Fluid-powered heat exchanger apparatus for cooling electronic equipment

Abstract

A heat exchanger is located in an electronic equipment enclosure as part of a system for transporting heat away from the electronic equipment. The heat exchanger comprises first and second coolant loops. The amount of electrical power consumed within the equipment enclosure is reduced by employing the motive force of the fluid being pumped through the first cooling loop to move fluid through the second cooling loop without the use of an electric motor. The velocity of fluid flowing through the second coolant loop is varied by controlling the velocity of fluid flowing through the first coolant loop.

1 . An apparatus for transferring heat generated by electronic equipment, comprising a heat exchanger, wherein a first fluid flow passageway is in thermal communication with a second fluid flow passageway, whereby heat is transferred between first and second fluids contained respectively therein, and further including a turbine in fluid communication with the first fluid flow passageway, and a pump in fluid communication with the second fluid flow passageway, wherein the rotational force generated by the turbine runner is mechanically transferred to the pump impeller. 
     
     
         2 . An apparatus as in  claim 1 , in which the first fluid flow passageway in fluid communication with at least one facilities coolant system constitutes a first coolant loop, and the second fluid flow passageway in fluid communication with at least one article of electronic equipment constitutes a second coolant loop. 
     
     
         3 . An apparatus as in  claim 1 , in which fluid flows through the first fluid flow passageway by means of the force of an external pump. 
     
     
         4 . An apparatus as in  claim 1 , in which fluid flows through the first fluid flow passageway by means of the force of gravity. 
     
     
         5 . An apparatus as in  claim 1 , in which the second fluid passageway constitutes a fluid reservoir or plenum. 
     
     
         6 . An apparatus as in  claim 5 , in which the reservoir is disposed to prime the pump. 
     
     
         7 . An apparatus as in  claim 5 , in which the pump impeller housing is an integral part of the fluid reservoir or plenum. 
     
     
         8 . An apparatus as in  claim 5 , in which the first fluid flow passageway passes through the reservoir or plenum in fluid isolation. 
     
     
         9 . An apparatus as in  claim 8 , in which the turbine runner housing is an integral part of the fluid reservoir or plenum. 
     
     
         10 . An apparatus as in  claim 1 , in which the rotational force of the turbine runner is directly coupled to the pump impeller. 
     
     
         11 . An apparatus as in  claim 1 , in which the rotational force of the turbine runner is coupled to the pump impeller through an arrangement of gears, or by means of a belt or chain. 
     
     
         12 . An apparatus as in  claim 1 , in which the flow rate of the second fluid is adjustably controlled by varying the flow rate of the first fluid. 
     
     
         13 . An apparatus as in  claim 12 , in which the fluid flow rate is adjusted to maintain a constant temperature of the equipment being cooled. 
     
     
         14 . An apparatus as in  claim 12 , in which the fluid flow rate is adjusted to optimize the energy efficiency of the cooling system in response to a measurement of the heat load or power consumption of the electronic equipment being cooled. 
     
     
         15 . An apparatus as in  claim 1 , further including at least one electrically-operated fluid control valve, or fluid flow rate sensor, or fluid temperature sensor in fluid communication with at least one fluid flow passageway. 
     
     
         16 . An apparatus as in  claim 15 , further including an electronic control module in electrical communication with at least one electrically actuated fluid control valve, or fluid flow rate sensor, or fluid temperature sensor. 
     
     
         17 . An apparatus as in  claim 16 , in which the control module comprises a digital processor unit and memory for storing a digital control program, which is executed by the processor unit for controlling the module, and includes a communication link interconnecting the control module and a computer, or interconnecting a plurality of control modules disposed to a plurality of heat exchanger modules. 
     
     
         18 . An apparatus as in  claim 1 , in which the impeller constitutes fan blades, whereby air is moved through the second fluid flow passageway. 
     
     
         19 . An apparatus as in  claim 1 , in which the module is disposed to an electronic equipment chassis or equipment rack. 
     
     
         20 . An apparatus as in  claim 1 , in which the fluid passing through the first fluid passageway is a liquid coolant.