Hybrid air/liquid-cooled network element, coolant distribution manifold box for use in a hybrid air/liquid-cooled network element, and method for converting an air-cooled network element to a hybrid air/liquid-cooled network element

A coolant distribution manifold box for use in a hybrid air/liquid-cooled network element, the coolant distribution manifold box comprising:

• one or more manifolds adapted to be coupled to one or more coolant lines coupled to the network element;
• and
• quick disconnects adapted to be coupled to one or more cold plates disposed adjacent to components disposed on one or more printed circuit boards disposed within the network element;
• wherein the coolant distribution manifold box has height and width dimensions substantially the same as a fan unit adapted to be coupled to the network element;
• wherein a plurality of fan units are adapted to be arranged in rows and columns along a backplane of the network element with an air flow delivered to the one or more printed circuit boards;
• and
• wherein the coolant distribution manifold box is adapted to be coupled to the backplane of the network element and arranged among the plurality of fan units in one of the rows and columns.

A method for converting an air-cooled network element to a hybrid air/liquid-cooled network element, the method comprising:

• given a backplane defining a plurality of holes, one or more printed circuit boards disposed on one side of the backplane, and a plurality of fan units coupled to an opposite side of the backplane and adapted to circulate an air flow to components disposed on the one or more printed circuit boards through certain of the plurality of holes defined by the backplane, removing one or more of the plurality of fan units from the opposite side of the backplane;
• and
• coupling one or more coolant distribution manifold boxes to the opposite side of the backplane in one or more spaces associated with the removed one or more of the plurality of fan units and adjacent to the remaining plurality of fan units, wherein the one or more coolant distribution manifold boxes are adapted to circulate a coolant fluid flow to one or more cold plates disposed adjacent to components disposed on the one or more printed circuit boards through the certain of the plurality of holes defined by the backplane;
• wherein the one or more coolant distribution manifold boxes each have height and width dimensions substantially the same as each of the plurality of fan units.