Multi-rack, door-mounted heat exchanger

摘要

An air-cooling apparatus is provided which includes a securing mechanism for holding two or more separate electronics racks in fixed relation adjacent to each other, and a multi-rack door sized and configured to span the air inlet or air outlet sides of the racks. The securing mechanism holds the electronics racks in fixed relation with their air inlet sides facing a first direction, and air outlet sides facing a second direction. The door includes a door frame with an airflow opening. The airflow opening facilitates the ingress or egress of airflow through the electronics racks, and the door further includes an air-to-liquid heat exchanger supported by the door frame, and disposed so that air flowing through the airflow opening passes across the heat exchanger. In operation, the heat exchanger extracts heat from the air passing through the separate electronics racks.

主权项

1. An air-cooling apparatus comprising:
a securing mechanism for holding at least two separate, stand-alone electronics racks in fixed relation adjacent to each other, the at least two separate electronics racks each being an independent, free standing electronics rack and being at least partially air-cooled and each having an air inlet side and an air outlet side, the securing mechanism holding the at least two separate electronics racks in fixed relation adjacent to each other with the air inlet sides facing a first direction and the air outlet sides facing a second direction, wherein the securing mechanism comprises a slidable engagement structure disposed between the at least two separate electronics racks and holding the at least two separate electronics racks in fixed relation adjacent to each other, the slidable engagement structure allowing a first electronics rack of the at least two separate electronics racks to be slidably positioned adjacent to, and held in fixed relation to, a second electronics rack of the at least two separate electronics racks; and a multi-rack door spans one of the air inlet sides or the air outlet sides of the at least two separate electronics racks held by the securing mechanism in fixed relation, the multi-rack door comprising:
a door frame with an airflow opening that allows the ingress or egress of airflow through the at least two separate electronics racks;an air-to-liquid heat exchanger supported by the door frame and disposed so that airflow through the airflow opening passes across the air-to-liquid heat exchanger, the air-to-liquid heat exchanger extracting heat from the airflow passing thereacross, and wherein air passing through the one of the air inlet sides or the air outlet sides of the at least two separate electronics racks passes across the air-to-liquid heat exchanger; andan adjustable ducting structure disposed between the door frame and the air-to-liquid heat exchanger, the adjustable ducting structure allows substantially all air passing through the one of the air inlet sides or the air outlet sides of the at least two separate electronics racks passes across the air-to-liquid heat exchanger.