Modular pumping unit(s) facilitating cooling of electronic system(s)

A cooling system comprising:

• a coolant-based cooling apparatus assisting in removal of heat generated by one or more electronic systems, the coolant-based cooling apparatus comprising at least one heat exchange assembly discharging heat from coolant of the coolant-based cooling apparatus;
• and
• multiple modular pumping units disposed external to and coupled in fluid communication with the at least one heat exchange assembly and facilitating pumping of the coolant through the coolant-based cooling apparatus to assist in removal of heat generated by the one or more electronic systems and discharge of the heat via the at least one heat exchange assembly, one modular pumping unit of the multiple modular pumping units being a field-replaceable unit, and wherein the multiple modular pumping units are coupled to the coolant-based cooling apparatus in parallel fluid communication to separately provide pumping of coolant through the cooling apparatus, the modular pumping unit being field-replaceable while the cooling apparatus is operational with the one or more other modular pumping units pumping the coolant to the at least one heat exchange assembly, the one modular pumping unit comprising:
• a modular pumping unit housing;
• a coolant inlet to the modular pumping unit housing;
• a coolant reservoir tank disposed within the modular pumping unit housing and in fluid communication with the coolant inlet;
• a coolant pump disposed within the modular pumping unit housing and configured to pump coolant from the coolant reservoir tank;
• a coolant outlet of the modular pumping unit housing, the coolant pump being coupled in fluid communication between the coolant reservoir tank and the coolant outlet, wherein the coolant inlet and the coolant outlet facilitate coupling of the one modular pumping unit in fluid communication with the cooling apparatus, with the coolant outlet being coupled in fluid communication with a coolant inlet of the at least one heat exchange assembly;
• a modular pumping unit controller associated with the one modular pumping unit, the modular pumping unit controller automatically adjusting operation of the coolant pump of the modular pumping unit based, at least in part, upon one or more sensed parameters;
• at least one coolant-level sensor associated with the coolant reservoir tank disposed within the modular pumping unit housing, the at least one coolant-level sensor sensing coolant level within the coolant reservoir tank, and the modular pumping unit controller automatically adjusting operation of the coolant pump based upon the sensed coolant level within the coolant reservoir tank;
• and
• a coolant filter disposed in a coolant return line coupling in fluid communication an outlet of the coolant pump and the coolant reservoir tank, and wherein the coolant return line returns a portion of the coolant pumped by the coolant pump from the coolant reservoir tank back into the coolant reservoir tank via the coolant filter in parallel with a portion of the coolant pumped by the coolant pump being output to the coolant inlet of the at least one heat exchange assembly.

A method comprising:

• providing a modular pumping unit to facilitate pumping coolant through a cooling apparatus assisting in removal of heat generated by one or more electronic systems, the cooling apparatus comprising at least one heat exchange assembly discharging heat from coolant passing through the cooling apparatus, and the modular pumping unit being a field-replaceable unit which is external to and coupled in fluid communication with the at least one heat exchange assembly of the cooling apparatus in parallel fluid communication with one or more other modular pumping units, the modular pumping unit being field-replaceable while the cooling apparatus is operational with the one or more other modular pumping units pumping the coolant to the at least one heat exchange assembly, the modular pumping unit comprising:
• a modular pumping unit housing;
• a coolant inlet to the modular pumping unit housing;
• a coolant reservoir tank disposed within the modular pumping unit housing and in fluid communication with the coolant inlet;
• a coolant pump disposed within the modular pumping unit housing and configured to pump coolant from the coolant reservoir tank;
• a coolant outlet of the modular pumping unit housing, the coolant pump being coupled in fluid communication between the coolant reservoir tank and the coolant outlet, wherein the coolant inlet and the coolant outlet facilitate coupling of the modular pumping unit in fluid communication with the cooling apparatus, with the coolant outlet being coupled in fluid communication with a coolant inlet of the at least one heat exchange assembly;
• providing a modular pumping unit controller associated with the modular pumping unit, the modular pumping unit controller automatically adjusting operation of the coolant pump based, at least in part, upon one or more sensed parameters;
• providing at least one coolant-level sensor associated with the coolant reservoir tank disposed within the modular pumping unit housing, the at least one coolant-level sensor sensing coolant level within the coolant reservoir tank, and the controller automatically adjusting operation of the coolant pump based upon the sensed coolant level within the coolant reservoir tank;
• and
• providing a coolant filter disposed in a coolant return line coupling in fluid communication an outlet of the coolant pump and the coolant reservoir tank, and wherein the coolant return line returns a portion of the coolant pumped by the coolant pump from the coolant reservoir tank back into the coolant reservoir tank via the coolant filter in parallel with a portion of the coolant pumped by the coolant pump being output to the coolant inlet of the at least one heat exchange assembly.