     
     
         7 . The modular server rack cooling structure according to  claim 6 , wherein the at least a second heat exchanger is disposed vertically, horizontally or diagonally. 
     
     
         8 . The modular server rack cooling structure according to  claim 5 , wherein the at least a second supporting member comprises a beam member, and wherein the at least a second heat exchanger is coupled to the beam member of the at least a second supporting member. 
     
     
         9 . The modular server rack cooling structure according to  claim 1 , wherein 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, the modular server rack cooling structure further comprising:
 at least a second supporting member; and   at least a second heat exchanger, the at least a second heat exchanger coupled to the at least a second supporting member, the at least a second supporting member configured to position the at least a second heat exchanger in heat transfer relationship with the at least one server of the at least a second rack, wherein the at least a second heat exchanger is not attached to the at least a second rack.   
     
     
         10 . 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 at least a first heat exchanger to provide a flow of fluid between the at least one server and the at least a first heat exchanger. 
     
     
         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:
 at least a first supporting member; and 
 at least a first heat exchanger, the at least a first heat exchanger coupled to the at least a first supporting member, the at least a first supporting member configured to position the at least a first heat exchanger in heat transfer relationship with at least one server of the at least a first rack, wherein the at least a first heat exchanger is not attached to the at least a first rack; 
 at least a second supporting member; and 
   at least a second heat exchanger, the at least a second heat exchanger coupled to the at least a second supporting member, the at least a second supporting member configured to position the at least a second heat exchanger in heat transfer relationship with at least one server of the at least a second rack, wherein the at least a second heat exchanger is not attached to the at least a second rack.   
     
     
         12 . The modular data center system according to  claim 11 , wherein the at least a first supporting member comprises a beam member, the at least a first heat exchanger has a dimension defining an edge of the at least a first heat exchanger, the edge of the at least a first heat exchanger is rotatably coupled to the beam member of the at least a first supporting member, the at least a second supporting member comprises a beam member, the at least a second heat exchanger has a dimension defining an edge of the at least a second heat exchanger, and the edge of the at least a second heat exchanger is rotatably coupled to the beam member of the at least a second supporting member. 
     
     
         13 . The modular data center system according to  claim 12 , further comprising at least one forced fluid-flow device configured to provide a flow of fluid between the servers and the heat exchangers. 
     
     
         14 . The modular data center system according to  claim 12 , wherein the beam members are vertical beam members disposed adjacent to the at least a first rack and the at least a second rack. 
     
     
         15 . The modular data center system according to  claim 12 , further comprising:
 at least a third supporting member; and   at least a third heat exchanger, the at least a third heat exchanger coupled to the at least a third supporting member, the at least a third supporting member configured to position the at least a third heat exchanger in heat transfer relationship with the at least one server of the at least a first rack or the at least one server of the at least a second rack.   
     
     
         16 . The modular data center system according to  claim 15 , wherein the at least a third supporting member comprises a beam member, and wherein the at least a third heat exchanger has a dimension defining an edge of the at least a third heat exchanger and wherein the edge of the at least a third heat exchanger is rotatably coupled to the beam member of the at least a third supporting member. 
     
     
         17 . The modular data center system according to  claim 15 , wherein the at least a third supporting member comprises a beam member, and wherein the at least a third heat exchanger is coupled to the beam member of the at least a third supporting member. 
     
     
         18 . The modular data center system according to  claim 17 , wherein the at least a second heat exchanger is disposed vertically, horizontally or diagonally. 
     
     
         19 . The modular data center system according to  claim 15 , further comprising:
 at least one forced fluid-flow device configured to provide a flow of fluid between the servers and the heat exchangers;   at least a fourth supporting member; and   at least a fourth heat exchanger, the at least a third heat exchanger coupled to the at least a fourth supporting member, the at least a fourth supporting member configured to position the at least a fourth heat exchanger adjacent to the at least one forced fluid-flow device.   
     
     
         20 . A method of installing a modular server rack cooling structure for cooling at least a first server installed in at least a first rack and at least a second server installed in at least a second rack, the at least a first rack and the at least a second rack disposed opposite from each other to form at least a portion of a hot aisle or a cold aisle, the method comprising:
 positioning at least a portion of a modular support structure in the hot aisle or the cold aisle, the modular support structure comprising at least a first support member, a second support member, and a third support member;   coupling at least a first heat exchanger to the at least a first supporting member so that the at least a first heat exchanger is positioned adjacent to the at least a first server of the at least a first rack;   coupling at least a second heat exchanger to the at least a second supporting member so that the at least a second heat exchanger is positioned adjacent to the at least a second server of the at least a second rack; and   coupling at least a third heat exchanger to the at least a third supporting member so that the at least a third heat exchanger is positioned within the hot aisle or the cold aisle, wherein the coupling at least a third heat exchanger to the at least a third supporting member is performed after at least a third server is installed in the at least a first rack or the at least a second rack.