Multi-rack, door-mounted heat exchanger

A multi-rack assembly comprising:

• a first electronics rack comprising at least one heat-generating electronic component, the first electronics rack comprising an air inlet side and an air outlet side respectively enabling ingress and egress of external air;
• a second electronics rack comprising at least one heat-generating electronic component, the second electronics rack comprising an air inlet side and an air outlet side respectively enabling ingress and egress of external air;
• an air-cooling apparatus for extracting heat from airflow passing through the first electronics rack and the second electronics rack, the apparatus comprising:
• a securing mechanism for holding the first electronics rack and the second electronics rack in fixed relation adjacent to each other, the securing mechanism holding the first electronics rack and the second electronics rack in fixed relation adjacent to each other with the air inlet sides facing a first direction and the air outlet sides facing a second direction;
• and
• a multi-rack door spans one of the air inlet sides or the air outlet sides of the first and second electronics racks held by the securing mechanism in fixed relation, the multi-rack door comprising:
• a door frame with an airflow opening, the airflow opening facilitating the ingress or egress of airflow through the first and second electronics racks;
• and
• an air-to-liquid heat exchanger supported by the door frame and disposed so that airflow through the airflow opening passes across the air-to-liquid heat exchanger, the air-to-liquid heat exchanger extracting heat from the airflow passing thereacross, and wherein air passing through the one of the air inlet sides or the air outlet sides of the first and second electronics racks passes across the air-to-liquid heat exchanger;
• and
• wherein the first electronics rack has a shorter depth than the second electronics rack in a direction of airflow through the first and second electronics racks from the air inlet sides to the air outlet sides thereof, and wherein the air-cooling apparatus further comprises a filler frame disposed between the first electronics rack and an adapter frame of the securing mechanism, wherein the filler frame and the adapter frame together defines a common airflow plenum, and wherein the adapter frame holds the first electronics rack and the second electronics rack in fixed relation adjacent to each other.

A method comprising:

• providing a securing mechanism for holding at least two separate electronics racks in fixed relation adjacent to each other, the at least two separate electronics racks being at least partially air-cooled, and each having an air inlet side and an air outlet side, the securing mechanism holding the at least two separate electronics racks in fixed relation adjacent to each other with the air inlet sides facing a first direction and the air outlet sides facing a second direction;
• and
• providing a multi-rack door that spans one of the air inlet sides or the air outlet sides of the at least two separate electronics racks held by the securing mechanism in fixed relation, the multi-rack door comprising:
• a door frame with an airflow opening, the airflow opening facilitating the ingress and egress of airflow through the at least two separate electronics racks;
• an air-to-liquid heat exchanger supported by the door frame and disposed so that airflow through the airflow opening passes across the air-to-liquid heat exchanger, the air-to-liquid heat exchanger extracting heat from the airflow passing thereacross, and wherein air passing through the one of the air inlet sides or the air outlet sides of the at least two separate electronics racks passes across the air-to-liquid heat exchanger;
• and
• wherein a first electronics rack of the at least two separate electronics racks has a shorter depth than a second electronics rack of the at least two separate electronics racks in a direction of airflow through the two separate electronics racks from the air inlet sides to the air outlet sides thereof, and wherein the air-cooling apparatus further comprises a filler frame disposed between the first electronics rack and an adapter frame of the securing mechanism, wherein the filler frame and the adapter frame together defines a common airflow plenum, and wherein the adapter frame holds the at least two separate electronics racks in fixed relation adjacent to each other.