Cooling systems and heat exchangers for cooling computer components

A method for operating a computer cabinet having a plurality of computer module compartments positioned between an air inlet and an air outlet and a heat exchanger positioned between two adjacent computer module compartments, the method comprising:

• flowing a first working fluid portion along a first inlet volume in a first manifold of the heat exchanger;
• flowing a second working fluid portion along a second inlet volume in a second manifold of the heat exchanger, wherein the second manifold is spaced apart from the first manifold;
• flowing the first working fluid portion from the first inlet volume along a first flow path in a first internal channel of an individual heat exchange element of the heat exchanger;
• flowing the second working fluid portion from the second inlet volume along a second flow path in a second internal channel of the individual heat exchange element of the heat exchanger, the first and second internal channels being in fluid isolation from each other;
• flowing the first working fluid portion from the first internal channel into a first outlet volume of the second manifold;
• flowing the second working fluid portion from the second internal channel into a second outlet volume of the first manifold, wherein the first manifold includes a first divider separating the first manifold into the first inlet volume and the second outlet volume, wherein the second manifold includes a second divider separating the second manifold into the first outlet volume and the second inlet volume, wherein the first inlet volume is positioned toward a first end of the individual heat exchange element and the second inlet volume is positioned toward a second end of the individual heat exchange element opposite the first end, wherein the first outlet volume is positioned toward the second end of the individual heat exchange element and the second outlet volume is positioned toward the first end of the individual heat exchange element, and wherein the first and second working fluids portions flow in generally opposite directions across the individual heat exchange element.

A computer system, comprising:

• a computer cabinet having a plurality of computer module compartments positioned between an air inlet and an air outlet, wherein the air inlet, the air outlet, and the computer module compartments define an air flow path through the computer cabinet;
• and
• a heat exchanger positioned between two adjacent computer module compartments, the heat exchanger including:
• a first manifold having a first divider separating the first manifold into a first inlet volume and a first outlet volume;
• a second manifold having a second divider separating the second manifold into a second inlet volume and a second outlet volume;
• and
• at least one heat exchange element positioned between the first manifold and the second manifold, wherein the individual heat exchange element includes a first internal channel portion and a second internal channel portion, wherein the first internal channel portion is in fluid communication with the first inlet volume and the second outlet volume, and wherein the second internal channel portion is in fluid communication with the second inlet volume and the first outlet volume.