Globally cooled computer system

Abstract

A globally cooled computer system for providing liquid cooling to a plurality of electrical components. The globally cooled computer system includes an electronics unit having a plurality of electronics components attached to a plurality of cards and a card cage for providing structural support to the cards, a fluid management unit for pressurizing fluid within the electronics unit, a reservoir for collecting fluid from the electronics unit, a tubing system for distributing the fluid between the electronics unit and the fluid management unit, and a pressure equalization system connecting the electronics unit and the reservoir to equalize internal pressures between them.

1 . A globally cooled computer system, comprising:
 a rack system;   an electronics unit slidably attached to the rack system providing evaporative spray cooling to a plurality of cards within the electronics unit, wherein the plurality of cards comprises at least one card having at least one operation light;   an access panel removably attached to one side of the electronics unit to provide access to the plurality of electronics cards, the access panel including an EMI shielded window;   a radial seal for sealing the access panel to the electronics unit;   a fluid management unit for providing pressurized fluid to the electronics unit and for receiving and thermally conditioning fluid returning from the electronics unit; and   a tubing system for distributing the fluid between the electronics unit and the fluid management unit.   
     
     
         2 . The globally cooled computer system of  claim 1 , wherein the rack system includes a top, a base, a left rail, and a right rail, the left rail and the right rail forming two sides used for slidably attaching the electronics unit to the rack system. 
     
     
         3 . The globally cooled computer system of  claim 2 , wherein the base is used for securing the rack system to a foundation. 
     
     
         4 . The globally cooled computer system of  claim 1 , wherein the EMI shielded window is positioned to allow visual inspection and functional verification of the at least one operational light. 
     
     
         5 . The globally cooled computer system of  claim 1 , wherein the radial seal comprises at least one radial sealing o-ring. 
     
     
         6 . The globally cooled computer system of  claim 5 , wherein the radial seal comprises a leading taper on the access panel to prevent cutting of the at least one radial sealing o-ring when the access panel is attached to the electronics unit. 
     
     
         7 . The globally cooled computer system of  claim 1 , wherein the EMI shielded window comprises an embedded metallic fabric. 
     
     
         8 . The globally cooled computer system of  claim 1 , wherein the EMI shielded window comprises a metallic fabric attached to an exterior surface of the EMI shielded window. 
     
     
         9 . The globally cooled computer system of  claim 1 , wherein the fluid management unit comprises:
 a pump to pressurize fluid supplied to the electronics unit;   a control unit to control operation of the pump;   a fluid reservoir to collect fluid returning from the electronics unit; and   a heat exchanger to thermally condition the fluid.   
     
     
         10 . The globally cooled computer system of  claim 9 , wherein the electronics unit includes a pressure equalization port connected to the fluid reservoir to regulate fluid flow between the electronics unit and the fluid management unit. 
     
     
         11 . The globally cooled computer system of  claim 10 , wherein the pressure equalization port is fluidly connected to a second electronics unit residing in the rack system. 
     
     
         12 . A globally cooled computer system comprising:
 a rack system;   a plurality of electronics units mounted in the rack system having an electronics card mounted therein;   a fluid management unit mounted in the rack system in a position below the plurality of electronics units;   a fluid supply manifold connected to at least one of the plurality of electronics units to regulate fluid flow to the at least one of the plurality of electronics units, wherein the fluid flow provides evaporative spray cooling of the electronics card mounted therein;   a vertically aligned return manifold fluidly connected to at least one of the plurality of electronics units to collect the distributed fluid;   a heat exchanger fluidly connected to the fluid supply manifold and the return manifold; and   a manifold valve through which non-condensable gasses may be input to the system or expelled from the system.   
     
     
         13 . The globally cooled computer system of  claim 12 , wherein the manifold valve is located at the top of the return manifold. 
     
     
         14 . The globally cooled computer system of  claim 12  further comprising a fill port located in the fluid supply manifold for introducing fluid to the system. 
     
     
         15 . The globally cooled computer system of  claim 12  further comprising a fill port located in the return manifold for introducing fluid to the system. 
     
     
         16 . The globally cooled computer system of  claim 12 , wherein the heat exchanger is a liquid to liquid type heat exchanger. 
     
     
         17 . The globally cooled computer system of  claim 12 , wherein the vertically aligned return manifold is connected to each of the plurality of electronics units to which fluid is distributed. 
     
     
         18 . A globally cooled computer system, comprising:
 an electronics unit defining a sealed enclosure sized to contain a plurality of electronics components attached to a plurality of electronics cards;   a card cage mounted within the electronics unit to provide evaporative spray cooling to the plurality of electronics components;   an access panel removably attached to a side of the electronics unit, wherein the access panel comprises an EMI shielded window and plurality of support ribs to provide structural support for the EMI shielded window;   a fluid management unit to provide pressurized fluid to the card cage within the electronics unit;   a reservoir for collecting fluid from the electronics unit;   a tubing system for distributing fluid between the electronics unit and the fluid management unit; and   a fluid volume displacement ridge protruding inside the electronics unit for reducing a fluid requirement of the system.   
     
     
         19 . The globally cooled computer system of  claim 18 , wherein the fluid volume displacement ridge is tapered to direct fluid inside the electronics unit toward one or more fluid housing outlets positioned on a lower portion of the electronics unit. 
     
     
         20 . The globally cooled computer system of  claim 18 , wherein the fluid volume displacement ridge is defined by a surface of the electronics unit.