System and method for cooling a computer system

Abstract

The invention relates to a system for cooling a computing system, the computing system being cooled using at least two cooling circuits.

1 . A system for cooling a computing system, comprising a refrigeration machine, wherein the computing system comprises at least a first and a second cooling circuit, and wherein said first cooling circuit is operable using a liquid or via heat conduction, and wherein at least said second cooling circuit is connected to a cold section of the refrigeration machine. 
     
     
         2 . The system for cooling a computing system as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein a return flow of the first cooling circuit is connectable both to a heat exchanger and to the cold section of the refrigeration machine. 
     
     
         3 . The system for cooling a computing system as claimed in  claim 2 , wherein a return flow of the second cooling circuit is connectable both to a heat exchanger and to the cold section of the refrigeration machine. 
     
     
         4 . The system for cooling a computing system as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein the system comprises at least three cooling circuits, one cooling circuit of which being operated by air and the two other cooling circuits being operated using a liquid, wherein at least one cooling circuit of the other cooling circuits being connectable both to an external heat exchanger and to a cold section of the refrigeration machine. 
     
     
         5 . The system for cooling a computing system as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein the first cooling circuit and the hot section of the refrigeration machine each include a heat exchanger which are in thermal communication with each other through a further heat exchanger, and wherein waste heat from the two cooling circuits is dischargeable collectively. 
     
     
         6 . The system for cooling a computing system as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein the refrigeration machine is a compression-type refrigeration machine or a sorption refrigeration machine, absorption refrigeration machine and/or a refrigeration machine operating on the principle of absorptive dehumidification (DCS), a refrigeration machine operating on the thermoelectric effect, or a refrigeration machine operating on the magnetocaloric principle, or a geothermal refrigeration machine, or a refrigeration machine operating with Peltier elements, or a steam jet refrigeration machine, or a refrigeration machine operating on the Joule-Thomson effect, or a refrigeration machine operating on the principle of evaporative cooling. 
     
     
         7 . The system for cooling a computing system as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein racks or processors or power components of the computing system can be cooled using a liquid. 
     
     
         8 . The system for cooling a computing system as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein the system comprises means for selectively distributing the cooling fluid within the computing system. 
     
     
         9 . (canceled) 
     
     
         10 . The system for cooling a computing system as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein the system comprises control electronics with an interface for connecting the computing system. 
     
     
         11 . The system for cooling a computing system as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein the system comprises a cooling module which accommodates at least the refrigeration machine and an electronic controller. 
     
     
         12 . The system for cooling a computing system as claimed in  claim 11 , wherein the feed flow temperature of the first cooling circuit differs by at least 20° C. from the feed flow temperature of the second cooling circuit. 
     
     
         13 . The system for cooling a computing system as claimed in  claim 11 , wherein the first cooling circuit is coupled with processors or power components of the computing system. 
     
     
         14 . The system for cooling a computing system as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein a heat exchanger of the first cooling circuit or a heat exchanger connected with a hot section of the refrigeration machine is connected to the heating system of a building, to a hot water supply, or a power generator. 
     
     
         15 . The system for cooling a computing system as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein the refrigeration machine is integrated into a rack or a server, in particular a blade server, or into other components (power supplies, telecommunications), or is arranged directly adjacent to a server or to a rack. 
     
     
         16 . The system for cooling a computing system as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein a liquid of the second cooling circuit, after having passed through a cold section of the refrigeration machine, can be fed via a heat exchanger for cooling the air inside the computing system, and wherein the liquid, after having passed through the heat exchanger, can be fed into the first cooling circuit. 
     
     
         17 . (canceled) 
     
     
         18 . The system for cooling a computing system as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein the system comprises processor cooling means, and wherein processors, RAMs, chip sets, memory devices, graphic components, power components of power supplies, power components of uninterruptible power supplies, power supplies, telecommunications devices, or hard disks are connected to a processor cooling circuit. 
     
     
         19 . The system for cooling a computing system as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein the computing system and the refrigeration machine are arranged in one room, wherein in particular the refrigeration machine is integrated into a component of the computing system, or is arranged adjacent to a component of the computing system, and wherein there is no air conditioning provided to cool the air in the room. 
     
     
         20 . The system for cooling a computing system as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein the system comprises means for emergency shutdown in the event of a loss of coolant. 
     
     
         21 . The system for cooling a computing system as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein said means for emergency shutdown include means for determining the severity or the location of the possible risk of coolant loss, and wherein based thereon the measures of emergency shutdown can be defined, in particular the emergency shutdown can be limited to an affected section of the computing system. 
     
     
         22 - 23 . (canceled) 
     
     
         24 . The system for cooling a computing system as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein the system comprises a plurality of cooling circuits, of which one cooling circuit is coolable without using the refrigeration machine, and wherein another cooling circuit is coolable using a refrigeration machine. 
     
     
         25 . The system for cooling a computing system as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein the system comprises a plurality of cooling circuits, of which at least two cooling circuits are in thermal communication with each other and thus combined to form one circuit. 
     
     
         26 . (canceled) 
     
     
         27 . The system for cooling a computing system as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein the system comprises a plurality of cooling circuits, wherein a bypass is provided in at least one cooling circuit, by means of which the volume flow in the module to be cooled and connected to the cooling circuit can be increased by a partial recirculation of the coolant without increasing the total volume flow of the coolant in the cooling circuit. 
     
     
         28 - 44 . (canceled) 
     
     
         45 . A computing system, comprising a housing in which components of the computing system are arranged, wherein the computing system comprises at least a first and a second cooling circuit, wherein the first cooling circuit provides for cooling processors and power components of the computing system using a liquid or by heat conduction, and wherein the second cooling circuit comprises a heat exchanger arranged in said housing. 
     
     
         46 - 57 . (canceled) 
     
     
         58 . A method for cooling a computing system, wherein the computing system comprises at least a first and a second cooling circuit, wherein the first cooling circuit is operated at a higher temperature than the second cooling circuit and using a liquid or by heat conduction, and wherein at least the second cooling circuit is operated through a cold section of a refrigeration machine. 
     
     
         59 - 62 . (canceled)