Telecommunications shelter with emergency cooling and air distribution assembly

Abstract

A telecommunications outdoor shelter having an interior chamber containing one or more vertical racks of telecommunications and / or electronic components, and an AC powered air conditioner configured to deliver cooled air to said interior chamber, is characterized by a back-up cooling apparatus comprising: an outdoor refrigeration system exterior to the interior chamber configured for supplying refrigerant or chilled heat transfer fluid to an evaporator mounted in the interior chamber and for rejecting heat to ambient outside air; an air cooling unit comprising an air handler and evaporator mounted in the interior chamber and configured to receive refrigerant or heat transfer fluid from the outdoor refrigeration system and provide cool air to the interior chamber; an air distribution assembly cooperating with the comprising air cooling unit and one or more primary air ducts for directing cooled air from the evaporator and a plurality of secondary air ducts communicating with each of the primary air ducts, wherein each of the secondary air ducts is configured for delivering cooled air to one or more selected vertical racks at one or more vertical levels and wherein the handler includes one or more fans for moving warm air from the interior chamber to the evaporator and forcing cooled air through the one or more primary air ducts and the one or more secondary air ducts; an electric power generating unit configured to provide power for operating the outdoor refrigeration system and the indoor air cooling unit; and a sensor configured to initiate operation of the back-up cooling apparatus in response to AC power outage and / or interior chamber air temperature.

Description

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION[0001]There are thousands of telecommunications shelters located throughout the country containing iDen, combined iDen / CDMA or other radio or telecommunications equipment and components. Such a telecommunications shelter is a small building, typically about 8 feet-14 feet long, about 7 feet-8 feet high and enclosing an interior room or chamber providing weather protection and security for the equipment. The shelter is cooled by one or two AC-powered on-site air conditioner(s), typically wall mounted, for maintaining the interior air temperature below that which would cause the telecommunications system to shut down or otherwise fail or compromise reliable operations, typically about 40° C. (104° F). During a power outage in which there is loss of AC power to the on-site air conditioner(s), temperatures within a shelter may rise rapidly since battery back-up continues heat generating operation of the electronics but without operating an air conditioner, lea...

AI Technical Summary

Benefits of technology

[0002]The telecommunications shelter described herein is characterized by a back-up cooling apparatus incorporating an outdoor refrigeration system and an indoor air cooling unit comprising an air handler housing a heat exchanger comprising an evaporator which receives refrigerant or a liquid-air heat exchanger which receives cooled heat transfer fluid from the outdoor refrigeration system. The back-up cooling apparatus also includes an air distribution assembly cooperating with the air cooling unit and comprising one or more primary air ducts for directing cool air from the evaporator and a plurality of secondary air ducts communicating with the primary air ducts. Each of the secondary air ducts are capable of delivering cold air to one or more selected vertical racks at one or more vertical levels within the interior chamber. In a preferred embodiment, the secondary air ducts include one or more air vents or outlet ports configured to selectively direct and/or adjust cold air flow to selected components and heat loads. The air handler incorporates one or more fans for returning warm air from

Problems solved by technology

During a power outage in which there is loss of AC power to the on-site air conditioner(s), temperatures within a shelter may rise rapidly since battery back-up continues heat generating operation of the electronics but without operating an air conditioner, leading to an equipment shut-down, often after only a few minutes.

The use of back-up Diesel generators to operate the air conditioners during such power outages is undesirable due to pollution, noise and their limited reliability.

The use of outside ambient air to cool the shelter anterior is also impractical, if ambient temperatures reach or exceed the mid or high 90s (° F).

Moreover, the use of outdoor air poses a dust contamination risk, especially at high air flows, which also requires a significant electric power source for operating the fan, especially if filters are partially or fully clogged with dust or debris.

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