Scalable coolant conditioning unit with integral plate heat exchanger/expansion tank and method of use

An integral plate heat exchanger/expansion tank for use in a coolant conditioning unit for cooling one or more electronics frames comprising:

• a) an expansion tank having an intake opening connected to and receiving system coolant fluid from one or more electronics frames being cooled, and an outlet opening connected to and directing coolant fluid to a first manifold;
• and
• b) a plate heat exchanger integrally disposed within the expansion tank, the plate heat exchanger having an in and an out opening for receiving and discharging facility service coolant, and also having a hot-side opening for receiving said system coolant that has passed through and absorbed heat from the one or more electronics frames, and having a cool-side opening for discharging said system coolant towards the one or more electronics frames.

A method of increasing the cooling capacity of an operating Scalable Coolant Conditioning Unit (SCCU) comprising the steps of

• a) obtaining an additional Modular Pumping Unit (MPU) comprising at least one pump/pump motor combination;
• and
• b) placing the MPU into operation within the SCCU using a seating mechanism and an insertion facilitation mechanism.