SYSTEM AND METHODS FOR COOLING ELECTRONIC EQUIPMENT

• US 20160120067A1
• Filed: 08/25/2015
• Published: 04/28/2016
• Est. Priority Date: 05/13/2011
• Status: Active Application

• Current Assignee: Inertech IP LLC
• Original Assignee: Inertech IP LLC
• Inventors: McDonnell, Gerald, Keisling, Earl, Costakis, John
• Application Number:
  US14/834,746
• Publication Number:
  US 20160120067A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: F25B 2600/021 Inverters therefor
• CPC Class Codes: F25B 31/006 Cooling of compressor or motor
• CPC Class Codes: H05K 7/2029 using a liquid coolant with phase change in electronic enclosures in cabinets of standardized dimensions H05K7/20536; in server cabinets H05K7/20709; in vehicle electronic casings H05K7/20845; in power control electronics H05K7/2089; in displays H05K7/20954
• CPC Class Codes: H05K 7/20327 Accessories for moving fluid, for connecting fluid conduits, for distributing fluid or for preventing leakage, e.g. pumps, tanks or manifolds
• CPC Class Codes: H05K 7/20381 Thermal management, e.g. evaporation control
• CPC Class Codes: H05K 7/20745 within rooms for removing heat from cabinets, e.g. by air conditioning device
• CPC Class Codes: H05K 7/20827 within rooms for removing heat from cabinets, e.g. air conditioning devices
• CPC Class Codes: Y02B 30/70 Efficient control or regulation technologies, e.g. for control of refrigerant flow, motor or heating
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 29/49359 Cooling apparatus making, e.g., air conditioner, refrigerator

Abstract

Systems and methods for cooling an inverter of a variable frequency drive that drives a compressor in a cooling system for electronic equipment are disclosed. The system includes a first fluid circuit that cools electronic equipment using a first fluid flowing therethrough and a second fluid circuit that free cools a second fluid flowing therethrough. The second fluid circuit cools the first fluid using the free-cooled second fluid. The system further includes a third fluid circuit that mechanically cools the second fluid using a third fluid flowing therethrough as a function of the wet bulb temperature of atmospheric air. The third fluid circuit includes at least one compressor compresses the third fluid and is driven by a motor coupled to the variable frequency drive. At least a portion of the first fluid flowing through the third fluid circuit is diverted to cool the inverter of the variable frequency drive.

Claims

1. A cooling system for cooling an inverter of a variable frequency drive, the cooling system comprising:

a first fluid circuit configured to cool electronic equipment using a first fluid flowing through the first fluid circuit; and

a second fluid circuit configured to free cool a second fluid flowing through the second fluid circuit, the second fluid circuit further configured to cool the first fluid using the free-cooled second fluid,

wherein at least a portion of the first fluid flowing through the first fluid circuit is directed to cool the inverter of the variable frequency drive configured to drive a motor of at least one compressor.

2. The cooling system according to claim 1, wherein at least a portion of the first fluid cooling the inverter of the variable frequency drive is returned such that the at least a portion of the first fluid is in thermal communication with the second fluid flowing through the second fluid circuit.

3. The cooling system according to claim 1, wherein the first fluid circuit includes a fluid receiver, further comprising:

a sensor configured to sense a liquid level of the first fluid contained in the fluid receiver; and

a third fluid circuit in thermal communication with the first fluid contained in the fluid receiver, the third fluid circuit configured to mechanically cool and condense the first fluid when the sensed liquid level falls below a predetermined liquid level.

4. The cooling system according to claim 1, wherein the first fluid includes a refrigerant and the second fluid includes water.

5-8. -8. (canceled)

9. A system for cooling a variable frequency drive for driving a compressor of a cooling system for electronic equipment, the system comprising:

a first fluid circuit that is in thermal communication with electronic equipment, coupled to a first fluid path through a first heat exchanger;

a second fluid circuit that is in thermal communication with atmospheric air coupled to a second fluid path through the first heat exchanger to enable heat transfer from the first fluid circuit to the second fluid circuit;

a first fluid path through a second heat exchanger coupled to an output of the second fluid path through the first heat exchanger; and

a heat exchanger of an inverter of a variable frequency drive configured to drive a compressor, the heat exchanger of the inverter coupled to the first fluid circuit to cool the heat exchanger of the inverter via the first fluid circuit.

10. A method of cooling electronic equipment, comprising:

cooling electronic equipment using a first fluid;

free cooling the first fluid by enabling heat transfer from the first fluid to a second fluid that has been cooled using atmospheric air; and

diverting at least a portion of the first fluid to enable heat transfer from an inverter of a variable frequency drive, which is configured to drive a motor of at least one compressor, to the first fluid.

15. The method according to claim 10, further comprising receiving the free-cooled first fluid in a fluid receiver;

sensing a liquid level of the first fluid contained in the fluid receiver;

mechanically cooling the first fluid to condense the first fluid when the sensed liquid level falls below a first predetermined liquid level; and

deactivating mechanical cooling when the sensed liquid level reaches a second predetermined liquid level higher than the first predetermined liquid level.

16. The method according to claim 15, wherein mechanically cooling the first fluid includes:

cooling the first fluid in the fluid receiver by enabling heat transfer from the first fluid in the fluid receiver to a third fluid;

compressing the third fluid;

condensing the compressed third fluid by enabling heat transfer from the compressed third fluid to the second fluid that has been cooled using atmospheric air; and

reducing the pressure of the condensed third fluid to reduce the temperature of the third fluid.

17. The method according to claim 10, wherein the first fluid contains a refrigerant and the second fluid contains water.

18. The method according to claim 17, wherein the refrigerant is R134A and the second fluid is condenser water, chilled water, or a glycol solution.

19. The method according to claim 18, further comprising:

sensing the temperature of the free-cooled first fluid; and

regulating a flow rate of the second fluid as a function of the temperature of the free-cooled first fluid.

20. The method according to claim 10, further comprising

returning the portion of the first fluid cooling the inverter of the variable frequency drive to the first fluid flowing from the electronic equipment.

11-14. -14. (canceled)