Coolant distribution unit control system

By integrating heat exchangers, pump systems, and controllers into the CDU, and combining this with a BIM system, fault detection and mitigation of the CDU were achieved, solving the reliability problem of CDUs in large-scale data centers and improving equipment performance and lifespan.

CN121908511APending Publication Date: 2026-04-21LOCTITE HOLDINGS LTD
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Patent Information

Authority / Receiving Office
CN · China
Patent Type
Applications(China)
Current Assignee / Owner
LOCTITE HOLDINGS LTD
Filing Date
2025-10-20
Publication Date
2026-04-21

AI Technical Summary

Technical Problem

In large-scale data centers, the reliability and fault detection and mitigation of coolant distribution units (CDUs) are critical issues for ensuring equipment performance and lifespan, and existing technologies struggle to address these issues effectively.

Method used

A coolant distribution unit (CDU) is provided, including a heat exchanger, primary and secondary loops, a pump system and a controller, which operates the pump in multiple modes to optimize cooling efficiency and integrates with a building information management system (BIM) to enable fault detection and fault mitigation.

Benefits of technology

It improves the reliability and fault detection capabilities of the CDU, ensuring that the equipment maintains peak thermal performance and reliability in complex environments, extending equipment life and optimizing energy use.

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Abstract

A coolant distribution unit includes: a heat exchanger; a primary circuit fluidly coupled to a first side of the heat exchanger, and configured to deliver a first coolant; a secondary circuit fluidly coupled to a second side of the heat exchanger, the secondary circuit including one or more pumps configured to deliver a second coolant through the secondary circuit; and a controller configured to operate the one or more pumps in a plurality of modes, the plurality of modes including a first mode in which each of the one or more pumps operates at a maximum speed level and a second mode in which each of the one or more pumps operates at a maximum speed level. At least one of the pumps operates at less than a maximum speed level.
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Description

[0001] Cross-references to related applications

[0002] This application claims priority to U.S. Provisional Patent Application No. 63 / 709,257, filed October 18, 2024, the entire contents of which are incorporated herein by reference. Background Technology

[0003] Computer systems / data centers employ various cooling / heat dissipation methods to maintain environmental conditions suitable for the operation of information technology (IT) equipment, such as servers, network switches, routers, storage devices, and other computing hardware. Some data centers may utilize liquid cooling systems, where a liquid coolant is used to absorb heat generated from high-power equipment.

[0004] The liquid cooling system includes one or more coolant distribution units (CDUs) configured to actively distribute liquid coolant to various components within the data center. Each CDU includes a primary flow loop / return and a secondary flow loop / return. The primary flow loop / return is configured to supply liquid coolant to the heat-absorbing side of a heat exchange technology (e.g., a liquid-to-liquid heat exchanger) located within or outside the CDU itself. The secondary flow loop / return is configured to receive heated (“used”) liquid coolant at the heat-dissipating side of the heat exchange technology and return cooled liquid coolant to the equipment's liquid cooling network. Within the cooling network of the secondary flow loop, liquid coolant is supplied via one or more feed lines to cooling modules (e.g., single or series of cooling plates or radiators) near or within the IT equipment, absorbing heat from the equipment through these feed lines. The heated liquid coolant then flows through one or more return feed lines across the heat-dissipating side of the heat exchange technology within or outside the CDU, thereby dissipating heat from the liquid coolant. The cooled liquid coolant is then recirculated back to the information technology equipment via one or more feed lines.

[0005] Within the primary flow loop, the used liquid coolant from the heat exchange technology is cooled by one or more secondary cooling methods (e.g., coolers, cooling towers, etc.). The cooled liquid coolant is then recirculated back through the heat dissipation side of the heat exchange technology.

[0006] The Cooling Duct (CDU) operates via a pump system that circulates liquid coolant through a network of pipes or channels. The CDU integrates additional components such as valves, filters, and monitoring mechanisms to optimize cooling efficiency and system reliability. Precisely calibrated valves allow for dynamic coolant distribution adjustments tailored to the needs of individual equipment / components, while filters (e.g., within the primary flow loop) remove impurities and contaminants. Equipped with sensors, the CDU continuously monitors coolant parameters such as temperature, flow rate, and pressure levels, enabling real-time intervention to maintain peak thermal performance and reliability in complex environments. Summary of the Invention

[0007] For larger data centers, reliable CDU operation can be critical to prevent overheating and ensure equipment performance and lifespan. Therefore, the embodiments described herein provide various control methods and systems for CDU fault detection and mitigation.

[0008] In one aspect, this disclosure provides a coolant distribution unit (CDU) comprising: a heat exchanger; a primary circuit fluidly coupled to a first side of the heat exchanger and configured to deliver a first coolant; a secondary circuit fluidly coupled to a second side of the heat exchanger, the secondary circuit including one or more pumps configured to deliver a second coolant through the secondary circuit; and a controller configured to operate the one or more pumps in multiple modes, including a first mode and a second mode, wherein in the first mode each of the one or more pumps operates horizontally at a maximum speed, and in the second mode at least one of the pumps operates horizontally at a speed less than the maximum speed.

[0009] In another aspect, this disclosure provides a coolant distribution unit (CDU) electrically connected to a building information management (BIM) system that monitors the condition of a building via a building automation and control (BAC) network. The coolant distribution unit includes: a heat exchanger system comprising a heat exchanger, a primary loop, and a secondary loop, the primary loop being fluidly connected to a first side of the heat exchanger and configured to deliver a first coolant; the secondary loop being fluidly connected to a second side of the heat exchanger, the secondary loop including one or more pumps configured to deliver a second coolant through the secondary loop; and a controller configured to operate the one or more pumps and to send and receive one or more signals from the building information management system, and to control the operation of the heat exchanger system based on the one or more signals.

[0010] In another aspect, this disclosure provides a method for controlling one or more systems of a coolant distribution unit (CDU) and a building information management system, the method comprising: receiving information from the building information management system via a controller; determining the efficiency of the one or more systems via the controller; and adjusting the operation of one or more components of the coolant distribution unit via the controller. Attached Figure Description

[0011] Figure 1A A coolant distribution unit (CDU) according to some embodiments is shown.

[0012] Figure 1B Illustrations based on some embodiments Figure 1A CDU.

[0013] Figure 2A According to some embodiments Figure 1A The first part of the schematic diagram of the liquid coolant system of the CDU.

[0014] Figure 2B According to some embodiments Figure 2A The second part of the schematic diagram of the liquid coolant system.

[0015] Figure 3 This is a block diagram of an electronic controller for a CDU according to some embodiments.

[0016] Figure 4 A device cooling network according to some embodiments is shown. Figure 1A CDU.

[0017] Figure 5 According to some embodiments, including Figure 1A The data center cooling communication network of the CDU. Detailed Implementation

[0018] The embodiments described herein relate to a coolant distribution unit (CDU).

[0019] Before explaining any embodiment in detail, it should be understood that the embodiments are not limited in their application to the details of the configuration and arrangement of the components set forth in the following description or shown in the accompanying drawings. Embodiments can be practiced or implemented in various ways. Moreover, it should be understood that the wording and terminology used herein are for descriptive purposes and should not be considered limiting. The use of “comprising,” “including,” or “having,” and variations thereof is intended to cover the items listed thereafter and their equivalents, as well as additional items. Unless otherwise stated or limited, the terms “installation,” “connection,” “support,” and “linkage,” and variations thereof are used broadly and cover direct and indirect installation, connection, support, and linking.

[0020] Additionally, it should be understood that embodiments may include hardware, software, and electronic components or modules, which, for the purposes of discussion, may be shown and described as if most components were implemented solely in hardware. However, those skilled in the art, and upon reading this detailed description, will recognize that in at least one embodiment, the electronic aspects may be implemented in software (e.g., stored on a non-transitory computer-readable medium) capable of being executed by one or more processing units, such as microprocessors and / or application-specific integrated circuits (“ASICs”). Therefore, it should be noted that embodiments may be implemented using multiple hardware and software-based devices and multiple different structural components. For example, “server,” “computing device,” “controller,” “processor,” etc., described in the specification may include one or more processing units, one or more computer-readable medium modules, one or more input / output interfaces, and various connectors (e.g., system buses) for connecting components.

[0021] Relative terms used in conjunction with quantities or conditions, such as “about,” “approximately,” “basically,” etc., will be understood by a person skilled in the art to include the stated value and have a meaning defined by the context (e.g., the term includes at least the degree of error associated with measurement accuracy, tolerances associated with a particular value [e.g., manufacturing tolerances, assembly tolerances, usage tolerances, etc.]). Such terms should also be considered to disclose a range defined by the absolute values ​​of the two endpoints. For example, the statement “from about 2 to about 4” also discloses a range “from 2 to 4.” Relative terms may refer to the indicated value plus or minus a percentage (e.g., 1%, 5%, 10% or more).

[0022] It should be understood that although some of the accompanying figures illustrate hardware and software located within a particular device, these depictions are for illustrative purposes only. Functions described herein as being performed by one component can be performed by multiple components in a distributed manner. Similarly, functions performed by multiple components can be combined and performed by a single component. In some embodiments, the illustrated components can be combined or divided into separate software, firmware, and / or hardware. For example, instead of being located within and executed by a single electronic processor, logic and processing can be distributed among multiple electronic processors. Regardless of how they are combined or divided, hardware and software components can reside on the same computing device or can be distributed among different computing devices connected by one or more networks or other suitable communication links. Similarly, components described as performing specific functions can also perform additional functions not described herein. For example, a device or structure "configured" in a certain way is configured at least in that way, but can also be configured in ways not explicitly listed.

[0023] For ease of description, some or all of the example systems presented herein are illustrated using a single example of each of their component sections. Some examples may not describe or show all the components of the system. Other examples may include more or fewer of each of the components shown, may combine some components, or may include additional or alternative components.

[0024] Other aspects of the embodiments will become apparent from consideration of the detailed description and accompanying drawings.

[0025] Figure 1A and Figure 1B An example coolant distribution unit (CDU) 100 is shown. The CDU 100 specifically includes an electronic controller 300 (described below). Figure 3 (Described in more detail), multiple pumps (e.g., fill and replenishment pump 102, variable frequency drive (VFD) pump 104, and secondary pump 106), multiple valves (e.g., primary control valve 108, pump check valve 110, isolation valve 112), and multiple sensors (e.g., temperature sensor 114, pressure sensor 116, flow meter 118). The CDU 100 also includes a reservoir 120, an expansion tank 122, and a liquid-liquid heat exchanger 124. The CDU also includes a housing (not shown).

[0026] Figures 2A to 2B This is a schematic diagram illustrating a fluid coolant flow system 200 of a CDU 100 according to some embodiments. System 200 includes a primary fluid flow path (referred to herein as primary loop 202A) for liquid coolant on a first (heat absorption) side of heat exchanger 124 and a secondary flow path (referred herein as secondary loop 202B) for liquid coolant on a second (heat dissipation) side of heat exchanger 124. Primary loop 202A includes an inlet valve J3 and an outlet valve J2 (… Figure 1A and Figure 1B Isolation valve 112). Secondary circuit 202B includes input valve J1 and output valve J4 ( Figure 1A and Figure 1B (Isolation valve 112). Heat exchanger 124 receives cooled liquid coolant from primary circuit 202A to dissipate heat from the liquid coolant received in secondary circuit 202B on the heat-absorbing side of heat exchanger 124. The cooled liquid coolant in secondary circuit 202B is then (at valve J4) output (e.g., output to equipment coolant network 400, as discussed below). Figure 4The description describes a system 400 where heated liquid coolant is provided for cooling one or more information technology (IT) devices, such as servers, network switches, routers, storage devices, and other computing hardware. Heated liquid coolant from network 400 is then returned to system 200 (at valve J1). Simultaneously, heated liquid coolant in primary circuit 202A is recirculated and cooled (e.g., via a secondary cooling / heat transfer system (not shown) that receives heated liquid coolant output at valve J2 and provides cooled liquid coolant back to CDU 100 at the input of valve J3). In some embodiments, CDU 100 may include additional components / subsystems for additional cooling of the liquid coolant.

[0027] Figure 4 This is an example device cooling network 400 for cooling multiple IT devices according to some embodiments. The device cooling network 400 includes a feed line 402A configured to receive a cooled liquid coolant output from CDU 100 (i.e., Figure 2B The output of valve J4). Feed line 402A is connected to one or more secondary pipes (not shown) of equipment racks / housings 404, each of which includes one or more IT devices. The secondary pipes of racks / housings 404 may extend along one or more heat transfer surfaces of racks / housings 404 (or the IT devices themselves) to absorb heat generated from the respective IT devices. From each rack / housing 404, the warmed coolant is returned to CDU 100 (in) via return line 402B. Figure 2B (At the input of valve J3) to recool and recirculate within the equipment cooling network 400.

[0028] Return to Figures 2A to 2BAs shown in the figure, the primary circuit 202A includes multiple valves V17, V19, J2, and J3, and sensors (e.g., temperature sensors T4 and T5, pressure sensors P10, P12, and P13, and flow meter FM1). The secondary circuit 202B also includes multiple valves V1-V16, V18, V20, J1, and J4, pumps PMP1-PMP4, and sensors (e.g., temperature sensors T1-T3 and T6-T8, pressure sensors P1-P9, P11, and P14, and flow meter FM2). The controller 300 is communicatively coupled to each of the multiple valves V1-V20 and pumps PMP1-PMP4, and controls the operation of each of the multiple valves V1-V20 and pumps PMP1-PMP4 based on sensor information from one or more of the various sensors in the system 200. The controller 300 can also receive sensor information regarding the environment inside the housing of the CDU 100 (e.g., via a relative humidity sensor RH1 and an ambient temperature sensor T9) and sensor information regarding the environment outside the housing of the CDU 100 (e.g., via a relative humidity sensor RH2 and a temperature sensor T10). For ease of description, the sensors of the flow system 200 are collectively referred to herein as the plurality of sensors 204, the valves of the flow system 200 are collectively referred to herein as the plurality of valves 208, and the pumps of the flow system 200 are collectively referred to herein as the plurality of pumps 206. In some embodiments, one or more different types of sensors (and their functions) of the system 200 may be combined into a single sensor (e.g., a combined temperature and humidity sensor, a combined pressure and water flow sensor, etc.). The system 200 may include more than Figures 2A to 2B The number of sensors shown may be more or less.

[0029] The fluid coolant flow system 200 may include additional components (e.g., filters FIL1-FIL3, screens ST1-ST4, automatic vents, and pressure relief valves), which will not be described in detail here for the sake of brevity.

[0030] Figure 3This is a block diagram of an electronic controller 300 of a CDU 100 according to some embodiments. The electronic controller 300 includes multiple electrical and electronic components that facilitate power supply, operational control, and protection of components and modules within the electronic controller 300. The electronic controller 300 particularly includes an electronic processor 305 (such as a programmable electronic microprocessor, microcontroller, or similar device), a memory 310 (e.g., a non-transitory computer-readable storage device), and an input / output interface 315. The electronic processor 305 is communicatively connected to the memory 310 and the input / output interface 315. The electronic processor 305, together with the memory 310 and the input / output interface 315, is cooperatively configured to implement the methods described herein, etc. It should be understood that some or all components of the controller 300 (including additional components) may be remote / dispersed from each other and / or located away from the CDU 100 within the CDU 100.

[0031] The memory 310 may consist of one or more non-transitory computer-readable media and includes at least a program storage area and a data storage area. The program storage area and data storage area may include combinations of different types of memory, such as read-only memory (“ROM”), random access memory (“RAM”), flash memory, or other suitable memory devices. An electronic processor 305 is coupled to the memory 310 and the input / output interface 315.

[0032] Electronic processor 305 (e.g., from memory 310 and / or input / output interface 315) sends and receives information and processes the information by executing one or more software instructions or modules that can be stored in memory 310 or another non-transitory computer-readable medium. The software may include firmware, one or more applications, program data, filters, rules, one or more program modules, and other executable instructions. Electronic processor 305 is configured to retrieve from memory 310 and execute software for automatically detecting / predicting anomalies within CDU 100 and for performing methods as described herein.

[0033] In some cases, the electronic controller 300 may be implemented in several independent controllers (e.g., programmable electronic controllers), each configured to perform a specific function or sub-function. For example, one or more components of the controller 300 may be located remotely from the CDU 100 (e.g., part of a remote server, not shown, communicatively connected to the CDU 100). Additionally, the electronic controller 300 may include submodules comprising additional electronic processors, memories, or circuitry for handling input / output functions, signal processing, and applying the methods listed below. In other cases, the electronic controller 300 includes additional, fewer, or different components. Therefore, the program may also be distributed across one or more processors.

[0034] Input / output interface 315 (e.g., via one or more wired and / or wireless connections) transmits and receives information from devices external to electronic controller 300, such as components of CDU 100. Input / output interface 315 receives input from multiple sensors 204 (e.g., to one or more of the multiple valves 208 and / or the multiple pumps 206, transceiver 325 and / or HMI 330, etc.) and provides system output. Input / output interface 315 may also include other input and output mechanisms, which are not described herein for brevity and may be implemented in hardware, software, or a combination of both.

[0035] In some cases, controller 300 also includes transceiver 325 and / or human-machine interface (HMI) 330. Transceiver 325 includes a radio transceiver that transmits data over one or more wireless communication networks (e.g., cellular networks, satellite networks, terrestrial mobile radio networks, etc.). Transceiver 325 also provides in-vehicle wireless communication using appropriate network modes (e.g., Bluetooth™, Near Field Communication (NFC), Wi-Fi™, etc.). Thus, transceiver 325 communicatively connects the electronic controller 300 and other components of CDU 100 to networks or electronic devices inside and outside CDU 100. For example, using transceiver 325, electronic controller 300 can communicate with one or more devices (e.g., other CDU 100s) via a communication system (not shown) to send and receive data, commands, and other information. Transceiver 325 includes other components that enable wireless communication (e.g., amplifiers, antennas, baseband processors, etc.), which are not described herein for brevity and can be implemented in hardware, software, or a combination of both. Some instances involve multiple transceivers or separate transmit and receive components (e.g., transmitter and receiver) rather than a combined transceiver.

[0036] The HMI 330 provides visual outputs, such as graphic indicators (i.e., fixed or animated icons), lights, colors, text, images, and combinations thereof. The HMI 330 includes suitable display mechanisms for displaying the visual outputs, such as instrument clusters, center console displays (e.g., touchscreens or other suitable mechanisms), etc. In some cases, the HMI 330 displays a graphical user interface (GUI) that allows the driver or passenger to interact with the CDU 100 (e.g., generated by the electronic processor 305 and displayed on a screen). The HMI 330 may also provide audio outputs to the driver via speakers included in or separate from the HMI 330, such as ringtones, buzzers, voice outputs, or other suitable sounds. In some cases, the HMI 330 provides a combination of visual and audio outputs.

[0037] As will be described in further detail below, in some cases, memory 310 includes, in particular, computer-executable instructions for the detection and mitigation of component and measurement faults. In some cases, the computer-executable instructions include instructions for training a deep learning system to detect / predict one or more anomalies associated with one or more components of CDU 100.

[0038] In some cases, the electronic controller 300 uses one or more machine learning methods (e.g., artificial intelligence algorithms) to analyze sensor information from sensor 204 to identify / predict anomalies within CDU 100 (as described herein). Machine learning generally refers to the ability of a computer program to learn without being explicitly programmed. In some cases, the computer program (e.g., a learning engine) is configured to build algorithms based on inputs. Supervised learning involves presenting a computer program with example inputs and their expected outputs. The computer program is configured to learn general rules that map inputs to outputs based on the training data it receives. Example machine learning engines include decision tree learning, association rule learning, artificial neural networks, classifiers, edge computing, inductive logic programming, support vector machines, clustering, Bayesian networks, reinforcement learning, representation learning, similarity and metric learning, sparse dictionary learning, and genetic algorithms. Using these approaches, the computer program is able to ingest, parse, and understand data and progressively refine algorithms for data analysis.

[0039] The system performance of the flow system 200 is particularly dependent on the proper operation of the pumps 206. In some embodiments, each pump includes a corresponding pump fault sensor (e.g., a fault sensor integrated into the pump). When the pump fault sensor indicates a fault, the sensor is configured to provide a fault signal to the electronic controller 300. In response, the electronic controller 300 may accordingly generate an alarm to the user (e.g., via HMI 330), stop or adjust the operation of one or more pumps 206, or both. However, there may be cases where the pump fault sensor itself is faulty. In such cases, the pump fault sensor may output a fault signal to the controller 300 even when the corresponding pump is operating normally. This may cause the controller 300 to provide false alarms and / or unnecessary modifications / shutdowns to one or more operations of the system 200.

[0040] Therefore, it may be expected that the electronic controller 300 performs additional steps to verify that one or more of the pumps are operating correctly, including evaluating the accuracy of measurements from one or more of the sensors 204.

[0041] In some embodiments, the electronic controller 300 is configured to operate one or more of the pumps 206 in different operating modes. For example, in some embodiments, the controller 300 is configured to operate one or more of the pumps 206 in a green or efficiency mode. For example, the controller 300 may evaluate multiple different pump operating configurations of the plurality of pumps 206 for a specific operating point (e.g., specific flow rate and pressure) for a given device cooling network 400. Each of these different pump operating configurations includes one or more pumps 206 operating at one or more different operating levels (e.g., multiple different speed levels of the pumps). The controller 300 determines from the plurality of different pump operating configurations the pump operating configuration that satisfies the specific operating point with the least energy usage. For example, the controller 300 may evaluate whether the system 200 can meet the specific operating point while operating two or more pumps at a maximum speed level (first pump operating configuration) lower than that of a single pump at a maximum speed level (second pump operating configuration), which may require more energy (energy consumption) than the first pump operating configuration. As another example, in some embodiments, controller 300 is configured to operate at least one pump 206 in a lifespan extension mode. For example, controller 300 may be configured to determine and control pump operation to extend pump lifespan. Lifespan may be determined by controller 300 based on, for example, the time the pump has been running and the speed at which it has been running. Other factors, such as temperature, pump current, etc., may also be considered. In some embodiments, controller 300 may send a signal indicating the need for pump maintenance to, for example, a human-machine interface, regardless of sensor information received from one or more sensors.

[0042] In some embodiments, controller 300 is configured to operate CDU 100 in an energy-saving mode. For example, electronic controller 300 may be configured to determine when coolant to secondary circuit 202 B is no longer circulating through equipment cooling network 400 (e.g., due to IT equipment being offline, shut down for maintenance, etc.). In response, electronic controller 300 may be configured to stop pumping or reduce pumping coolant through secondary circuit 202 B (e.g., via one or more pumps 106). Control valve V17 of primary circuit 202 A may close in response to reduced pumping of secondary circuit 202 B. When in energy-saving mode, electronic controller 300 may intermittently operate one or more pumps 106 while operating CDU 100 in energy-saving mode (e.g., to prevent contaminants and / or chemical deposits from accumulating in secondary circuit 202 B).

[0043] In some embodiments, CDU 100 can be configured in a box having multiple CDUs. A controller 300 for one CDU can be configured to communicate with the controller of each CDU in the box to coordinate the control of the CDUs in the box, thereby operating all CDUs in a green mode or efficiency mode to save energy, optimize efficiency, etc.

[0044] In some embodiments, the electronic processor 305 is configured to monitor the total operating time of one or more components (e.g., one or more of pump 206 and / or valve 208 in system 200). In response to the measured operating time exceeding a predetermined time threshold, the electronic processor 305 may be configured (e.g., via HMI 330) to generate an alarm to the user, warning that the component may need to be replaced. In some embodiments, the operating time is reduced or increased by a factor derived from the performance operation of the component. For example, if the pump operates at 55% of its maximum speed for X hours, the operating time counted / determined by the electronic processor 305 may be reduced by a predetermined factor corresponding to 55% of the maximum speed.

[0045] As mentioned above (for example, regarding...) Figure 3 In some embodiments, the electronic controller 300 is configured to communicate with one or more electronic devices / components external to the CDU 100 (e.g., via a wired communication connection or a wireless connection via a transceiver 325). Figure 5 This is an example of a data center cooling communication network 800 that includes CDU 100, IT equipment 802A, and a building information management / modeling (BIM) system 802B. Both IT equipment 802A and BIM system 802B are communicatively connected to CDU 100 via a suitable wired connection, wireless connection, or some combination of both. Wireless communication can be implemented using wide area networks (e.g., the Internet (including public and private IP networks), LTE networks, 4G networks, 5G networks) and one or more local area networks (e.g., Bluetooth™ networks or Wi-Fi networks) and combinations or derivatives thereof.

[0046] IT device 802A is connected to the equipment cooling network 400 of CDU 100 (e.g., via the above-mentioned...). Figure 4 The rack / housing 404 described above cools the electronic equipment. For ease of description, the communication network 800 is described with respect to a single IT device 802A. It should be understood that in some embodiments, the network 800 includes more than one IT device 802A communicatively connected to a CDU 100. It should also be understood that the network 800 may include more than one CDU 100, each CDU 100 communicatively connected to one or more corresponding IT devices 802A.

[0047] BIM system 802B includes one or more building automation and control (BAC) networks that allow communication between them. Such systems may include communication with, for example, heating, ventilation and air conditioning (HVAC) control, lighting control, access control, and fire detection systems in data centers.

[0048] In some embodiments, CDU 100 is configured to receive information (e.g., temperature information, operating information, etc.) from IT device 802A and adjust the operation of one or more of pumps 206 and / or valves 208, for example, to optimize the energy use of CDU 100 based on the received information. Additionally or alternatively, in some embodiments, CDU 100 is configured to adjust the operation of one or more of pumps 206 and / or valves 208 based on information received from BIM system 802B.

[0049] In some embodiments, the electronic controller 300 (and its components) is mounted on a single circuit board.

[0050] In some embodiments, CDU 100 includes one or more harmonic filters disposed between a power supply system (not shown) of system 200 and at least one component of system 200 (e.g., one or more motors (not shown) of one or more pumps 206). In some embodiments, controller 300 is configured to monitor the electrical characteristics (e.g., voltage, current, etc.) of one or more components of system 200 via the harmonic filters. Controller 300 is configured to detect noise factors (including one or more harmonic signals) within a power signal between the power supply system and the component based on the monitored electrical characteristics. Controller 300 is configured to generate an inverse signal (the reciprocal of the noise factor) based on the monitored electrical characteristics and apply the inverse signal to the power signal to reduce or eliminate the noise factor within the power signal.

[0051] In some embodiments, the controller 300 is also configured to operate one or more pumps 206 (e.g., one or more EPICV pumps) of the system 200 based on a proportional-integral-derivative (PID) loop (e.g., based on the pressure detected within the system 200).

Claims

1. A coolant distribution unit (CDU), comprising: Heat exchanger; A primary circuit, fluidly connected to a first side of the heat exchanger, and configured to deliver a first coolant; A secondary circuit, fluidly connected to a second side of the heat exchanger, includes one or more pumps configured to deliver a second coolant through the secondary circuit. A controller configured to operate the one or more pumps in multiple modes, including a first mode and a second mode, wherein in the first mode each of the one or more pumps operates at a maximum speed level, and in the second mode at least one of the pumps operates at a speed level less than the maximum speed level.

2. The coolant distribution unit according to claim 1, wherein, In the second mode, each of the pumps operates at a speed less than its maximum speed.

3. The coolant distribution unit according to claim 1, wherein, The controller changes the operation from the first mode to the second mode based on the operating status of the primary circuit or the secondary circuit.

4. The coolant distribution unit according to claim 3, wherein, The operating condition refers to the temperature of the coolant.

5. The coolant distribution unit according to claim 1, wherein, The controller determines the service life of the one or more pumps and changes the mode from the first mode to the second mode to extend the service life of the pumps.

6. The coolant distribution unit according to claim 5, wherein, The service life is determined based on the time the pump has been running and the speed at which the pump has been running.

7. The coolant distribution unit according to claim 6, wherein, When the pump has reached the end of its service life, the controller sends a signal indicating that the pump needs maintenance.

8. The coolant distribution unit according to claim 1, wherein, The controller determines the efficiency of the coolant distribution unit and changes from the first mode to the second mode based on the efficiency.

9. The coolant distribution unit according to claim 8, wherein, The efficiency of the coolant distribution unit is based on the energy consumption of the one or more pumps.

10. The coolant distribution unit according to claim 1, wherein, The controller determines a first energy consumption of the pump in the first mode and a second energy consumption of the pump in the second mode, and selects one of the first mode or the second mode based on the lower of the first energy consumption and the second energy consumption.

11. A coolant distribution unit (CDU) electrically connected to a building information management system (BIM) that monitors the condition of a building via a building automation and control (BAC) network, the coolant distribution unit comprising: A heat exchanger system, the heat exchanger system comprising Heat exchanger; A primary circuit, fluidly connected to a first side of the heat exchanger, and configured to deliver a first coolant; A secondary circuit, fluidly connected to a second side of the heat exchanger, includes one or more pumps configured to deliver a second coolant through the secondary circuit. as well as A controller configured to operate the one or more pumps and to send and receive one or more signals from the building information management system, and to control the operation of the heat exchanger system based on the one or more signals.

12. The coolant distribution unit according to claim 11, wherein, The controller receives one or more signals indicating the condition of the building and controls the operation of one or more pumps in the pumps based on the received signals.

13. The coolant distribution unit according to claim 12, wherein, When the secondary coolant flow through the secondary circuit changes, the controller sends a signal to the building information management system to control the operation of another system in the building.

14. The coolant distribution unit according to claim 12, wherein, The condition is one of the following: heating, ventilation and air conditioning (HVAC) control condition, lighting control condition, access control condition, and fire detection system condition.

15. The coolant distribution unit according to claim 11, wherein, The controller receives power supplies from the building, monitors the characteristics of the power supplies, and applies filters to the power supplies.

16. The coolant distribution unit according to claim 15, wherein, The filter is a harmonic filter.

17. The coolant distribution unit according to claim 11, wherein, The building information management system includes information technology equipment, which includes one or more servers, and the controller is configured to control the operation of the heat exchanger system based on information received from the information technology equipment.

18. A method for controlling one or more systems of a coolant distribution unit (CDU) and a building information management system (BIM), the method comprising: Receive information from the building information management system via the controller; The efficiency of the one or more systems is determined via the controller; as well as The controller adjusts the operation of one or more components of the coolant distribution unit.

19. The method according to claim 18, wherein, The information described is about the status of IT equipment.

20. The method according to claim 19, wherein, The condition described is the temperature condition.