Device for direct liquid cooling system of IT infrastructure

Abstract

The invention relates to an arrangement for a direct liquid cooling system (DLC) of an IT infrastructure, said arrangement having at least one IT rack (1) which has a plurality of plug units (2) which are arranged on top of each other in the vertical direction (z) of the IT rack (1) and are used for a direct liquid cooling system (DLC) and / or a plug device (2.1) of the IT infrastructure, characterized in that the plug units (2) are arranged on top of each other in the vertical direction (z) of the IT rack (1). According to the invention, the direct liquid cooling system (DLC) has at least two different plug-in devices (2.1), each of which is inserted into one of the plug-in units (2).

Description

Technical Field

[0001] The present invention is based on an apparatus for a direct liquid cooling system (DLC) for IT infrastructure, wherein the apparatus has at least one IT rack with a plurality of plug-in units arranged stacked on top of each other in the vertical direction of the IT rack, and for plug-in devices of the direct liquid cooling system and / or IT infrastructure. Background Technology

[0002] Such a device with a coolant distribution unit designed as a pluggable device is described in U.S. Patent 11,395,443 B2. A similar device is described in U.S. Patent 2007 / 0274043 A1. US Patents 9,668,382 B2 and 11,310,939 B2 describe known coolant distribution units (CDUs) in which all components required to supply coolant are housed within a housing designed as a pluggable device, including but not limited to: redundant pumps, heat exchangers, expansion tanks, pressure and / or temperature sensors, three-way valves with bypass valves, AC power supplies, control units, service valves, filters, automatic degassing devices, and pressure relief valves. For recooling the CDU, the pluggable device may have a liquid-liquid heat exchanger with interfaces for coolant supply and coolant return. Instead of a liquid-liquid heat exchanger, an air-liquid heat exchanger may be provided, using a fan (preferably a filtered fan) to apply air from the environment surrounding the pluggable device to the heat exchanger for recooling the coolant in a direct liquid cooling system.

[0003] The device is known to have the following drawbacks: the coolant distribution unit is prone to error and is expensive due to its complexity. Therefore, replacement in case of failure also incurs high costs. Summary of the Invention

[0004] Therefore, the object of the present invention is to further improve the device of the type described at the beginning, making it less prone to failure and allowing for low-cost replacement in the event of a failure.

[0005] This objective is achieved by a device having the features described in claim 1. The dependent claims relate to advantageous embodiments of the invention.

[0006] Accordingly, the device can have a direct liquid cooling system with at least two different pluggable devices, each pluggable device inserted into one of the pluggable units. Specifically, components provided as coolant distribution units in the prior art and designed as single devices (e.g., pluggable devices) can be modular in construction, having at least two different pluggable devices, each inserted into one of the pluggable units. The at least two components of the coolant distribution unit can be designed independently of each other and therefore can be replaced independently of each other.

[0007] A direct liquid cooling system can have multiple components, with at least two components designed as different pluggable devices. These different pluggable devices can be functional components of a coolant distribution unit (CDU). Therefore, in the case of a coolant distribution unit, combinations of functional components known in the art can be decomposed within a single component housing, resulting in multiple components designed independently of each other. These components can each be designed as pluggable devices with their own housings.

[0008] These components, designed as different plug-in devices, can be functionally complementary. In particular, the at least two different plug-in devices have different functions for the direct liquid cooling system, preferably different functions of the coolant distribution unit (CDU).

[0009] At least two components designed as different plug-in devices can interact to collectively function as a coolant distribution unit (CDU). For example, the first component could be a pump unit, and the second component could be a coolant distribution unit with all the functional components of a coolant distribution unit, but without a pump. The pump unit can have multiple redundant pumps. Multiple pump units can be provided, each forming a plug-in device. The multiple pump units can be redundantly designed relative to each other, or redundancy can be achieved within each pump unit by having multiple pumps per unit.

[0010] Plug-in devices, particularly plug-in devices forming functional components of a coolant distribution unit, can be selected from: a pump unit (RPU) for coolant, preferably with 2N redundant pumps; a heat exchanger; an expansion tank; pressure and / or temperature sensors; a three-way valve with a bypass valve; an AC power supply; a control unit; a maintenance valve; a filter, preferably a filter fan; an automatic degasser; and a pressure relief valve. Plug-in devices can be provided multiple times, preferably redundantly relative to each other, and particularly preferably as independent plug-in devices.

[0011] Plug-in devices can be designed at least partially to be hot-swappable, preferably hot-swappable relative to the connection to the coolant circuit of a direct liquid cooling system and / or the connection to a power supply. For example, power supplies, such as uninterruptible voltage supply (UPS) or power supply unit (PSU), can be designed as plug-in devices, particularly hot-swappable plug-in devices.

[0012] The pump unit (Reservoir Pump Unit - RPU) of the direct liquid cooling system can be designed as at least one of the at least two pluggable devices. Preferably, the pump unit has multiple pluggable devices or is formed by multiple pluggable devices, wherein these pluggable devices are preferably identical components. These identical components preferably have the same function. In the case of the pump unit, the identical components have pumping capacity. These identical components can have the same pumping capacity. The pump units can be connected in series. Their pumping capacities can be accumulated. When one pump unit fails, the remaining one or more pump units can take over the pumping capacity of the failed pump unit.

[0013] If the multiple pluggable devices of the pump unit are identical components, they can be redundant in terms of the pumping capacity of the coolant in the direct liquid cooling system, and are preferably connected in series. The multiple pluggable devices of the pump unit can be configured such that, when one of the multiple pluggable devices of the pump unit fails, the required pumping capacity is provided by the remaining pluggable devices of the pump unit.

[0014] One of the pluggable devices can be a power supply, preferably a DC voltage power supply for the pluggable device housed in the pluggable unit. The DC voltage power supply can have a rectifier and a power distribution device, such as a busbar extending along the rear side of the IT rack in the height direction of the IT rack, and the DC voltage is provided by the rectifier. At least one of the pluggable devices in the direct liquid cooling system housed in the pluggable unit can be electrically connected to the power distribution device, particularly the busbar. In this way, the pluggable device itself does not require a power supply unit, such as a power supply unit, making the provision of the pluggable device more cost-effective, less prone to failure, and with a smaller structural size.

[0015] In one embodiment, the power distribution unit may be a busbar, such as a copper busbar, particularly preferably a busbar housed in a contact protector having contact openings for electrical contact with the busbar. The power distribution unit, particularly the busbar, is particularly preferably designed as a straight strip. Plug-in devices, particularly but not limited to those in direct liquid-cooled systems, can operate on DC voltage. A DC voltage power supply can be provided in the IT rack, extending at least vertically, and plug-in devices inserted into the plug-in unit can be supplied with DC voltage through this power supply. The DC voltage power supply, particularly the power distribution unit, such as the busbar, may have self-contact connection. For this purpose, the power distribution unit (e.g., the busbar) and the plug-in device may have complementary contact elements on the rear side facing the power distribution unit, which engage when the plug-in device is fully inserted into the plug-in unit and disconnect when the plug-in device is inserted into the plug-in unit but not fully inserted.

[0016] The device can be part of an IT cabinet, an IT cabinet row, or a data center. Therefore, the device is specifically part of a switch cabinet housing. The switch cabinet housing can, in known ways, have an air cooling system for the components housed within the switch cabinet that require cooling, in addition to a direct liquid cooling system. For this purpose, cooling air can flow through the switch cabinet housing. The switch cabinet housing can be configured such that it has an air-liquid heat exchanger on the air outlet side, such as the front or rear side. The heat exchanger can be designed, for example, as a rear-door heat exchanger. Therefore, when flowing through the switch cabinet, heated air can be discharged as cooled air into the switch cabinet environment. Alternatively or additionally, for example, in a switch cabinet row with a cold aisle / hot aisle configuration, cooling air can enter the housing from the cold aisle via the front or rear side of the switch cabinet and enter as heated air into the hot aisle on the opposite side. The cooling air can be discharged into the cold aisle, for example, by an air-liquid heat exchanger arranged in a double-layer panel within the data center. Cooling air can also be provided in the cold aisle in different ways.

[0017] To further improve the maintainability of direct liquid cooling systems, the systems can be modular, featuring multiple interconnected components, each of which can be a pluggable device. This allows for the redundancy of particularly error-prone components or modules in embodiments of the direct liquid cooling system. Thus, for example, multiple pump modules can be provided for liquid delivery. The pump modules can be connected in parallel. Each pump module can have multiple pumps, which are preferably connected in parallel.

[0018] In one embodiment, the direct liquid cooling system has at least one pump module designed to function independently of other liquid cooling modules. This at least one module, or one of the modules of the direct liquid cooling system, can be a pluggable device of the direct liquid cooling system. Optionally, the pluggable device can be connected to a DC voltage power supply in the manner described above. However, it can also have a dedicated voltage power supply, such as a power supply unit.

[0019] If the device used to supply power to the direct liquid cooling system (DLC) is a switchgear enclosure, switchgear bar, or data center, and is part of an air-cooling system having at least one air-liquid heat exchanger, the return line of the air-liquid heat exchanger can be configured to connect to the supply line of the direct liquid cooling system, particularly to the supply line of the liquid-liquid heat exchanger of the direct liquid cooling system. In this way, the heated liquid discharged from the air-liquid heat exchanger can still be used as a radiator for recooling the main loop coolant of the direct liquid cooling system. This is possible because the liquid cooling system can operate at a higher supply temperature than the air flowing through the switchgear in the air-cooling system, so that efficient heat transfer from the components requiring cooling to the liquid in the main loop of the liquid cooling system can still be achieved.

[0020] In one embodiment, the return line of the air-liquid heat exchanger housed in the switch cabinet door can be connected to the supply line of the liquid-liquid heat exchanger of the direct liquid cooling system, particularly to the external circuit of the direct liquid cooling system. The air-liquid heat exchanger can also be located in an alternative position relative to a switch cabinet, switch cabinet row, or data center with DLC. For example, the air-liquid heat exchanger can be arranged in a double-layer panel of the data center and configured to blow cooling air into the cold aisle, air previously drawn as heated air from the hot aisle and passing through the double-layer panel and the air-liquid heat exchanger. The heat exchanger can also be part of an online cooling system arranged in a switch cabinet row. For example, the switch cabinet row can separate the cold aisle from the hot aisle, where heated air is drawn from the hot aisle via the rear side of the online cooling system, guided through the air-liquid heat exchanger in the online cooling system, and blown as cooling air into the cold aisle at the front side.

[0021] In one embodiment, the device is part of a switch cabinet housing or IT rack, wherein, in addition to the components of the device according to the invention, only components of a liquid cooling system and, optionally, components of an air-liquid cooling system are arranged. Such a switch cabinet housing or such an IT rack may be part of a row of switch cabinets, for example, arranged in a row of switch cabinets or IT racks, and may be configured to provide cooling liquid to the liquid cooling system of components housed in adjacent switch cabinet housings or IT racks. Optionally, the switch cabinet housing or IT rack having the device may also have at least one air-liquid heat exchanger for providing cooling air to the components. The liquid circuit of the air-liquid heat exchanger may be interconnected with the liquid circuit of the external liquid-liquid heat exchanger of the liquid cooling system in the manner described above, particularly in such a way that the return line of the air-liquid heat exchanger is connected to the supply line of the external liquid-liquid heat exchanger. The return line of the external liquid-liquid heat exchanger may be connected to a recooling system, for example, to a cooler. The supply line of the cooler may be connected to the supply line of the air-liquid heat exchanger. However, air-liquid heat exchangers and liquid-liquid heat exchangers in direct liquid cooling systems can also be designed independently of each other and each connected to a recooler for supplying the cooling liquid. Alternatively, the air-liquid heat exchanger can be omitted, resulting in a liquid cooling system alone.

[0022] If the device has a DC voltage power supply, multiple first blind-mating connectors for tool-less connection of components of the direct liquid cooling system and / or IT infrastructure to a power distribution unit (e.g., a busbar) can be arranged spaced apart from each other in the vertical direction along the power distribution unit, particularly the busbar. The pluggable device to be housed in the pluggable unit can have a plug connector complementary to the first blind-mating connectors. The complementary plug connector can have a self-centering function, resulting in a safe contact connection between the pluggable device and the busbar when the pluggable device is inserted into the pluggable unit and reaches the fully inserted position within the pluggable unit.

[0023] The direct liquid cooling system may have at least one coolant distribution channel extending along the rear side of the IT rack in the height direction of the IT rack, wherein a plurality of second blind-mating connectors for tool-less connection of components of the direct liquid cooling system and / or IT infrastructure to the coolant distribution channel are arranged along the coolant distribution channel, spaced apart from each other in the height direction.

[0024] The plug-in unit may have linear guides for components used in direct liquid cooling systems and / or IT infrastructure, wherein the linear guides extend parallel to the insertion direction of the first blind connector and / or the second blind connector.

[0025] A direct liquid cooling system can have multiple pluggable devices, each housed in a pluggable unit, wherein at least two pluggable devices are designed as redundant pluggable devices, preferably redundant pump units, for example, each as a receiver-receiver pump unit (RPU). All pluggable devices, but preferably at least one of the pluggable devices in the direct liquid cooling system, can be connected to the power distribution unit, particularly the busbar contact, via a passive coupling plug, thereby allowing for easy replacement in the event of a failure.

[0026] One of the pluggable devices can be a rectifier. The rectifier can be designed, for example, as a power supply unit (PSU), which is housed as a pluggable device within a pluggable unit. The PSU may have a blind-mating connector on the rear side facing the power distribution unit, through which the PSU is electrically connected to the power distribution unit to provide DC voltage to the power distribution unit, such as the busbar of the power distribution unit.

[0027] At least one pluggable device in a direct liquid cooling system may be a coolant distribution unit (CDU) or at least one component of a coolant distribution unit. Preferably, the coolant distribution unit has multiple components designed to be independent of each other. Preferably, the coolant distribution unit may have at least two redundant components. The redundant components may be designed as identical parts and may be connected in parallel. Particularly preferably, the coolant distribution unit has at least two components with different functions. These components may each be designed as pluggable devices to be housed in one of the pluggable units.

[0028] The components of the coolant distribution unit (CDU) may be, for example: at least one pump unit for coolant, preferably with 2N redundant pumps; at least one heat exchanger; at least one expansion tank; at least one pressure and / or temperature sensor; at least one three-way valve with a bypass valve; at least one AC power supply; at least one control unit; at least one maintenance valve; at least one filter, preferably a filter fan; at least one automatic deaerator; and at least one pressure relief valve. Each component can be designed as its own pluggable device. Multiple components can form a common pluggable device. These components can be designed to be hot-swappable, preferably hot-swappable with respect to connections to the coolant circuit (if present) and / or connections to the power supply (if present).

[0029] The pump unit of the CDU can be designed as its own pluggable device. Preferably, the pump unit has multiple pluggable devices. The multiple pluggable devices of the pump unit can be identical components. The multiple pluggable devices of the pump unit can be connected in series with respect to their pumping capacity for coolant. The multiple pump units can be configured such that even if one of the multiple pump units fails, the required pumping capacity can be provided by the remaining pump units. To this end, the multiple pump units can be configured to operate at a reduced pumping capacity during normal operation, i.e., when all pump units are functioning correctly. If one pump unit fails, the remaining pump units can increase their pumping capacity to compensate for the pumping capacity lost due to the failure. After replacing the failed pump unit, the multiple pump units can resume normal operation.

[0030] In existing coolant distribution units (CDUs), all the aforementioned components (wherever necessary in the application) are typically housed in the same enclosure, thus designed as a single device. This means that if one of these components fails, the entire CDU must be replaced. This results in an interruption of the cooling capacity provided by the CDU, and therefore, if applicable, will cause the IT infrastructure cooled by the CDU to fail.

[0031] At least one of the coolant distribution unit components, preferably the control equipment and / or expansion tank of the coolant distribution unit, may be arranged outside the housing of the coolant distribution unit (CDU) and inside or outside the IT rack. For example, the expansion tank of the coolant distribution unit may be arranged on top of the IT rack.

[0032] At least one component of the coolant distribution unit may be a control device for the coolant distribution unit, which is electrically connected to a power source, particularly a bus, and is preferably designed as a pluggable device housed in one of the pluggable units.

[0033] At least one component of the coolant distribution unit may be an expansion tank, which is fluidly connected, preferably directly connected, to the coolant distribution channel of the direct liquid cooling system. In this case, the expansion tank is particularly preferably located outside the IT rack, for example, on top of the IT rack.

[0034] Multiple components of the coolant distribution unit can be housed as individual plug-in devices within a single plug-in unit. In this case, the components of the coolant distribution unit, designed as independent plug-in devices, can include at least two identical or structurally identical components, preferably multiple identical or structurally identical pump units, such as the RPU of the coolant distribution unit. For example, at least two of the identical or structurally identical pump units can be designed as redundant pump units. To achieve redundancy, the pump units can be connected in parallel.

[0035] At least one pluggable device can be a component of a direct liquid cooling system, wherein the pluggable device has a housing in which at least two redundant, preferably parallel, pumps are arranged. Furthermore, the housing may not contain at least a compressor, expansion medium, and condenser. Preferably, the housing may not contain any other active components of the refrigeration unit. In this way, the following embodiments of the invention can be provided, wherein particularly error-prone pump units can be easily replaced during continuous operation. This can be further optimized by not only having one of the pluggable devices with at least two redundant pumps, but also by these pluggable devices particularly preferably applying cooled coolant to the coolant distribution channel in a fluid parallel manner.

[0036] In one embodiment, in addition to at least two redundant pumps, the heat exchanger may also be housed within a casing. In this case, to utilize the redundant pumps for component cooling of the IT infrastructure, coolant may be supplied or may be supplied through the internal loop of the heat exchanger. When the heat exchanger is a liquid-liquid heat exchanger, the external loop of the liquid-liquid heat exchanger may be connected or may be connected to a recooler for the coolant. Alternatively, in the manner already described, the external loop of the liquid-liquid heat exchanger may be connected to the return line of an existing air-liquid heat exchanger in the IT infrastructure.

[0037] The housing may have at least one supply line and a first return line on the outer side for connecting the internal circuit to the coolant distribution channel of the direct liquid cooling system. Furthermore, single-pole or double-pole electrical contacts for electrical connection to a power distribution device, such as a busbar, may be present on the outer side, preferably on the rear side of the housing facing the power distribution device. When the heat exchanger is a liquid-liquid heat exchanger, a second supply line and a second return line are preferably provided for connecting the external circuit to the recooler. Preferably, all supply and return lines, as well as the electrical contacts, can be designed as blind-mating connectors.

[0038] At least one additional pluggable device may be housed in or received in at least one additional pluggable unit. In this case, the at least one additional pluggable device may be a server or an uninterruptible power supply (backup battery unit - BBU).

[0039] A direct liquid cooling system may have at least one additional pluggable device, preferably a coolant assembly in the coolant distribution unit of the direct liquid cooling system. The pluggable device may be a heat exchanger or may have such a heat exchanger. Furthermore, the pluggable device may be an expansion tank or may have such an expansion tank. In this case, the additional pluggable device is intended to be housed within one of the pluggable units in a non-contact manner relative to the busbar.

[0040] Plug-in devices and other plug-in devices may have standardized housings, particularly in terms of their depth dimensions and therefore in the insertion direction in which the plug-in device inserts into the plug-in unit. Furthermore, the first blind-mate connector formed on the rear side facing the busbar is preferably designed to be identical, regardless of the type of plug-in device.

[0041] Only pluggable devices with direct liquid cooling systems can be housed in the pluggable units of an IT rack. Therefore, IT racks can be arranged within switch cabinet rows of components requiring cooling. For this purpose, IT racks housing only liquid-cooled pluggable devices can have side-by-side connectors, for example, to adjacent IT racks in the switch cabinet rows, via suitable interfaces, including a fluid transition between the liquid-cooled pluggable devices and adjacent IT racks in the switch cabinet rows, which may, for example, house servers requiring cooling.

[0042] At least one of the pluggable devices may be a heat exchanger or may have such a heat exchanger, preferably a liquid-liquid heat exchanger, an expansion tank, a pump unit, a control device, or a DC voltage power supply. Attached Figure Description

[0043] Further details of the present invention will be explained with reference to the following drawings. In the drawings: Figure 1 The direct liquid cooling system is illustrated in schematic form. Figure 2 An exemplary embodiment of a pluggable device designed as a pump unit is shown; Figure 3 An exemplary embodiment of a direct liquid cooling system with additional rear door air cooling is shown; Figure 4 An exemplary embodiment of the pluggable device is shown in schematic form; Figure 5 Another embodiment of the pluggable device is shown; Figure 6 Another embodiment of the pluggable device is shown; Figure 7 A front view (a) and a side view (b) of an embodiment of the device according to the invention are shown; and Figure 8 Another embodiment of the device according to the invention is shown in a side view of an IT rack. Detailed Implementation

[0044] Figure 1A direct liquid cooling system (DLC) is illustrated schematically. Coolant is supplied by a recooler 16, which may be designed as a cooler, with or without a refrigeration unit. For this purpose, the recooler 16 specifically includes an air-liquid heat exchanger and at least one fan through which ambient air is conveyed. The coolant supplied by the recooler is specifically supplied to the coolant distribution unit (CDU) via a supply line in the external loop of the CDU. The liquid supplied by the recooler leaves the CDU as a heated liquid via a return line in the external loop, and the external loop of the CDU, which simultaneously forms the liquid loop of the recooler 16, is indicated by reference numeral 17.

[0045] The coolant distribution unit (CDU) specifically includes a liquid-liquid heat exchanger and at least one pump for delivering liquid through the CDU internal loop 15. The supply line of the CDU internal loop is connected to the return line of the coolant distribution channel 7, while the return line of the CDU internal loop 15 is connected to the supply line of the coolant distribution channel 7. The coolant distribution channel 7 may have multiple spaced-apart interfaces in the longitudinal direction (vertical direction), one connected to the supply line of the coolant distribution channel 7 through which cooling coolant is supplied, and the other connected to the return line of the coolant distribution channel 7 through which heated coolant is discharged. The pluggable device 2 may be, for example, a server pluggable unit of IT infrastructure, connected to the distribution channel 7 in a manner known, for example, from US 2007 / 0274043 A1. In pluggable devices, a cooling liquid (preferably a non-conductive refrigerant) flows through components that need to be cooled, such as a CPU or GPU, or other components that are high-power-loss and temperature-sensitive, making air cooling systems unsuitable due to the lower thermal conductivity of air compared to liquids.

[0046] Figure 2 An exemplary embodiment of a pluggable device that can be used with the apparatus according to the invention is shown. The pluggable device 2.1 has a housing 13, which can be standardized, for example, in terms of its dimensions, to achieve at least the effect that when the pluggable device 2.1 is inserted into a pluggable unit of an IT rack, the contact connection of the first blind connector 6.1 and the second blind connector 6.2 for electrical contact connection on the one hand for power distribution and on the other hand for fluid connection to a direct liquid cooling system, particularly a coolant distribution channel, can be automatically established, i.e., particularly without tools. Three redundant pumps 14, connected in parallel with each other, are arranged in the housing 13. Furthermore, a heat exchanger 12, particularly a liquid-liquid heat exchanger, is arranged in the housing 13. Therefore, the only active component inside the housing 13 is the pump 14, which is provided in a triple design and connected in parallel. Thus, Figure 2The pump unit shown exhibits very high fault insensitivity. Thanks to the use of the first blind-mating connector 6.1 and the second blind-mating connector 6.2, the entire unit, i.e., the pluggable device 2.1, can be replaced quickly and without associated downtime in the event of any pump failure or power reduction. This is achieved by simultaneously providing… Figure 2 The multiple pluggable devices 2.1 connected in parallel to each other can achieve further redundancy of the direct liquid cooling system (DLC). As a result, even if all (three in this example) pumps 14 of one of the multiple pluggable devices 2.1 fail, the continuous operation of the DLC can be guaranteed, and downtime can be almost completely avoided.

[0047] Figure 3 An embodiment in which the device according to the invention is housed in a switch cabinet housing designed according to an IT cabinet design, has multiple 19-inch plug-in units arranged vertically in a stacked manner. Plug-in devices 2.1 in the plug-in units 2 of the IT rack 1 are partially occupied by servers and partially by built-in devices 2.1 of a direct liquid cooling system. For example, the uppermost plug-in unit 2 of the IT rack 1 is occupied by a DC voltage power supply 3 provided as a built-in device 2.1. Lower-level plug-in units 2 are occupied by coolant distribution units (CDUs). A coolant distribution channel 7, along with its supply and return lines, is arranged at the rear of the IT rack 1. The supply and return lines of the coolant distribution channel 7 are connected to the coolant distribution unit CDU. A rear-door heat exchanger 200 is connected to the rear of the IT rack 1. The rear-door heat exchanger has an air-liquid heat exchanger and multiple fans. Cooling air is drawn into the rear door heat exchanger 200 via the front side of the IT rack 1, passes through the server plug-in unit 2.1 requiring cooling, and is heated by passing through an air-liquid heat exchanger and then blown out as cooled air into the housing environment. The supply line of the air-liquid heat exchanger of the rear door cooling unit 200 is supplied by a recooler 16 (e.g., a cooler). The return line of the air-liquid heat exchanger of the rear door cooling unit 200 is connected to the supply line of the external circuit of the CDU. Therefore, the heated liquid discharged from the air-liquid heat exchanger serves as a radiator relative to the CDU. A liquid-liquid heat exchanger 12 is arranged in the CDU, through which heat is transferred from the internal circuit of the CDU (through which the CDU is connected to the coolant distribution channel 7) to the external circuit of the CDU.

[0048] All pluggable devices 2.1, except for the DC power supply 3 itself, can be designed to operate as DC devices, for example, at a working voltage of 48V. Therefore, the entire power distribution within the IT rack can be carried out at a DC voltage level that is safer than mains voltage, thereby improving the operational reliability of the IT rack.

[0049] The modular structure of the direct liquid cooling system also allows, for example, the expansion tank 10 to be arranged in an operation-friendly manner on the top side of the IT rack 1, specifically above the coolant distribution channel 7.

[0050] Figures 4 to 6 The different installation stages of the pluggable device 2.1 are shown. Figure 4 In the embodiments, the pluggable device 2.1 is designed as a pump unit (RPU). Figure 4 The RPU shown has only two pumps 14 connected in parallel, which are housed in a housing 13 along with two power supply units 19 (one power supply unit for each pump 14). A first blind-mating connector 6.1 is used to connect to a DC voltage source, and a pair of second blind-mating connectors 6.2 are used to connect to the internal circuitry of the DLC. As a result, utilizing... Figure 4 The pump unit (RPU) shown can supply coolant to the coolant distribution channel (not shown) of the DLC.

[0051] As Figure 4 The extension of the illustrated embodiment, in Figure 5 In the illustrated embodiment, not only is a liquid-liquid heat exchanger 12 provided, but the pump 14 is also a triple-redundant design. Accordingly, three power supply units 19 are also provided for independently powering the three pumps 14. Figure 5 The illustrated embodiments are suitable, for example, in accordance with Figure 3 It is used in switch cabinets, where the external circuit of the CDU is connected to an air-liquid heat exchanger, such as a heat exchanger connected to a rear door cooling unit 200.

[0052] and Figure 5 The implementation examples are different, in Figure 6 In this embodiment, instead of a liquid-liquid heat exchanger for coolant recooling, an air-liquid heat exchanger 12 and a pair of fans 20 are provided. Additionally, an expansion tank 10 is also arranged within the housing. A pair of redundant pumps 14 are powered by a pair of independent power supply units 19.

[0053] Figure 7An exemplary embodiment of the apparatus for supplying electrical power to a direct liquid cooling system is shown in front view (a) and side view (b). The apparatus has an IT rack 1 with a plurality of pluggable units 2 arranged in a vertical z-direction for pluggable devices 2.1 of the direct liquid cooling system. In addition to the pluggable devices 2.1 for the direct liquid cooling system, other pluggable devices 2.1 are provided, which are designed as servers in this application. A rectifier PSU is also designed as a pluggable device 2.1. A busbar for the DC voltage power supply 3 for the pluggable units 2 or the pluggable devices 2.1 housed therein extends along the rear R of the IT rack 1 as a power distribution unit 5. The busbar is powered by the rectifier PSU, specifically supplied with DC voltage. Each of the pluggable devices 2.1 of the direct liquid cooling system DLC is housed in a pluggable unit 2 and electrically connected to the busbar whenever it requires power. The expansion tank 10, which does not require an electrical supply, is positioned in a physically advantageous location, namely on the top side, outside the IT rack 1. The control device 9, independent of the other components of the DLC, is designed as a separate pluggable device and directly contacts the DC voltage power supply 3, specifically the busbar of the power distribution unit 5. The pluggable device 2.1 has a first blind-mating connector 6.1 for tool-less connection of the pluggable device 2.1 to the busbar. Complementary blind-mating connectors may be arranged on the rear side of the housing of the pluggable device 2.1 facing the busbar. Similarly, a second blind-mating connector for liquid guidance may be arranged on the rear side for connection to the supply and return lines of the coolant distribution channel 7.

[0054] Figure 7 The illustrated embodiment includes both internal server equipment, thus having components requiring cooling, and different components of a direct liquid cooling system (DLC) for cooling the server. Figure 8 In the illustrated embodiment, IT rack 1 is equipped only with components of the Direct Liquid Cooling (DLC) system. Specifically, multiple pluggable devices 2.1 are designed as redundant pump units (RPUs). These units can be designed, for example, according to… Figure 2 and Figure 4 One of the embodiments. Two pluggable devices 2.1 constitute the heat exchanger 12 and the expansion tank 10. The DC voltage power supply 3 is also designed as a pluggable device, as is the control device 9. The DC voltage power supply 3 is Figure 8 The device shown is the only component powered by mains voltage. In addition, the device ensures that all components and equipment used for power distribution, particularly bus 5, are powered by a low DC voltage, such as 48V.

[0055] The features provided in the above description can be associated in any desired combination to implement embodiments of the invention, wherein the scope of protection is determined only by the claims.

[0056] List of reference numerals in the attached diagram: 1IT rack 2 plug-in units 2.1 Plug-in devices 3 DC voltage power supply 5 busbars 6.1 First blind mating connector 6.2 Second blind-mating connector 7 Coolant distribution channels 8 linear guides 9 Control Equipment 10 expansion tanks 11 Other pluggable devices 12 heat exchangers 13 casing 14 pumps 15 Internal Circuits 16 Recooler 17 External Circuit 19 power supply units 20 fans 200 rear door cooling equipment BBU Uninterruptible Power Supply CDU Coolant Distribution Unit DLC direct liquid cooling system PSU rectifier RPU pump unit R rear side x Insertion direction z-axis height direction

Claims

1. An apparatus for a direct liquid cooling system (DLC) for IT infrastructure, wherein the apparatus has at least one IT rack (1) having a plurality of pluggable units (2) stacked in a vertical (z) direction of the IT rack (1), and for pluggable devices (2.1) of the direct liquid cooling system (DLC) and / or IT infrastructure, characterized in that, The direct liquid cooling system (DLC) has at least two different pluggable devices (2.1), each of which is inserted into one of the pluggable units (2).

2. The apparatus according to claim 1, wherein, The direct liquid cooling system (DLC) has multiple components, at least two of which are designed as different pluggable devices (2.1).

3. The apparatus according to claim 2, wherein, The pluggable device (2.1) is selected from: a pump unit (RPU) for coolant, preferably with 2N redundant pumps; a heat exchanger; an expansion tank; a pressure sensor and / or a temperature sensor; a three-way valve with a bypass valve; an AC power supply; a control unit; a maintenance valve; a filter, preferably a filter fan; an automatic degasser; and a pressure relief valve.

4. The apparatus according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein, The pluggable device (2.1) is designed to be hot-pluggable, preferably hot-pluggable relative to the connection with the coolant circuit of the direct liquid cooling system (DLC) and / or the connection with the power supply.

5. The apparatus according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein, The pump unit (RPU) of the direct liquid cooling system (DLC) is designed to be at least one of the at least two pluggable devices (2.1).

6. The apparatus according to claim 5, wherein, The pump unit (RPU) forms a plurality of the pluggable devices (2.1), wherein the pluggable devices (2.1) formed by the pump unit (RPU) are preferably identical components.

7. The apparatus according to claim 6, wherein, The multiple pluggable devices (2.1) of the pump unit (RPU) are identical components, which are preferably redundant for the pumping capacity of the coolant in the direct liquid cooling system (DLC) and are preferably connected in series.

8. The apparatus according to claim 6 or 7, wherein, The multiple pluggable devices (2.1) of the pump unit (RPU) are configured such that, in the event of a failure of one of the multiple pluggable devices (2.1) of the pump unit (RPU), the required pumping capacity is provided by the remaining pluggable devices (2.1) of the pump unit (RPU).

9. The apparatus according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein, At least a first pluggable device (2.1) of the pluggable devices (2.1) of the direct liquid cooling system (DLC) is a coolant distribution unit (CDU), and a second pluggable device (2.1) is a component of the coolant distribution unit (CDU), wherein the first pluggable device (2.1) does not contain the component.

10. The apparatus according to claim 9, wherein, At least one component of the coolant distribution unit (CDU), preferably the control device (9) and / or expansion tank (10) of the coolant distribution unit (CDU), is arranged outside the housing (13) of the first pluggable device (2.1) and inside or outside the IT rack (1).

11. The apparatus according to claim 10, wherein, When the at least one component is arranged inside the IT rack (1), the component is one of at least two pluggable devices (2.1) that are inserted into at least one of the pluggable units (2).

12. The apparatus according to claim 10 or 11, wherein, The at least one component is an expansion tank (10) which is fluidly connected, preferably directly connected to the coolant distribution channel (7) of the direct liquid cooling system (DLC), wherein the expansion tank (10) is particularly preferably arranged outside the IT rack (1).

13. The apparatus according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein, The components of the Direct Liquid Cooling System (DLC) designed as a standalone pluggable device (2.1) have at least two identical or identical components, preferably multiple identical or structurally identical pump units (RPUs), wherein, particularly preferably, at least two of the identical or structurally identical pump units (RPUs) are designed as redundant pump units (RPUs).

14. The apparatus according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein, At least one of the pluggable devices (2.1) has a housing (13) in which at least two redundant, preferably parallel pumps (14) are arranged, wherein the housing (13) does not contain at least a compressor, an expansion medium and a condenser, and preferably does not contain any other active components of the refrigeration unit.

15. The apparatus according to claim 14, wherein, At least one heat exchanger (12) is also housed in the housing (13), wherein, in order to utilize the redundant pump (14) for component cooling of the IT infrastructure, cooling liquid is delivered or is capable of being delivered through the internal loop (15) of the heat exchanger (12), and wherein, when the heat exchanger (12) is a liquid-liquid heat exchanger, preferably, the external loop (17) of the liquid-liquid heat exchanger is connected or is capable of being connected to a recooler (16) for cooling liquid.

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