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US 10,582,641 B2Granted
Coolant distribution unit
AssigneeChilldyne, Inc.
InventorSteve Harrington
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A central distribution unit (CDU) for circulating coolant is disclosed. The CDU may operate under negative pressure and can have a number of operation modes including: normal operation, pump priming, fill, drain, purge and vacuum test. The CDU includes various valves, pumps and sensors, the placement and actuation of which transitions the CDU into the various modes.
Claims26
A coolant distribution unit (CDU) adapted to circulate coolant to a heat exchanger and a server loop, wherein the server loop is in thermal connection with a plurality of electrical devices, the CDU comprising:
- a coolant reservoir containing the coolant;
- a blower connected to the coolant reservoir, the blower adapted to depressurize the reservoir to a pressure lower than atmospheric;
- a reversible pump comprising a suction inlet and pressure outlet when the pump is operated in the forward direction, the pump adapted to circulate the coolant through a coolant circuit;
- the coolant circuit connected to the pump comprising:
- a pump-heat exchanger coolant line coolant connected to the pressure outlet and adapted to connect to the heat exchanger;
- a heat exchanger return line, adapted to connect to the heat exchanger and the server loop;
- and
- a server-pump return coolant line connected to the suction inlet and adapted to connect to the server loop;
- a test valve on the heat exchanger return line;
- a purge valve downstream of the test valve on the heat exchanger return line, the purge valve adapted to allow gas to enter the heat exchanger return line when the purge valve is opened;
- a fill/drain branch coolant line connected to the server-pump return coolant line;
- a fill/drain valve connected to the fill/drain branch coolant line;
- and
- a drain valve and a fill valve connected to the fill/drain valve;
- wherein the CDU has the following modes:
- a normal operation mode wherein the blower is on, the pump is activated in the forward direction, the test valve is opened, the purge valve is closed and the fill/drain valve is closed;
- a fill mode wherein the pump is activated in the forward direction and the fill/drain valve and fill valve is opened, and the drain valve is closed;
- a drain mode wherein the fill/drain valve and drain valve are opened, the fill valve is closed, and the pump is activated in the reverse direction;
- a purge mode wherein the test valve is closed, the purge valve is opened and the fill/drain valve is closed;
- and
- a vacuum test mode wherein the blower is on, the purge valve is closed, the test valve is closed and the fill/drain valve is closed.
18 more elements
A coolant distribution unit (CDU) constructed to circulate coolant to a heat exchanger and a server loop, wherein the server loop is in thermal connection with a plurality of electrical devices, the CDU comprising:
- a coolant reservoir containing the coolant;
- a blower connected to the coolant reservoir, the blower adapted to depressurize the reservoir to a pressure lower than atmospheric;
- a reversible pump comprising a suction inlet and pressure outlet when the pump is operated in the forward direction, the pump adapted to circulate the coolant through a coolant circuit;
- the coolant circuit connected to the pump comprising a server-pump return coolant line connected to the suction inlet and adapted to connect to the server loop;
- a fill/drain branch coolant line connected to the server-pump return coolant line;
- a fill/drain valve connected to the fill/drain branch coolant line;
- and
- a drain valve and a fill valve connected to the fill/drain valve;
- wherein the CDU has the following modes:
- a normal operation mode wherein the blower is on, the pump is activated in the forward direction, a test valve is opened, a purge valve is closed and the fill/drain valve is closed;
- a fill mode wherein the pump is activated in the forward direction and the fill/drain valve and fill valve are opened and the drain valve is closed;
- and a drain mode wherein the fill/drain valve and drain valve are opened, the fill valve is closed, and the pump is activated in the reverse direction.
9 more elements
A coolant distribution unit (CDU) adapted to circulate coolant to a heat exchanger and a server loop, wherein the server loop is in thermal connection with a plurality of electrical devices, the CDU comprising:
- a coolant reservoir containing the coolant;
- a coolant level sensor;
- a blower connected to the coolant reservoir, the blower adapted to depressurize the reservoir to a pressure lower than atmospheric;
- a pump adapted to circulate the coolant through a coolant circuit;
- the coolant circuit connected to the pump comprising a heat exchanger return line, adapted to connect to the heat exchanger and the server loop;
- a test valve on the heat exchanger return line;
- and
- a purge valve downstream of the test valve on the heat exchanger return line, the purge valve adapted to allow gas to enter the heat exchanger return line when the purge valve is opened;
- wherein the CDU has the following modes:
- a normal operation mode wherein the blower is on, the pump is activated, the test valve is opened, and the purge valve is closed;
- a purge mode wherein the test valve is closed, and the purge valve is opened;
- and
- a vacuum test mode wherein the blower is on, the purge valve is closed, and the test valve is closed;
- wherein the purge mode automatically stops when the coolant level sensor detects a coolant level that meets or exceeds a high-level coolant level set point.
11 more elements
A coolant distribution unit (CDU) adapted to circulate coolant to a heat exchanger and a server loop, wherein the server loop is in thermal connection with a plurality of electrical devices, the CDU comprising:
- a coolant reservoir containing the coolant;
- a coolant pressure sensor;
- a blower connected to the coolant reservoir, the blower adapted to depressurize the reservoir to a pressure lower than atmospheric;
- a pump adapted to circulate the coolant through a coolant circuit;
- the coolant circuit connected to the pump comprising a heat exchanger return line, adapted to connect to the heat exchanger and the server loop;
- a test valve on the heat exchanger return line;
- and
- a purge valve downstream of the test valve on the heat exchanger return line, the purge valve adapted to allow gas to enter the heat exchanger return line when the purge valve is opened;
- wherein the CDU has the following modes:
- a normal operation mode wherein the blower is on, the pump is activated, the test valve is opened, and the purge valve is closed;
- a purge mode wherein the test valve is closed, and the purge valve is opened;
- and
- a vacuum test mode wherein the blower is on, the purge valve is closed, and the test valve is closed;
- wherein the vacuum test mode further comprises taking at least two readings from the coolant pressure sensor over a predetermine time period, and if the difference between the two readings exceeds a predetermined valve, signaling on a display a vacuum test failure.
11 more elements
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.