Direct liquid cooling system comprising a coolant distribution channel having a sensor

Abstract

The invention relates to a direct liquid cooling (DLC) system for an IT infrastructure comprising at least one component (2) requiring cooling, wherein the direct liquid cooling system has a coolant distribution unit (CDU) and a coolant distribution channel (7) which is supplied with cooled liquid by the coolant distribution unit (CDU), characterised in that the coolant distribution channel (7) has at least one sensor, using which at least one physical measured variable related to the liquid in the coolant distribution channel (7) is determined.

Description

[0001] Direct liquid cooling with a coolant distribution channel containing a sensor

[0002] The invention is based on a direct liquid cooling system (DLC) for an IT infrastructure with at least one component requiring cooling, wherein the direct liquid cooling system comprises a coolant distribution unit (CDU) and a coolant distribution channel supplied with cooled liquid by the coolant distribution unit (CDU). Such an arrangement is described in US 2007 / 0274043 Ai.

[0003] US 2023 / 240053 Ai describes a direct liquid cooling system in which the coolant distribution channel has at least one sensor. Other direct liquid cooling systems are known from US 2022 / 0039291 Ai, US 2023 / 0060854 Ai, and US 2023 / 0060854 Ai.

[0004] US 9,668,382 B2, US 11,310,939 B2 and US 11,395,443 B2 describe known coolant distribution units (CDU) in which the components required for providing and supplying the coolant distribution channel with cooled liquid are accommodated in a housing designed as a plug-in unit, including, for example, but not limited to: at least one pump, preferably several redundant pumps, a heat exchanger, an expansion tank, pressure, flow and / or temperature sensors, a three-way valve with bypass valve, an AC power supply, a control unit, a service valve, a filter, an automatic vent, a pressure relief valve or a flow control valve. For recooling, the coolant distribution unit can have a liquid-liquid heat exchanger and connections for the supply and return of a cooling liquid, e.g. water.The cooling liquid can be provided by a chiller, a chiller, or the like. Instead of a liquid-to-liquid heat exchanger, an air-to-liquid heat exchanger can be provided, which is supplied with air from the surroundings of the coolant distribution unit by means of a fan, preferably a filter fan, for the recooling of the coolant of the direct liquid cooling. The known coolant distribution units (CDU) have the disadvantage that they are provided as a single assembly, for example, as a plug-in unit for installation in a 19-inch installation frame of an IT rack, which combines a large number of failure-prone components. If one of these components fails, in particular one of the sensors mentioned, the entire coolant distribution unit must be replaced. This is often associated with an interruption of the cooling provided by the CDU.This in turn can cause the IT infrastructure, for example servers, to fail.

[0005] The object of the invention is therefore to propose a direct liquid cooling system that is highly easy to maintain and, in particular, allows the replacement of sensors in a CDU. This object is achieved by a direct liquid cooling system (DLC) having the features of claim 1. The dependent claims each relate to advantageous embodiments of the invention.

[0006] Accordingly, it is provided that the coolant distribution channel has at least one sensor with which at least one physical measurement variable is determined with respect to the liquid in the coolant distribution channel.

[0007] In particular, it can be provided that the sensor replaces a sensor or is a sensor that would otherwise have to be provided in the CDU, in particular in a housing of the CDU. The sensor can, for example, be a temperature sensor, a pressure sensor, a flow sensor and / or a sensor for determining the electrical conductivity of the liquid. However, the sensor is not limited to these embodiments. The sensor can, in particular, be any possible sensor of a CDU that is configured to determine a physical measured variable related to the cooling liquid, for example, related to a supply line and / or a return line of an internal circuit of the CDU, which forms a liquid circuit with the coolant distribution channel.

[0008] The IT rack can comprise a switch cabinet frame consisting of four vertical struts and eight horizontal struts. Several IT racks can form a switch cabinet row. The DLC can be designed as a single-cabinet solution or as a solution for supplying a row of switch cabinets with chilled liquid. The DLC can be located in the same IT rack as the components requiring cooling, such as server bays. The DLC can also be configured to occupy an entire IT rack with its components, such as pump units, heat exchangers, control units, etc., provided these are not part of a CDU, or at least one CDU, etc., thus functioning as a cooling rack. The cooling unit can be integrated into a row of switch cabinets or IT racks and supply chilled liquid to components requiring cooling, such as server bays, installed in the adjacent IT racks.Each of the IT racks supplied with coolant can have a coolant distribution channel supplied with chilled liquid by a CDU of the cooling rack. In a data center, the switchgear row can separate a hot aisle from a cold aisle.

[0009] The coolant distribution channel can be arranged vertically in an IT rack, for example, in the area of ​​the rear of the IT rack. The coolant distribution channel can be arranged on a vertical strut of the IT rack, in particular on a rear vertical strut of the IT rack. The IT infrastructure in the IT rack can be provided in the form of plug-in devices, for example, as server racks mounted, for example, in a 19-inch installation frame. The CDU can also be designed as a plug-in device.

[0010] The coolant distribution channel can be arranged on a front, a rear, or a vertical side wall of an IT rack, in particular accessible from one of the aforementioned sides of the IT rack. This, in turn, requires that the sensor provided with the coolant distribution channel is particularly easily accessible, for example, to enable particularly easy replacement in the event of a failure. The sensor can be mounted, for example, with a quick-release coupling, preferably a drip-free quick-release coupling, on the coolant distribution channel, preferably on a supply line or a return line, particularly preferably accessible from the outside.In the installed state, the sensor can be in sensory contact with the coolant distribution channel with its measured variable pickup, for example with a liquid or gas atmosphere conducted in the coolant distribution channel, for example in a supply line or a return line of the coolant distribution channel. The at least one sensor can be integrated into the coolant distribution channel, but is preferably not completely accommodated inside the coolant distribution channel. It is preferably accessible from an outside of the coolant distribution channel and is thus easily replaceable. The at least one sensor can in particular be mounted directly on an outside or through an outside of the coolant distribution channel on or in the coolant distribution channel, for example in a supply line or a return line.However, the at least one sensor can also be arranged in a connecting line of the coolant distribution channel, preferably immediately before the connecting line enters the coolant distribution channel. The connecting line can be configured to fluidically connect the coolant distribution channel to the CDU. A connecting line can be provided for each supply line and a return line of the coolant distribution channel. At least one connection fitting can be provided, via which the connecting line is connected to the coolant distribution channel, in particular to a supply line or a return line of the coolant distribution channel, wherein the at least one sensor can be integrated into the fitting.

[0011] Preferably, a separate connection fitting is provided for connecting a first connection line to a flow line of the coolant distribution channel and a second connection fitting is provided for connecting a second connection line to a return line of the coolant distribution channel.

[0012] The fitting can be integrated into the connecting line or connected to it using quick-release couplings. Alternatively, the fitting can be connected to the coolant distribution channel, in particular a supply line and / or a return line, on the one hand, and to the connecting line on the other hand using quick-release couplings. However, the fitting can also be connected to the coolant distribution channel without a quick-release coupling, for example, via a screw connection or a material-to-material joint. In this case, it is preferred that the at least one sensor is connected to the fitting via a quick-release coupling.

[0013] The coolant distribution channel can be designed in multiple parts, in particular having a supply line and a return line, which are designed as separate lines or channels. It can be provided that the two separate lines or channels are arranged on opposite vertical struts of an IT rack, in particular are fastened thereto, for example on the rear of an IT rack. The lines or channels can be fastened, for example screwed, to a system perforation of a vertical strut. At least one of the supply line and the return line can have the at least one sensor. Preferably, both lines each have a sensor, for example a temperature sensor, a pressure sensor, a flow sensor, and / or a sensor for determining the electrical conductivity of the coolant.The control of the CDU can depend on a difference between the measured values ​​determined by the two sensors. Preferably, both the supply line and the return line have similar sensors, enabling a differential measurement with respect to a measured variable. For example, the pumping capacity of a pump unit of the CDU, the cooling capacity of a heat exchanger of the CDU, the opening cross-section of a valve of the CDU, or another variable operating parameter of the CDU can depend on the determined difference in measured values.

[0014] It can be provided that, with the exception of the at least one sensor provided by the coolant distribution channel, all other functional components are housed in a single built-in unit. This allows the use of coolant distribution units (CDUs) that, with the exception of the at least one sensor, contain all other required components of a CDU.

[0015] Independently of the sensors provided with the coolant distribution channel, at least one further functional component of a CDU can also be provided as a component independent of the rest of the CDU, in particular a housing of the CDU. This can be, for example, but not limited to, a heat exchanger, a reservoir for coolant, a control unit, a power supply (power pack), or at least one pump unit. For example, it is possible to provide at least one pump unit, preferably several pump units, independently of the CDU. Several pump units can have redundancy so that if one of the several pump units fails, the DLC can continue to operate, possibly with reduced pumping capacity. Replacing a defective pump unit does not require the operation of the DLC and thus the IT infrastructure, for example, servers, to be interrupted.

[0016] Optionally, the IT rack can be provided with a power distribution system. If the coolant distribution duct is arranged on a rear side of the IT rack, it can be arranged in the same mounting plane as the power distribution of the IT rack, in particular like a busbar for providing a DC voltage for installed components of the IT rack, for example plug-in devices, for example servers and / or plug-in devices of direct liquid cooling, for example a CDU. Instead of being arranged in the same mounting plane, the coolant distribution duct and the busbar can also be arranged in closely adjacent, in particular parallel, planes on the rear side of the IT rack. The busbar can extend parallel to the coolant distribution duct. In particular, the busbar and the coolant distribution duct can extend vertically.If the coolant distribution channel has a supply line and a return line that are designed as separate lines, the busbar can be arranged between the two lines of the coolant distribution channel, in particular in the same mounting plane. The two lines can be arranged on opposite vertical struts of the IT rack, in particular on rear vertical struts of the IT rack, while the busbar is arranged centrally between them. A connecting line of the coolant distribution channel can be arranged in the same mounting plane as the coolant distribution channel, or a supply line and a return line of the coolant distribution channel can be arranged, optionally also in the same mounting plane as a busbar for a voltage supply of the IT rack, in particular a DC voltage supply.

[0017] The coolant distribution channel can have a supply line with a plurality of outlets for cooled coolant and a return line with a plurality of inlets for heated coolant. At least one of the supply line and the return line can have the at least one sensor. Preferably, both the supply line and the return line each have a sensor. Particularly preferably, the two sensors are configured for differential measurement of a measured value. For this purpose, the sensors can preferably be of the same type, at least with regard to the specific measured variable. A determined difference between the measured values ​​can be taken into account for controlling the DLC, in particular a cooling capacity provided by the CDU. For example, a pump capacity and / or a coolant volume flow through the coolant distribution channel can be adjusted depending on the measured differential value.

[0018] If the at least one sensor is arranged in or on a supply line of the coolant distribution channel, a measured variable pickup of the at least one sensor can be configured to record a measured variable relating to a cooled coolant in the supply line. If the at least one sensor is arranged in or on a return line of the coolant distribution channel, the measured variable pickup can be configured to record a measured variable relating to a heated coolant in the return line.

[0019] The supply line may have a first temperature sensor configured to determine the temperature of the cooling fluid conveyed in the supply line. The return line may have a second temperature sensor configured to determine the temperature of the cooling fluid conveyed in the return line.

[0020] The at least one sensor can be arranged at a coolant inlet of the supply line of the coolant distribution channel or at a coolant outlet of the return line of the coolant distribution channel. Preferably, a first sensor is provided at the coolant inlet of the supply line and a second sensor at the coolant outlet of the return line, preferably for the previously described control of the DLC, in particular a CDU, depending on a determined measured value difference.

[0021] The at least one sensor can be arranged at a coolant inlet of the supply line of the coolant distribution channel or at a coolant outlet of the return line of the coolant distribution channel. Alternatively or additionally, the at least one sensor can be arranged on or on an outer side of the coolant distribution channel or can be accessible from the outer side of the coolant distribution channel.

[0022] The coolant distribution channel preferably has a supply line with a plurality of outlets for cooled coolant and a return line with a plurality of inlets for heated coolant. Preferably, at least one of the supply line and return line has a fitting via which the respective line is fluidically connected to the coolant distribution unit. The fitting can have the at least one sensor. The at least one sensor can be detachably connected to the fitting, for example via a quick-release coupling. However, the sensor can also be permanently connected to the fitting. In this embodiment, the fitting should be detachably connected to the supply line and / or return line, preferably via a quick-release coupling, in order to enable rapid replacement of the fitting in the event of maintenance, for example in the event of a failure of the at least one sensor.The fitting can be located directly at the inlet of the supply line and / or at the outlet of the return line. The fitting can be fluidically connected directly to the inlet and / or the outlet via a quick-release coupling. The at least one sensor can be fluidically connected to the fitting via a quick-release coupling.

[0023] Preferably, at least one sensor, particularly preferably at least one pressure sensor, is installed on the coolant distribution channel with a quick-release coupling. Particularly preferably, at least one sensor, preferably a pressure sensor, is installed on a supply line and a return line of the coolant distribution channel, each with a quick-release coupling.

[0024] The coolant distribution channel can have a cable guide, preferably a cable duct, through which a sensor cable of the at least one sensor is routed along the coolant distribution channel, preferably on an outer side of the coolant distribution channel. This allows for easy replacement of the sensor cable during maintenance, as well as the sensor itself, and thus a signal line that may be the cause of a malfunction in the direct liquid cooling system.

[0025] The direct liquid cooling described above proposes a maintenance-friendly, highly reliable system that can supply coolant, approximately 24 / 7 / 365, to IT components requiring cooling, such as plate heat exchangers for cooling CPUs, GPUs, and the like, or built-in devices of an IT infrastructure, such as server installations.

[0026] The CDU (Cooling Distribution Unit) is responsible for distributing the cooling fluid to the IT infrastructure equipment. The CDU separates the coolant provided by a chiller, such as a chiller or a free cooling system (e.g., facility water - primary circuit) and the cooling fluid flowing through the IT infrastructure equipment (secondary circuit) into two circuits. The CDU is typically configured to supply the cooling fluid in the secondary circuit at a target temperature and pressure to the components requiring cooling, such as the IT infrastructure equipment, and to guide it through them. CDUs used in data centers are often difficult to repair and lack flexibility when it comes to increasing the CDU's performance.Instead of integrating the at least one sensor, such as a temperature, pressure, flow, or other sensor, into the CDU, in particular a housing of the CDU, it is proposed to provide the at least one sensor in connection with the coolant distribution channel or to provide it on it, preferably easily accessible from the outside of the coolant distribution channel, or to provide it in connection with a connection system for the coolant distribution channel, for example a fitting, whereby the sensor is easily accessible and thus easy to replace during maintenance. In one embodiment, at least one temperature sensor and / or at least one pressure sensor can each be provided in a fitting or on a fitting upstream of a coolant inlet in the flow direction of the coolant or downstream of a coolant outlet of the coolant distribution channel in the flow direction.

[0027] The at least one sensor, in particular at least one pressure sensor, can be installed on the coolant distribution channel or in a fitting or on a fitting using a (leak-proof) quick-connect coupling or a so-called non-spill quick-release coupling. In one embodiment, this enables simple and quick replacement of the sensors, possibly without having to interrupt the direct liquid cooling.

[0028] Further details of the invention are explained with reference to the figures. However, the invention is not intended to be limited to the embodiments shown in the figures, which may have features that go beyond those essential to the invention. Herein:

[0029] Figure 1 shows a schematic representation of direct liquid cooling;

[0030] Figure 2 shows a coolant distribution unit (CDU) with reduced functionality;

[0031] Figure 3 shows an IT rack with direct liquid cooling (DLC) installed inside;

[0032] Figure 4 shows an exemplary embodiment of a coolant distribution channel; and

[0033] Figure 5 shows another embodiment of a coolant distribution channel.

[0034] Figure 1 shows a schematic representation of direct liquid cooling (DLC). Cooled liquid is provided by a recooler 16, which can be designed, for example, as a chiller, with or without a refrigeration machine. For this purpose, the recooler 16 has, for example, an air-liquid heat exchanger and at least one fan with which ambient air is transported through the air-liquid heat exchanger. The cooled liquid provided by the recooler is fed to a coolant distribution unit (CDU), in particular via the supply line of an external circuit of the CDU. The liquid provided by the recooler leaves the CDU as heated liquid via a return line of the external circuit. The external circuit of the CDU, which simultaneously forms the liquid circuit of the recooler 16, is designated by the reference numeral 17.

[0035] The coolant distribution unit CDU has, in particular, a liquid-to-liquid heat exchanger and at least one pump for transporting liquid through the inner circuit 15 of the CDU. The flow of the inner circuit of the CDU is connected to a return of a coolant distribution channel 7, and the return of the inner circuit 15 of the CDU is connected to a flow of the coolant distribution channel 7. The coolant distribution channel 7 can have, spaced apart from one another in the longitudinal direction, thus in the vertical direction, several connections, on the one hand, to a flow of the coolant distribution channel 7, via which cooled coolant is provided, and on the other hand, to a return of the coolant distribution channel 7, via which heated coolant is discharged. The plug-in devices 2 can be, for example, server plug-ins of an IT infrastructure, which are connected to the coolant distribution channel 7, for example, in the manner known from US 2007 / 0274043 Ai.In the plug-in devices, the cooling liquid, which is preferably an electrically non-conductive coolant, flows over the components that require cooling, for example CPUs, GPUs, or other components that have a high power loss and, moreover, a high temperature sensitivity, so that air cooling is unsuitable due to the lower thermal conductivity of air compared to liquid.

[0036] Figure 2 shows an exemplary embodiment of a CDU that has reduced functionality compared to CDUs known from the prior art. In particular, the CDU does not have the at least one sensor that is assigned to the coolant distribution channel of the DLC according to the invention. As a result, the CDU is less susceptible to failure, and the DLC as a whole is easier to maintain.

[0037] The plug-in device 2.1 has a housing 13, which can be standardized, for example, with regard to its dimensions, for example at least to the extent that, upon insertion of the plug-in device 2.1 into a slot of an IT rack, both the first and second dummy coupling plug connections 6.1, 6.2 for electrical contact with a power distribution, on the one hand, and the fluidic connection to the direct liquid cooling, in particular a coolant distribution channel, can be made automatically, i.e., in particular without tools. The dummy coupling plug connections for the electrical and / or fluidic connection of the device are optional. Three redundant pumps 14 are arranged in the housing 13, which are connected in particular in parallel to one another. A heat exchanger 12, in particular a liquid-liquid heat exchanger, is also arranged in the housing 13.The embodiment according to Figure 2 does not have any sensors in the housing 13 for detecting a physical measurement variable related to the cooling liquid. The unit shown in Figure 2 thus exhibits a high degree of failure insensitivity. Due to the use of the first and second dummy coupling connectors 6.1, 6.2, the entire unit, i.e., the plug-in unit 2.1, can be replaced quickly and without significant downtime in the event of failure of all pumps or a decrease in pump performance. Further redundancy of the direct liquid cooling (DLC) can be achieved by providing several of the plug-in units 2.1 shown in Figure 2, which in turn are connected in parallel, so that even if all of the three pumps 14 in this case fail, one of the several plug-in units 2.1 will continue to operate the DLC, and downtime can be essentially completely avoided.

[0038] Figure 3 shows an exemplary IT rack 1 in a perspective front view. The IT rack 1 has a frame consisting of four vertical struts and eight horizontal struts, each forming a rectangular profile frame. A coolant distribution channel 7 is arranged on the opposite vertical struts on a rear profile frame, in particular a supply line 7.1 on a first of the opposite vertical struts and a return line 7.2 on a second of the opposite vertical struts. Due to the spatial separation, there is no thermal short circuit between the supply and return lines, thereby increasing the efficiency of the coolant distribution channel 7.

[0039] The embodiment shown in Figure 3 further shows a DC voltage supply 5 with a busbar that extends along the rear of the IT rack 1, i.e., at the rear where the coolant distribution channel 7 is also located. In particular, the voltage supply 5, in particular the busbar, is arranged between the supply line 7.1 and the return line 7.2, in particular centrally between the aforementioned lines. While the supply line 7.1 and the return line 7.2 are each attached to a vertical profile, the busbar can be fixed with its opposite ends and electrically insulated to a roof-side and a floor-side frame, in particular to respective horizontal struts.

[0040] The supply line 7.1 (and analogously the return line 7.2, but not shown) has a plurality of outlets 7.3 (and the return line analogously a plurality of inlets 7.4 - compare Figures 4 and 5). Both the components 2 requiring cooling, in this case server racks, and the CDU are designed as plug-in devices. An uninterruptible power supply BBU, which supplies the busbar 5 with a DC voltage, is also designed as a plug-in device. In addition to the plug-in devices 2, CDU, BBU shown in Figure 3, further plug-in devices can be installed across the entire height of the IT rack 1. Cooled liquid can be provided across the entire height via the outlets 7.4 or the inlets (not shown) of the return line 7.2.

[0041] Exemplary embodiments of a coolant distribution channel 7 are shown in Figures 4 and 5. The coolant distribution channel 7 is designed in two parts and has a supply line 7.1 and a return line 7.2. The supply line 7.1 has coolant outlets 7.3 distributed at regular or irregular intervals along its entire length, and the return line 7.2 has coolant inlets 7.4 in a similar manner. The supply line 7.1 and the return line 7.2 can be attached to a vertical strut of a frame, for example, in the manner shown with reference to Figure 3.

[0042] The supply line and the return line 7.1, 7.2 each have a connecting line 7.7, via which they can be fluidically connected to a CDU (see Figure 3). In particular, the supply line can be connected to the return of the CDU's inner circuit. The connecting line 7.7 of the return line 7.2 can be connected to a supply line of the CDU's inner circuit.

[0043] In the embodiment shown in Figure 4, a sensor 300 is arranged in the area of ​​a coolant outlet 7.5 of the connecting line 7.7 into the supply line 7.1. Another sensor 300 is arranged at a coolant outlet 7.6, at which another connecting line 7.7 opens into the return line 7.2. The sensors can be, for example, temperature sensors, pressure sensors, flow sensors, or sensors for determining the electrical conductivity of a coolant conveyed in the supply line 7.1 or the return line 7.2. However, the sensors 300 are not limited to the described embodiments and can be any sensors 300 suitable for determining a physical measurement variable related to a cooling liquid, which are suitable for controlling a CDU. The sensors 300 are each connected to the supply line 7.1 or the return line 7.2 via a drip-free quick coupling 310.This ensures that the sensors can be replaced, for example, in the event of a failure while the direct liquid cooling system is in operation. Since the supply line 7.1 and the return line 7.2 are often located at the rear of an IT rack, the sensors 300 mounted thereon are easily accessible, in particular more easily accessible than in direct liquid cooling systems according to the prior art, in which the sensors are often arranged in a cooling distribution unit (CDU) for recooling the coolant, in particular within a CDU housing, so that in the event of a failure, the entire CDU must be removed from the IT rack for repair and / or completely replaced with a functioning CDU.

[0044] In the embodiment shown in Figure 5, the sensors 300 are arranged in a fitting 400 instead of on or in the supply line 7.1 or the return line 7.2. The respective connecting line 7.7 from the supply line 7.1 and the return line 7.2 is connected to the respective supply line 7.1 or the return line 7.3 via the fitting 400. The sensor 300 can be permanently connected to the fitting 400 or can be exchanged, for example via a quick-release coupling. Analogously, in the embodiment shown in Figure 4, the respective sensor 300 can also be connected to the supply line 7.1 or the return line 7.2 via a quick-release coupling, for example through an outer wall of the respective line 7.1, 7.2 and preferably in fluid communication with the coolant carried in the respective line 7.1, 7.2.

[0045] The features given in the above description may be relevant in any combination for the realization of embodiments of the invention, the scope of protection being determined solely by the claims. List of reference symbols:

[0046] 1 IT rack

[0047] 2 Plug-in device / component requiring cooling

[0048] 5 Busbar

[0049] 6.1 first blind coupling connector

[0050] 6.2 second dummy coupling connector

[0051] 7 Coolant distribution channel

[0052] 7.1 Supply line

[0053] 7.2 Return line

[0054] 7.3 Outlet

[0055] 7.4 Admission

[0056] 7.5 Coolant inlet

[0057] 7.6 Coolant outlet

[0058] 7.7 Connecting cable

[0059] 7.7 Connecting cable

[0060] 9 Control unit

[0061] 12 heat exchangers

[0062] 13 housings

[0063] 14 Pump

[0064] 15 inner circle

[0065] 16 dry coolers

[0066] 17 Outer circle

[0067] 300 sensors

[0068] 310 (drip-free) quick coupling

[0069] 400 fittings

[0070] BBU Uninterruptible Power Supply

[0071] CDU coolant distribution unit

[0072] DLC direct liquid cooling z height direction

Claims

Claims:

1. Direct liquid cooling (DLC) for an IT infrastructure with at least one component (2) requiring cooling, wherein the direct liquid cooling comprises a coolant distribution unit (CDU) and a coolant distribution channel (7) which is supplied with cooled liquid from the coolant distribution unit (CDU), characterized in that the coolant distribution channel (7) has at least one sensor (300) with which at least one physical measured variable is determined in relation to the liquid in the coolant distribution channel (7).

2. Direct liquid cooling (DLC) according to claim 1, wherein the sensor (300) is a temperature sensor, a pressure sensor, a flow sensor and / or a sensor for determining the electrical conductivity of the liquid.

3. Direct liquid cooling (DLC) according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the coolant distribution channel (7) is designed to be mounted in an IT rack (1), the coolant distribution channel (7) extending with its longitudinal direction in the vertical direction.

4. Direct liquid cooling (DLC) according to one of the preceding claims, in which the coolant distribution unit (CDU) is configured to control an operating parameter of the coolant distribution unit (CDU) as a function of a physical measurement variable determined by the at least one sensor (300), preferably a cooling capacity for cooling the liquid and / or a pumping capacity of at least one pump (14) for supplying the coolant distribution channel (7) with the liquid.

5. Direct liquid cooling (DLC) according to one of the preceding claims, in which the coolant distribution channel (7) has a supply line (7.1) with a plurality of outlets (7.2) for cooled coolant and a return line (7.3) with a plurality of inlets (7.4) for heated coolant, of which at least one of the supply line (7.1) and the return line (7.3) has the at least one sensor (300).

6. Direct liquid cooling (DLC) according to one of the preceding claims, in which a measured variable pickup of the at least one sensor (300) is configured to record a measured variable relating to a cooled cooling liquid in the supply line (7.1) when the at least one sensor (300) is arranged in or on the supply line (7.1), or to record a measured variable relating to a heated cooling liquid in the return line (7.3) when the at least one sensor (300) is arranged in or on the return line (7.3).

7. Direct liquid cooling (DLC) according to claim 5 or 6, wherein the supply line (7.1) has a first temperature sensor which is designed to determine the temperature of the cooling liquid carried in the supply line (7.1), and wherein the return line (7.3) has a second temperature sensor which is designed to determine the temperature of the cooling liquid carried in the return line (7.3).

8. Direct liquid cooling (DLC) according to one of claims 5 to 7, wherein the at least one sensor (300) is arranged at a coolant inlet (7.5) of the supply line (7.1) of the coolant distribution channel (7) or at a coolant outlet (7.6) of the return line (7.3) of the coolant distribution channel (7).

9. Direct liquid cooling (DLC) according to one of the preceding claims, wherein at least one sensor (300) is arranged on or on an outer side of the coolant distribution channel (7) or is accessible from the outer side of the coolant distribution channel (7).

10. Direct liquid cooling (DLC) according to one of the preceding claims, in which the coolant distribution channel (7) has a supply line (7.1) with a plurality of outlets for cooled coolant and a return line (7.3) with a plurality of inlets for heated coolant, of which at least one of the supply line (7.1) and return line (7.3) has a fitting via which the respective line is fluidically connected to the coolant distribution unit (CDU), wherein the fitting has the at least one sensor (300).

11. Direct liquid cooling (DLC) according to claim 10, wherein the fitting is arranged directly at the inlet of the supply line (7.1) and / or at the outlet of the return line (7.3).

12. Direct liquid cooling (DLC) according to claim 11, wherein the fitting is fluidly connected to the inlet and / or the outlet with a quick-release coupling.

13. Direct liquid cooling (DLC) according to claim 11 or 12, wherein the at least one sensor (300) is fluidically connected to the fitting via a quick-release coupling.

14. Direct liquid cooling (DLC) according to one of the preceding claims, in which at least one sensor (300), preferably at least one pressure sensor, is installed with a quick-release coupling on the coolant distribution channel (7).

15. Direct liquid cooling (DLC) according to one of the preceding claims, in which the coolant distribution channel (7) has a cable guide, preferably a cable channel, with which a sensor cable of the at least one sensor (300) is guided along the coolant distribution channel (7), preferably on an outer side of the coolant distribution channel (7).

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