Transportable, environmentally-controlled equipment enclosure

Abstract

A transportable environmentally controlled equipment enclosure (TECEE), or other equipment enclosure of the type containing racks of heat-generating equipment, may include a pump-less heat pipe cooling system to carry heat away from the equipment, an improved equipment rack system that includes a suspended base supported by rails with multiple latching and/or locking positions, and various improvements related to power distribution, equipment access, internal and external communications, and safety.

1 . A high efficiency cooling system for an environmentally controlled equipment enclosure, using a low boiling point liquid\vapor coolant that does not require a main loop pump, distributed rack pumps, or expansion valves, comprising:
 a main loop condenser used to transfer heat from the coolant and cause said coolant to change from a coolant vapor to a coolant liquid;   a return manifold that channels said coolant vapor from respective equipment rack heat exchangers to the main loop condenser;   a supply manifold that supplies said coolant liquid to said equipment rack heat exchangers; and   a coolant reservoir where said coolant liquid from the main condenser is pooled to supply sufficient coolant to the supply manifold to flood the supply manifold and said equipment rack heat exchangers, thereby eliminating the need for distributed pumps.   
     
     
         2 . A cooling system as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein the equipment enclosure is a transportable environmentally controlled equipment enclosure (TECEE). 
     
     
         3 . A cooling system as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein the main loop condenser transfers heat to a fluid supplied by a source outside said equipment enclosure. 
     
     
         4 . A cooling system as claimed in  claim 3 , further comprising ball valves that allow the equipment heat exchangers to be disconnected or reconnected to the manifolds for service or installation. 
     
     
         5 . A cooling system as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein the return manifold is slanted toward the main loop heat exchanger and the supply manifold is slanted toward the equipment heat exchanger, whereby slanting of the return and supply manifolds provides a gravity assisted coolant flow design, requiring no main loop pump. 
     
     
         6 . A cooling system as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein both the supply and return manifold have multiple ball valves along the manifold length, wherein said equipment rack heat exchangers are fixed with respect to said supply and return manifolds, and wherein the equipment to be cooled is mounted in equipment racks movable on rails placed so the equipment racks line up with the equipment heat exchangers when the equipment racks are moved along said rails from a transport/service position away from said equipment heat exchangers to an operating position adjacent said equipment heat exchangers. 
     
     
         7 . A cooling system as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein the respective heat exchangers for each equipment rack are mounted in the rear of the equipment, and fans/blowers are provided to pull hot air exhausted from the equipment through the heat exchangers so as to transfer heat from the hot air to the coolant in the heat exchangers and then exhaust the cooler air into the inside of the equipment enclosure. 
     
     
         8 . A cooling system as claimed in  claim 7 , wherein the heat exchanger module fan/blowers have a higher flow rate than the equipment exhaust flow rate, and wherein a cooling controller or processor controls the fan speed based on an air pressure transducer output signal. 
     
     
         9 . An equipment enclosure, comprising:
 a plurality of equipment cooling modules;   a plurality of equipment racks mounted on sleds for movement between an operating position adjacent respective said cooling modules and a transport/service position away from said cooling modules;   a main loop condenser used to transfer heat from a coolant and cause said coolant to change from a coolant vapor to a coolant liquid;   a return manifold that channels said coolant vapor from respective equipment cooling modules to the main loop condenser, the return manifold being slanted for gravity flow to the main loop condenser;   a supply manifold that supplies said coolant liquid to said equipment cooling modules, the supply manifold also being slanted for gravity flow to the equipment heat exchangers; and   a coolant reservoir where said coolant liquid from the main condenser is pooled to supply sufficient coolant to the supply manifold to flood the supply manifold and said equipment cooling modules, thereby eliminating the need for distributed pumps.   
     
     
         10 . An equipment enclosure as claimed in  claim 9 , wherein the main loop condenser transfers heat to a fluid supplied by a source outside said equipment enclosure. 
     
     
         11 . An equipment enclosure as claimed in  claim 9 , further comprising ball valves that allow the equipment heat exchangers to be disconnected or reconnected to the manifolds for service or installation. 
     
     
         12 . An equipment enclosure as claimed in  claim 9 , wherein the return manifold is slanted toward the main loop heat exchanger and the supply manifold is slanted toward the equipment heat exchanger, whereby slanting of the return and supply manifolds provides a gravity assisted coolant flow design, requiring no main loop pump. 
     
     
         13 . An equipment enclosure as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein the respective heat exchangers for each equipment rack are mounted in the rear of the equipment, and fans/blowers are provided to pull hot air exhausted from the equipment through the heat exchangers so as to transfer heat from the hot air to the coolant in the heat exchangers and then exhaust the cooler air into the inside of the equipment enclosure. 
     
     
         14 . An equipment enclosure as claimed in  claim 13 , wherein the heat exchanger module fan/blowers have a higher flow rate than the equipment exhaust flow rate, and wherein a cooling controller or processor controls the fan speed based on an air pressure transducer output signal. 
     
     
         15 . A transportable environmentally controlled equipment enclosure (TECEE), comprising:
 a plurality of equipment cooling modules;   a plurality of sets of rails fixed in said equipment enclosure; and   a plurality of equipment racks mounted on sleds for movement along respective said rails between an operating position adjacent respective said cooling modules and at least two different transport/service positions away from said cooling modules, thereby enabling a center of gravity of said equipment enclosure to be adjusted by securing said racks at different positions during transport.   
     
     
         16 . An equipment enclosure as claimed in  claim 15 , further comprising multiple position-establishing openings for each said equipment rack, said multiple position-establishing openings being included in one or more members fixed to said equipment enclosure, and plungers mounted to said sleds and engageable in said openings to latch said sleds in said different transport/service positions. 
     
     
         17 . An equipment enclosure as claimed in  claim 16 , further comprising a post-capture arrangement at each end of respective said sleds, said post-capture arrangement including jaws that are movable to capture posts extending from a floor of said equipment enclosure to lock said sled in said operating position and a service position away from both said operating position and said different service/transport positions. 
     
     
         18 . An equipment enclosure as claimed in  claim 17 , wherein said jaws at each of end of respective said sleds are moved by a slidable member operated by a handle to release a captured post. 
     
     
         19 . An equipment enclosure as claimed in  claim 18 , wherein slidable members at each end of a respective one of said sleds are linked by a plurality of first pivot arms and a central pivot arm pivotally attached to the respective sled. 
     
     
         20 . An equipment enclosure as claimed in  claim 15 , wherein said equipment racks are mounted to said sleds by isolation springs having ends fixed to said sleds, said springs also being fixed to rack attachment members movable relative to said sleds such that said racks are isolated from said sleds by said spring. 
     
     
         21 . An equipment enclosure as claimed in  claim 15 , wherein said rails are mounted on shock absorbing members. 
     
     
         22 . An equipment enclosure as claimed in  claim 15 , wherein when a respective said equipment rack is in said operating position, a floor tile is positioned in a space that is not occupied by said equipment rack to cover said rails and provide a path for service personnel. 
     
     
         23 . An equipment enclosure as claimed in  claim 22 , wherein said floor tile is suspended from and secured to said rails. 
     
     
         24 . An equipment enclosure as claimed in  claim 23 , wherein said floor tiles include latches operated from above said tiles for releasably securing said floor tiles to said rails. 
     
     
         25 . An equipment enclosure as claimed in  claim 15 , wherein said equipment racks are arranged in pairs, said pairs being spaced to form aisles between said pairs. 
     
     
         26 . An equipment enclosure as claimed in  claim 25 , wherein auxiliary power outlets are situated in said aisles. 
     
     
         27 . An equipment enclosure as claimed in  claim 15 , wherein equipment in said equipment racks is supplied with power through at least one busway extending along said equipment enclosure. 
     
     
         28 . An equipment enclosure as claimed in  claim 27 , wherein respective said equipment is connected to said busway by at least one flexible harness containing wires or cables that extend into a respective said rack through a horsehair opening and at least one power strip extending along a side of said rack. 
     
     
         29 . An equipment enclosure as claimed in  claim 28 , wherein said horsehair opening is included in a rack extension panel that extends from a front or rear of said rack to form an add-on module that increases a size of said rack. 
     
     
         30 . An equipment enclosure as claimed in  claim 15 , wherein each said rack includes at least one grounding structure electrically connected to ground and arranged to receive a static discharge strap worn by a service person. 
     
     
         31 . An equipment enclosure as claimed in  claim 15 , wherein each said rack includes removable side panels for accessing equipment from a side of the rack. 
     
     
         32 . An equipment enclosure as claimed in  claim 31 , wherein each said rack further includes doors on an end of said rack opposite an end that faces a respective said cooling module. 
     
     
         33 . An equipment enclosure as claimed in  claim 15 , wherein said equipment enclosure is insulated by panels having a double wall construction with an air gap between walls of the panels. 
     
     
         34 . An equipment enclosure as claimed in  claim 15 , wherein said equipment enclosure includes two doors at one end, including a first door permitting access to a cool aisle away from said cooling modules, and a second door permitting access to a hot aisle adjacent said cooling modules. 
     
     
         35 . An equipment enclosure as claimed in  claim 15 , further comprising an air barrier system for preventing entry of outside contaminants through at least one access door of said enclosure. 
     
     
         36 . An equipment enclosure as claimed in  claim 15 , further comprising a ventilation system for maintaining a predetermined temperature within said enclosure. 
     
     
         37 . An equipment enclosure as claimed in  claim 15 , further comprising detectors for detecting hazardous conditions within said enclosure, and for warning personnel not to enter. 
     
     
         38 . An equipment enclosure as claimed in  claim 37 , wherein said detectors include a lighting detector arranged to shut down power and/or provide warnings when lighting is detected. 
     
     
         39 . An equipment enclosure as claimed in  claim 38 , wherein said lighting detector is connected to an automatic transfer switch used to start an electric set, parallel the electric set with a utility, and drop utility power, thereby transferring power to the electric set in case lighting, and therefore potential power outages, is detected. 
     
     
         40 . An equipment enclosure as claimed in  claim 15 , further comprising redundant communications links to outside said enclosure, said redundant communications links including a pair of wireless antennas extending from said enclosure and at least one cable input port. 
     
     
         41 . An equipment enclosure, comprising:
 a plurality of equipment cooling modules;   a plurality of equipment racks mounted on sleds for movement between an operating position adjacent respective said cooling modules and a transport/service position away from said cooling modules;   a plurality of position-establishing openings for each said equipment rack, said multiple position-establishing openings being included in one or more members fixed to said equipment enclosure, and   plungers mounted to said sleds and engageable in said openings to latch said sleds in said different positions.   
     
     
         42 . An equipment enclosure as claimed in  claim 41 , further comprising a post-capture arrangement at each end of respective said sleds, said post-capture arrangement including jaws that are movable to capture posts extending from a floor of said equipment enclosure to lock said sled in said operating position and a service position away from both said operating position and said different service/transport positions. 
     
     
         43 . An equipment enclosure as claimed in  claim 42 , wherein said jaws at each of end of respective said sleds are moved by a slidable member operated by a handle to release a captured post. 
     
     
         44 . An equipment enclosure as claimed in  claim 41 , wherein slidable members at each end of a respective one of said sleds are linked by a plurality of first pivot arms and a central pivot arm pivotally attached to the respective sled. 
     
     
         45 . An equipment enclosure, comprising:
 a plurality of equipment cooling modules; and   a plurality of equipment racks mounted on sleds for movement between an operating position adjacent respective said cooling modules and a transport/service position away from said cooling modules,   wherein said equipment racks are mounted to said sleds by isolation springs having ends fixed to said sleds, said springs also being fixed to rack attachment members movable relative to said sleds such that said racks are isolated from said sleds by said spring.   
     
     
         46 . An equipment enclosure, comprising:
 a plurality of equipment cooling modules; and   a plurality of equipment racks mounted on sleds for movement along rails between an operating position adjacent respective said cooling modules and a transport/service position away from said cooling modules,   wherein when a respective said equipment rack is in said operating position, a floor tile is positioned in a space that is not occupied by said equipment rack to cover said rails and provide a path for service personnel.   
     
     
         47 . An equipment enclosure as claimed in  claim 46 , wherein said floor tile is suspended from and secured to said rails. 
     
     
         48 . An equipment enclosure as claimed in  claim 47 , wherein said floor tile includes latches operated from above said tiles for releasably securing said floor tile to said rails. 
     
     
         49 . Panels for walls of an environmentally controlled equipment enclosure, comprising a pair of insulated walls that each serves as a radiant energy barrier separated by an air gap between said insulated walls to serve as a thermal barrier. 
     
     
         50 . An environmentally controlled equipment enclosure, comprising:
 a plurality of equipment racks; and   a lighting detector arranged to shut down power and/or provide warnings when lighting is detected,   wherein said lighting detector is connected to an automatic transfer switch used to start an electric set, parallel the electric set with a utility, and drop utility power, thereby transferring power to the electric set in case lighting, and therefore potential power outages, is detected.