Apparatus and Methods for Cooling Rejected Heat from Server Racks

Abstract

The present invention is directed to apparatus and methods for cooling computer servers and/or electrical equipment in a rack device for data centers or telecommunication centers.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A method for cooling rejected heat from a rack containing electronic equipment, said method comprising the steps of:
 a) providing at least one heat exchanger module having a heat exchanger;   b) providing a heat exchanger mounting frame having first and second side frame members including a plurality of longitudinally spaced openings formed therethrough; and   c) providing one or more mounting components affixed to said at least one heat exchanger module, each of said one or more mounting components configured for removable attachment to a preselected and respective one of said mounting frame openings; and   d) removably mounting said at least one heat exchanger module to said heat exchanger mounting frame by passing said one or more mounting components through selected ones of said plurality of longitudinally spaced openings in said mounting frame.   
     
     
         2 . The method of  claim 1  and further comprising the step of removably mounting two or more heat exchanger modules in vertically spaced relation on said heat exchanger mounting frame. 
     
     
         3 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein said mounting frame openings are configured to allow said one or more mounting components to be removably attached thereto regardless of whether said cooling door is rotated 180° with respect to the rack. 
     
     
         4 . The method of  claim 1  wherein said openings are symmetrically shaped. 
     
     
         5 . The method of  claim 4  wherein said one or more mounting components are in the form of key-hooks operable to freely pass through a respective mounting frame opening and upon release be secured thereto via gravity. 
     
     
         6 . The method of  claim 1  wherein said at least one heat exchanger comprises a microchannel heat exchanger mounted to a tray having one or more tray openings formed therethrough, said mounting components affixed to said tray with said tray being removably mounted to said mounting frame openings via said mounting components. 
     
     
         7 . The method of  claim 6  wherein said at least one heat exchanger module further comprises at least one fan, and further comprising the step of removably mounting said at least one fan at the location of a preselected one of said one or more tray openings. 
     
     
         8 . The method of  claim 7  and further comprising a door cover attached to said mounting frame on the side of said tray opposite said heat exchanger. 
     
     
         9 . The method of  claim 8  wherein said door cover includes a pair of door hinges and further comprising the step of attaching said mounting frame to said door at a location adjacent said pair of hinges. 
     
     
         10 . The method of  claim 9  and further comprising the step of mounting said door cover to said rack via said pair of hinges whereby said cooling door is movable between open and closed positions with respect to said rack. 
     
     
         11 . The method of  claim 1  wherein said heat exchanger mounting frame is adapted to removably support one, two or three individual heat exchanger modules in vertically spaced relation thereon. 
     
     
         12 . The method of  claim 6  and further comprising the step of providing one or more removable covers adapted to be removably positioned over a respective preselected tray opening. 
     
     
         13 . The method of  claim 6  wherein said heat exchanger includes refrigerant headers extending therefrom, and wherein said tray includes one or more notches configured for removable connection to said refrigerant headers. 
     
     
         14 . The method of  claim 1  and further comprising the step of providing a shroud on said cooling door, said shroud being selectively movable to a position blocking air from passing through said door at the location of said shroud.