Liquid-based cooling apparatus for an electronics rack

A cooled electronics system comprising:

• an electronics rack including a support structure supporting at least one electronics drawer to be cooled;
• a bi-fold door assembly attached to one of a front, back or side of the electronics rack, the bi-fold door assembly comprising a first door and a second door, each door being separately, hingedly mounted to the support structure of the electronics rack at the one of the front, back or side of the electronics rack;
• a coolant distribution apparatus for facilitating cooling of the at least one electronics drawer of the electronics rack, the coolant distribution apparatus comprising:
• at least one coolant supply manifold and at least one coolant return manifold, the at least one coolant supply manifold being mounted to the first door of the bi-fold door assembly and the at least one coolant return manifold being mounted to the second door of the bi-fold door assembly;
• a coolant supply swivel connection coupled in fluid communication with the at least one coolant supply manifold and a coolant return swivel connection coupled in fluid communication with the at least one coolant return manifold for facilitating supply and return of coolant to or from, respectively, the at least one coolant supply mandifold and return manifold, and for facilitating pivotal movement of the first door and the second door relative to the electronics rack;
• a plurality of coolant distribution ports within the at least one coolant supply manifold and the at least one coolant return manifold, wherein the plurality of coolant distribution ports facilitate supply and return of coolant to the at least one electronics drawer;
• and
• a plurality of flexible hoses, each flexible hose coupling in fluid communication a respective coolant distribution port of one of the at least one coolant supply or return manifolds with a respective coolant inlet or coolant outlet of an electronics drawer of the at least one electronics drawer of the electronics rack.

A method of fabricating a cooling apparatus for an electronics system, the method comprising:

• providing a bi-fold door assembly configured for attachment to one of a front, back or side of an electronics rack, the electronics rack including a support structure supporting at least one electronics drawer, wherein the bi-fold door assembly comprises a first door and a second door, each door being configured for separate, hinged mounting to the support structure of the electronics rack at the one of the front, back or side of the electronics frame;
• providing a coolant distribution apparatus for facilitating cooling of the at least one electronics drawer of the electronics rack, the coolant distribution apparatus comprising at least one coolant supply manifold and at least one coolant return manifold;
• mounting the at least one coolant supply manifold within the first door of the bi-fold door assembly, and mounting the at least one coolant return manifold within the second door of the bi-fold door assembly;
• providing a coolant supply swivel connection coupled in fluid communication with the at least one coolant supply manifold, and a coolant return swivel connection coupled in fluid communication with the at least one coolant return manifold for facilitating supply and return of coolant to or from, respectively, the at least one coolant supply manifold and the at least one coolant return manifold, and for facilitating pivotal movement of the first door and the second door relative to the electronics rack when the first and second doors are separately, hingedly mounted to the support structure of the electronics rack;
• and
• wherein the at least one coolant supply manifold and at least one coolant return manifold comprise a plurality of coolant distribution ports, wherein the at least one coolant supply manifold comprises at least one coolant distribution port of the plurality of coolant distribution ports, and the at least one coolant return manifold comprises at least one coolant distribution port of the plurality of coolant distribution ports, and wherein the plurality of coolant distribution ports facilitate supply and return of coolant to the at least one electronics drawer when the first and second doors are separately, hingedly mounted to the support structure of the electronics rack and the coolant distribution apparatus is coupled in fluid communication to facility coolant supply and return lines.