Server cabinet with cabinet heat exchanger

Abstract

The present invention provides a server cabinet having a cabinet heat exchanger that prevents the occurrence of galvanic corrosion in the manifold. [Solution] A server cabinet having a cabinet heat exchanger is used to connect to a main pipeline having a first pipe end P31 and is equipped with a cabinet heat exchanger. The cabinet heat exchanger comprises a frame, a cooling fan, a heat exchanger, a manifold 3, and a connecting member. The cooling fan, heat exchanger, and manifold are all mounted on the frame, and the manifold has a second pipe end 36, and the manifold is connected to the heat exchanger and is a metal pipe of a different material from the main pipeline. The connecting member is made of an insulating material and has a first coupling part 511 and a second coupling part 512, the first coupling part is connected to the first pipe end, and the second coupling part is connected to the second pipe end. In this way, the insulating connecting member electrically isolates the main pipeline from the manifold.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] The present invention relates to a server cabinet, and more particularly to a server cabinet having a cabinet heat exchanger.

Background Art

[0002] Since a server cabinet has a server that generates high temperature inside, it is necessary to dissipate the heat generated by the server by a heat dissipation device.

[0003] In recent years, due to the prosperity of artificial intelligence, the computing power of servers has also improved, and the heat energy generated by servers has increased. Therefore, in order to strengthen heat dissipation, a rear door cooling system has been added to the server cabinet.

[0004] Conventional rear door cooling systems all adopt water-cooled heat dissipation. The hot air generated by high-temperature servers is first cooled and then discharged to the entire data center (where multiple server cabinets are installed in the data center), preventing the situation where the overall environmental temperature in the data center becomes high due to the hot air discharged from all server cabinets. If it is discharged without prior cooling, in order for each server cabinet to dissipate heat, the air inhaled from the data center will inevitably become hot air, and thus heat dissipation for the servers in the server cabinet cannot be achieved.

Summary of the Invention

Problems to be Solved by the Invention

[0005] However, there was room for improvement in the conventional rear door cooling system as follows.

[0006] First, conventional rear door cooling systems transmit coolant through stainless steel manifolds (including low-temperature and high-temperature manifolds) to prevent corrosion, and cooling towers located in data centers also transmit coolant through stainless steel main lines (including low-temperature and high-temperature lines). The low-temperature and high-temperature manifolds of each conventional rear door cooling system are connected to the low-temperature and high-temperature lines, respectively.

[0007] Next, because hundreds of server cabinets are installed throughout the data center, the cost becomes extremely high when both the low-temperature and high-temperature manifolds are made of expensive stainless steel pipes.

[0008] Furthermore, to reduce costs, other metal materials (e.g., aluminum) that are less expensive than stainless steel are selected and used to manufacture low-temperature and high-temperature manifolds. However, when aluminum low-temperature and high-temperature manifolds are connected to stainless steel low-temperature and high-temperature conduits and a conductive coolant containing an electrolyte is circulated through them, a current path is formed due to the direct connection between the dissimilar metal materials. Because stainless steel has a high potential and aluminum has a low potential, galvanic corrosion (also known as galvanic corrosion) occurs in situations where there is a potential difference. When corrosion occurs in low-potential aluminum low-temperature and high-temperature manifolds and worsens, it can lead to manifold damage and coolant leakage.

[0009] Therefore, the creator believed that the above shortcomings could be improved, and after careful consideration, arrived at the proposal of this invention, which effectively improves the above issues through a rational design.

[0010] This invention was developed through diligent research by the creator in view of the above-mentioned problems, and its purpose is to provide a server cabinet having a cabinet heat exchanger that primarily overcomes the problem of galvanic corrosion occurring between metal tubes of different materials with different electrical potentials. [Means for solving the problem]

[0011] To achieve the above objective, a server cabinet having a cabinet heat exchanger according to one aspect of the present invention is used to connect to a main pipeline having a first pipe end, and the main pipeline has a cabinet heat exchanger through which a coolant flows. The server cabinet is equipped with a cabinet heat exchanger. The cabinet heat exchanger includes a frame, a cooling fan installed on the frame, a heat exchanger installed on the frame, a manifold installed on the frame and connected to the heat exchanger, having a second pipe end, being a metal pipe made of a different material and having a different potential from the main pipeline, and a connecting member made of an insulating material, having a first joint and a second joint facing each other at a linear distance apart, the first joint being connected to the first pipe end, and the second joint being connected to the second pipe end, thereby preventing the formation of an electric current path between the main pipeline and the manifold. The connecting member electrically isolates the main pipeline and the manifold to prevent galvanic corrosion. [Effects of the Invention]

[0012] As this invention is configured as described above, it produces the following effects. This invention electrically isolates the main pipeline and the manifold, which are made of dissimilar metals, by connecting an insulating material between them, thereby preventing galvanic corrosion.

[0013] The following information will become clear from the description in the specification and drawings described later. [Brief explanation of the drawing]

[0014] [Figure 1] This is a three-dimensional diagram showing a plurality of server cabinets (frames omitted) connected to a main pipeline according to one embodiment of the present invention. [Figure 2] This is an exploded view showing a server cabinet according to one embodiment of the present invention. [Figure 3]This is an exploded view of a connector according to one embodiment of the present invention before it is connected to the manifold and branch pipe. [Figure 4] Figure 3 is a schematic diagram of a joined partial cross-section. [Figure 5] This is a schematic cross-sectional view of a server cabinet assembled according to one embodiment of the present invention. [Modes for carrying out the invention]

[0015] The present invention will be described below through embodiments of the invention, but these embodiments are not intended to limit the scope of the invention covered by the utility model registration claims. Furthermore, not all combinations of features described in the embodiments are necessarily essential to the solution of the invention.

[0016] The server cabinets having the cabinet heat exchanger according to the present invention consist of several of several hundred server cabinets (abbreviated as server cabinets) S having the cabinet heat exchanger according to the present invention, which are arranged in a data center (not shown). Within the data center, there are further arrangements of multiple main pipelines P connected to an external cooling tower (not shown). The main pipelines P are all metal pipes and include a low-temperature pipeline P1 and a high-temperature pipeline P2 through which cooling water flows (see Figures 1 and 5). The server cabinet S includes a cabinet 700 and a cabinet heat exchanger 100, and a manifold 3 is installed on the cabinet heat exchanger 100. The server cabinet S can be connected to the main pipelines P via the manifold 3. The manifold 3 includes a low-temperature manifold 31 and a high-temperature manifold 32, both made of metal pipes. Incidentally, the main pipelines P and manifolds 3 are metal pipes made of different materials and have different potentials, and the present invention is not limited to the specific types of metals used. Preferably, the low-temperature pipe P1 and high-temperature pipe P2 of the main pipeline P may be, for example, high-potential stainless steel pipes, and the low-temperature manifold 31 and high-temperature manifold 32 of the manifold 3 may be, for example, low-potential aluminum pipes. It should also be noted that when the server set 800 inside the server cabinet S is in operation, it generates heat, heating the surrounding air to form hot air. When the hot air is discharged to the outside of the server cabinet S, it undergoes heat exchange as it passes through the cabinet heat exchanger 100, cooling the hot air to form cold air, which is then discharged.

[0017] To cool the cabinet heat exchanger 100 after heat exchange, the low-temperature manifold 31 and high-temperature manifold 32 according to the present invention are connected to the low-temperature pipeline P1 and the high-temperature pipeline P2, respectively. Low-temperature coolant from an external cooling tower (not shown) is introduced into the cabinet heat exchanger 100 to cool it, and the low-temperature coolant is heated to become high-temperature coolant. Next, the high-temperature coolant is returned to the external cooling tower (not shown), cooled to become low-temperature coolant, and circulated back into the cabinet heat exchanger 100.

[0018] As shown in Figures 2 to 4, the cabinet heat exchanger 100 comprises a frame 1, a heat exchanger 2, a connecting member 5, at least one cooling fan 4, and the manifold 3. The cabinet 700 has a rear opening 7 that communicates with the inside of the cabinet 700. Also, as shown in Figure 5, a plurality of servers (these servers are combined to form the server set 800) and a coolant distribution device (CDU) located below the server set 800 are installed inside the cabinet 700. The coolant distribution device is used to assist in the heat dissipation of the servers inside the server set 800. Both the server set 800 and the coolant distribution device generate heat during operation, and this embodiment will describe the amount of heat generated by the server set 800.

[0019] Frame 1 is installed in the cabinet 700 so as to be openable and closable, corresponding to the rear opening 7. The frame 1, which has a roughly rectangular shape, is provided with an exhaust port 11 for gas circulation, in other words, the exhaust port 11 is in communication with the rear opening 7. A housing space (not shown) is formed inside the frame 1, and the heat exchanger 2 and all cooling fans 4 are installed inside the housing space of the frame 1 as shown in Figure 5. In this embodiment, the frame 1 is installed at the rear of the server cabinet S and is used in conjunction with the rear door of the cabinet, but the frame 1 may be installed in any direction of the cabinet as needed, including the left side, right side or top, but the present invention is not limited to these, and it should be noted that as long as the heat inside the server cabinet S undergoes heat exchange as it passes through the cabinet heat exchanger 100, cooling the hot air to form cold air and discharging it, all fall within the scope of protection of the present invention.

[0020] The manifold 3 is installed on the frame 1 and is connected so as to communicate with the heat exchanger 2. The main pipeline P has a first pipe end P31. Specifically, as shown in FIG. 3, all of the plurality of branch pipes P3 for diverting the main pipeline P have the first pipe end P31. In other words, the present invention has no limitation on where the first pipe end P31 is located. Hereinafter, an example in which the main pipeline P has the first pipe end P31 will be described. Both the low-temperature manifold 31 and the high-temperature manifold 32 have at least one second pipe end 36. The manifold 3 is connected so as to communicate with the heat exchanger 2, but it should be noted that the present invention is not limited to this, and it is sufficient if it can be connected so as to communicate.

[0021] The connecting member 5 is made of an insulating material. For example, as shown in FIG. 3, it may be an insulating sleeve, but the present invention is not limited to this. The connecting member 5 includes two completely identical connectors 51. As shown in FIG. 3, the connector 51 (which may be an insulating sleeve) has an axis (not shown), and an axial direction D parallel to the axis is defined for the connector 51. The connector 51 includes a connector body 510, a first coupling portion 511, and a second coupling portion 512. The connector body 510 is integrally connected between the first coupling portion 511 and the second coupling portion 512 along the axial direction D, and the first coupling portion 511 and the second coupling portion 512 face each other linearly spaced apart along the axial direction D. Preferably, as shown in FIG. 4, the length of the connector body 510 in the axial direction D is substantially equal to the length of the first coupling portion 511 (second coupling portion 512) in the axial direction D, and thus has a more suitable electrical insulation effect. In other embodiments not shown, the length of the connector body 510 in the axial direction D may be longer than the length of the first coupling portion 511 (second coupling portion 512) in the axial direction D.

[0022] The two connectors 51 are respectively connected between the low-temperature pipeline P1 and the low-temperature manifold 31 and between the high-temperature pipeline P2 and the high-temperature manifold 32 along the axial direction D. Specifically, the first joint portion 511 of each connector 51 is connected to the first pipe end P31 of the main pipeline P along the axial direction D, and the second joint portion 512 of each connector 51 is connected to the second pipe end 36 of the manifold 3 along the axial direction D.

[0023] The present invention is not limited to the above connection method. In this embodiment, an example of connection by a thread will be described. As shown in FIGS. 3 and 4, the first pipe end P31 of the main pipeline P may be a male connector, and a male thread P311 is provided on the outer wall surface of the male connector. The second pipe end 36 of the manifold 3 may be a female connector, and a female thread 361 is provided on the inner wall surface of the female connector. The first joint portion 511 of the connector 51 may be a corresponding female connector corresponding to the male connector, and a first corresponding thread (female thread) 5111 that can be screwed to the corresponding male thread P311 is provided on the inner wall surface of the corresponding female connector. The second joint portion 512 of the connector 51 may be a corresponding male connector corresponding to the female connector, and a second corresponding thread (female thread) 5122 that can be screwed to the corresponding female thread 361 is provided on the outer wall surface of the corresponding male connector. In this way, the connector 51 can be connected to the main pipeline P at one end and to the manifold 3 at the other end in the axial direction D by screwing. One end and the other end of the connector 51 face each other linearly spaced apart along the axial direction D.

[0024] As shown in FIGS. 2 and May 5, the cooling fan 4 is installed on the frame 1 so as to correspond to the exhaust port 11, and the heat exchanger 2 is located between the cooling fan 4 and the server set 800. The air cooled by the heat exchanger within the server cabinet S is discharged from the exhaust port 11 to the data center.

[0025] As shown in Figures 4 and 5, the server set 800 installed inside the cabinet 700 generates heat, and the heat exchanger 2 is a standard liquid-cooled radiator. It is typically composed of multiple sets of flow channels and multiple sets of metal fins. The multiple sets of flow channels are connected to a low-temperature manifold 31 and a high-temperature manifold 32, respectively, based on the flow channel design, and are used to circulate the coolant. During operation, the metal fins and forced convection exchange heat with the hot air generated by the server set 800, cooling it to produce cold air which is then released into the ambient air. The low-temperature coolant enters the internal flow channels via the low-temperature manifold 31, and as it flows through the channels, it absorbs the heat from the metal fins before being converted into high-temperature coolant, which then flows back into the high-temperature pipeline P2 via the high-temperature manifold 32. Since the heat exchanger 2 is located between all the cooling fans 4 and the server set 800, when the cooling fans 4 operate, the heat exchanger 2 extracts the hot air H generated from the server set 800 inside the cabinet 700 through the exhaust port 11 and the rear opening 7. This hot air H flows through the heat exchanger 2 and exchanges heat with the fins inside the heat exchanger 2, heating the fins as they absorb heat, and the hot air H is cooled through heat exchange with the fins, forming a second cold air C2. Next, this second cold air C2 is discharged into the data center from the exhaust port 11 of the frame 1 by the forced convection action of the cooling fans 4. In this way, the gas discharged into the data center from hundreds of server cabinets S according to this invention inevitably becomes the second cold air C2 after heat exchange is complete, and the gas throughout the data center inevitably becomes cold air instead of hot air, allowing each server cabinet S according to this invention to draw in the first cold air C1 from the data center.

[0026] As shown in Figure 4, this invention not only achieves the necessary heat dissipation and discharges the second cold air C2 into the data center, but also electrically isolates the low-temperature pipeline P1 and the low-temperature manifold 31, and the high-temperature pipeline P2 and the high-temperature manifold 32, which are metal pipes made of different materials and have different potentials, respectively. This prevents galvanic corrosion from occurring in the low-temperature manifold 31 (Type 2 metal pipe, preferably aluminum pipe) and the high-temperature manifold 32 (Type 2 metal pipe, preferably aluminum pipe), which have a lower potential than the main pipeline P (Type 1 metal pipe, preferably stainless steel pipe), thus preventing water leakage due to corrosion. Incidentally, the fins (not shown) inside the heat exchanger 2 may be made of aluminum.

[0027] It should be noted that this invention uses a single component, and the connector 51 is capable of achieving a potentiometric corrosion prevention effect. Furthermore, the design of the connector 51 effectively prevents corrosion problems caused by the potential difference between dissimilar metals by isolating the main conduit P and the manifold 3 so that conductive contact does not occur, and by making it impossible to form a current path between them (see Figure 4).

[0028] As shown in Figures 3 and 4, the connecting member 5 can further enhance the waterproofing effect. For example, two waterproof gaskets 59 may be installed on each connector 51. The waterproofing effect is enhanced when the two waterproof gaskets 59 are installed on the first joint 511 and the second joint 512 respectively, screwed together, and then tightened between the first joint 511 and the first pipe end P31 and between the second joint 512 and the second pipe end 36.

[0029] In summary, the server cabinet having the cabinet heat exchanger according to the present invention not only achieves the intended purpose and effect, but also solves the problems and shortcomings of the prior art, and therefore, we file a utility model application.

[0030] The present invention is not limited to the embodiments described above, and various modifications are possible within the scope of the claims. Embodiments obtained by appropriately combining the technical means devised for each of the different embodiments are also included within the technical scope of the present invention. [Explanation of symbols]

[0031] 100 Cabinet Heat Exchanger 1 frame 11 Exhaust vent 2 Heat exchanger 3 Manifold 31 Low-temperature manifold 32 High-temperature manifold 36 2nd pipe end 361 Female thread 4 Cooling fan 5. Connecting Members 51 Connectors 510 Connector Body 511 1st joint 5111 1st compatible screw 512 2nd joint 5122 Compatible Screw No. 2 59 Waterproof gasket 700 Cabinet 7 Rear opening 800 Server Set C1 1st cold air C2 2nd cold air D-axis direction H hot air P Main pipe P1 Low temperature pipe line P2 High temperature pipe line P3 Branch pipe P31 1st pipe end P311 Male Screw S Server Cabinet

Claims

1. A server cabinet used to connect to a main pipeline having a first pipe end, the main pipeline having a cabinet heat exchanger through which a coolant flows, Equipped with a cabinet heat exchanger, The aforementioned cabinet heat exchanger is Frame and, A cooling fan installed on the aforementioned frame, A heat exchanger installed in the aforementioned frame, A manifold is installed on the frame, connected to the heat exchanger, and has a second pipe end, and is a metal pipe made of a different material and having a different potential from the main pipeline, A connecting member having an insulating material and a first connecting portion and a second connecting portion facing each other at a linear distance apart, wherein the first connecting portion is connected to the first pipe end and the second connecting portion is connected to the second pipe end, and which prevents the formation of a current path between the main pipeline and the manifold, The server cabinet having a cabinet heat exchanger is characterized in that the connecting member electrically isolates the main pipeline and the manifold to prevent galvanic corrosion.

2. The server cabinet having a cabinet heat exchanger according to claim 1, wherein the connecting member comprises a connector body linearly connected to each other, a first coupling portion, and a second coupling portion, and the connector body is connected between the first coupling portion and the second coupling portion.

3. The server cabinet having a cabinet heat exchanger according to claim 1, characterized in that the connecting member has an axial direction defined, and the first coupling portion and the second coupling portion face each other with a linear distance between them along the axial direction.

4. The server cabinet having a cabinet heat exchanger according to claim 1, characterized in that the connecting member further has two waterproof gaskets installed at the first joint and the second joint, respectively.

5. The server cabinet having a cabinet heat exchanger according to claim 1, characterized in that the connecting member is an insulating sleeve, the first joint and the second joint each have female threads on their inner wall surfaces and male threads on their outer wall surfaces, and the second pipe end has a corresponding screw that can be screwed onto the female thread or the male thread.

6. The server cabinet having a cabinet heat exchanger according to claim 1, characterized in that the frame has an exhaust port, and the heat exchanger and at least one of the cooling fans are installed within the frame so as to correspond to the exhaust port.

7. The server cabinet having a cabinet heat exchanger according to claim 1, wherein the manifold comprises a low-temperature manifold and a high-temperature manifold, both having the second pipe end, the connecting member includes two connectors, both of which are made of an insulating material and have a first coupling portion and a second coupling portion that are linearly spaced apart from each other and facing each other, and the second coupling portions of the two connectors are coupled to the second pipe end of the low-temperature manifold and the second pipe end of the high-temperature manifold, respectively.

8. A server cabinet having a cabinet heat exchanger according to claim 1, further comprising a cabinet having a rear opening, wherein the rear opening communicates with the interior of the cabinet, the frame is installed in the cabinet so as to be openable and closable to correspond to the rear opening, and the frame has an exhaust port that communicates with the rear opening.

9. A server cabinet having a cabinet heat exchanger according to claim 8, further comprising a server set installed inside the cabinet, wherein the heat exchanger is located between at least one cooling fan and the server set.

10. The server cabinet having a cabinet heat exchanger according to claim 1, characterized in that the first coupling portion and the second coupling portion are a female connector and a male connector, respectively, and the second pipe end corresponds to a female connector or a male connector.

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