Cooling unit and method for cooling an enclosed space

Abstract

A cooling unit for cooling an enclosed space and a method for cooling an enclosed space are provided. The cooling unit includes an axial fan and a heat exchanger. The axial fan is configured to receive warm air from the containment area and direct warm air toward the heat exchanger. The heat exchanger is configured to cool warm air and is separated from the axial flow fan by a separation distance.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] This disclosure relates to a cooling unit for cooling an enclosed space and a method for cooling an enclosed space. Background Technology

[0002] In data centers, servers and other computing devices can generate significant amounts of heat. They typically need to be cooled to prevent overheating, which could lead to malfunctions or failures. This is crucial because many industries rely on data centers for uninterrupted and reliable operation at all times. Therefore, data centers need to maintain efficiency, ensure data integrity, and uphold customer trust by providing continuous operation. In data centers and other environments, cooling units remove excess heat from the air to cool it. This helps regulate the environment in which servers operate, thus contributing to maintaining their continuous and efficient operation.

[0003] Cooling can be provided by a computer room air conditioning (CRAC) unit and / or a computer room air handling unit (CRAH) unit. In a CRAC unit, warm air is cooled by blowing warm air through coils filled with refrigerant. Compression can be used to keep the refrigerant cool. In contrast, in a CRAH unit, warm air is cooled by blowing warm air through coils filled with chilled water. Chilled water can be supplied from an external source via one or more pipes, inlets, and / or valves. Heat is transferred from the warm air to the refrigerant (in the case of a CRAC unit) or to the chilled water (in the case of a CRAH unit) before being returned to the cooled space.

[0004] In a typical data center with air-cooled racks, most of the power consumption is due to cooling / electric ventilation. The greater this power, the greater the volume of air moved, the greater the pressure drop for air distribution, the greater the pressure drop of the exchangers used to cool the air, and the less efficient the fans used. Efforts have been made to reduce this power consumption by increasing the exchange surface area, reducing the pressure drop for distribution, and using the most efficient fans possible. However, continued reductions in the power consumption of cooling units are expected.

[0005] Typically, raised floors are implemented in data centers to guide airflow beneath the floor. However, this increases costs, complexity, and construction time, and can also lead to increased pressure drop. Therefore, it is desirable to use alternative containment devices that avoid the need to raise the data center floor to provide cooling compatible with airflow guidance.

[0006] Cooling or air conditioning in server rooms or technical rooms of a data center can be achieved by using fans to provide airflow. Currently, this airflow is provided using centrifugal or radial fans. Radial fans include air inlets typically located on the side of the fan. Air is drawn into the radial fan through the air inlets. The impeller of the radial fan, which may have backward-curved blades, is driven to rotate, causing air to move radially outward from the center of the fan and be exhausted at its outer edge. Radial fans can be used to extract warm air from hot chambers and push it through heat exchangers before returning it to the chambers to be cooled.

[0007] Because radial fans are known to provide high static pressure to overcome pressure drops in the distribution network within the fan itself, the heat exchanger, and the cooled chamber, they are used in these implementations. For example, a set of radial fans might be needed to handle static pressures above 300 Pa (excluding local exhaust losses), which is considered unattainable using other types of fans.

[0008] However, while radial fans can provide high static pressure, they can only move a relatively small amount of air. This means that a greater number of radial fans are needed to supply a given volume of air per unit time. Furthermore, the change in air direction as air moves through a radial fan causes a significant pressure drop. These factors result in lower-than-expected operating efficiency for radial fans. In addition, the need for a larger number of individual fans can lead to increased costs and more maintenance problems or malfunctions.

[0009] In view of the problems discussed above, it is desirable to provide a cooling unit that operates more efficiently. Furthermore, it is desirable to provide a cooling unit with fans, each capable of moving a larger volume of air, for example, to improve the reliability and / or efficiency of the cooling unit.

[0010] This invention seeks to address these and other shortcomings encountered in the prior art. Summary of the Invention

[0011] According to one aspect, a cooling unit for cooling an enclosed space is provided, the cooling unit comprising: an axial fan; and a heat exchanger, wherein the axial fan is configured to receive warm air from a containment area and direct the warm air toward the heat exchanger, wherein the heat exchanger is configured to cool the warm air and is spaced apart from the axial fan by a separation distance.

[0012] According to another aspect, a method for cooling an enclosed space using a cooling unit is provided, the method comprising: receiving warm air from a containment area by an axial fan of the cooling unit; guiding the warm air toward a heat exchanger of the cooling unit by the axial fan, wherein the heat exchanger is separated from the axial fan by a separation distance; and cooling the warm air by the heat exchanger. Attached Figure Description

[0013] The specific implementation will now be described by way of example only with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which:

[0014] Figure 1 An example of a cooling unit according to this disclosure is depicted.

[0015] Figure 2 Another example of a cooling unit according to this disclosure is depicted.

[0016] Figure 3 Another example of a cooling unit according to this disclosure is depicted.

[0017] Figure 4 An example method for cooling an enclosed space according to this disclosure is described. Detailed Implementation

[0018] This disclosure provides a cooling unit for cooling an enclosed space. The cooling unit includes an axial fan and a heat exchanger. The axial fan is configured to receive warm air from a containment area and direct the warm air toward the heat exchanger. The heat exchanger is configured to cool the warm air and is spaced apart from the axial fan by a separation distance.

[0019] An axial fan comprises fan blades that rotate about the fan's central axis. The fan blades extend from (or near) the central axis to the outer edge of the axial fan. Air flows through the axial fan in an axial direction, for example, parallel to the fan's central axis. Axial fans are known to be able to move large volumes of air. However, this is typically delivered at low pressure, making axial fans considered unsuitable for providing the static pressure required to achieve the effects of significant obstructions to airflow. In data center environments, such obstructions can include various containment structures, ductwork, and servers or other computing equipment that cause high pressure drops.

[0020] The technology disclosed herein provides an improved implementation of an axial fan in a cooling unit for cooling enclosed spaces. The inventors have realized that by establishing a separation distance between the axial fan and the heat exchanger, the axial fan can provide the required static pressure by converting dynamic pressure into static pressure at that distance. The total pressure of the air is the sum of the static pressure of the air (the pressure of the air in the absence of air movement) and the dynamic pressure of the air (the pressure associated with air movement). As the air decelerates at the separation distance between the fan and the heat exchanger, the dynamic pressure of the air decreases, and the static pressure of the air increases by a corresponding amount, such that the total pressure is conserved. Therefore, the arrangement of the axial fan and heat exchanger according to this disclosure enables the implementation of an axial fan to meet the cooling requirements for enclosed spaces.

[0021] The implementation of axial fans offers several additional benefits. In radial fans, air changes direction as it passes through the fan, leading to increased air turbulence, increased pressure drop, and reduced performance / efficiency. In contrast, in axial fans, the airflow travels axially and is not forced to change its overall flow direction. This results in a lower pressure drop within the axial fan itself, which also contributes to the fan's ability to deliver the required pressure. Furthermore, compared to radial fans, axial fans can move a larger volume of air and can deliver the required pressure with increased efficiency. Further advantages of this disclosure will be explained below.

[0022] Figure 1 An example of a cooling unit 100 according to this disclosure is depicted. The cooling unit 100 may typically include a container or cabinet housing component for transporting and / or cooling air. The cooling unit 100 may be adapted for placement within a data center or other room or other enclosed space requiring cooling. The cooling unit 100 may be configured to receive warm air, cool the warm air, and exhaust the cooled air back to the space where the cooling unit is located. The cooling unit 100 may be a CRAH unit. In other examples, the cooling unit 100 may be a CRAC unit.

[0023] The cooling unit 100 may include one or more fan sections 102. Each fan section 102 may house at least one fan. The fan sections 102 may be located at the top of the cooling unit 100. The fans may be completely enclosed by a panel and / or a safety grille to prevent contact with the moving parts of the fans. The grille may allow air to pass through, but prevents large objects or body parts from passing through it.

[0024] Cooling unit 100 may include one or more heat exchanger sections 104. Each heat exchanger section 104 may house at least one heat exchanger. As used herein, a heat exchanger may also be referred to as a coil, and a heat exchanger section 104 may be referred to as a coil section. One or more heat exchanger sections 104 may be respectively disposed below one or more fan sections 102. The heat exchangers may be enclosed by panels and / or doors to prevent contact with electrical components or hot and cold surfaces. At least one of the panels or doors may include perforations or slits 106. These are open spaces that allow cooling air to move from the interior of the heat exchanger section 104 to the exterior of the heat exchanger section 104.

[0025] The cooling unit 100 may include one or more additional components, such as access doors for maintenance / repair, control panels, displays, shut-off switches, power supply units, and / or hot and cold water interfaces for supplying cold water to the heat exchanger and receiving hot water from the heat exchanger.

[0026] In use, warm air from an enclosed space such as a server room in a data center is delivered to a cooling unit 100 (e.g., in one or more ducts or pipes) and enters the top of one or more fan sections 102 of the cooling unit 100. The top of the fan section 102 may include an open area allowing warm air to enter, for example, it may include a safety grille through which warm air can pass. The warm air is guided downwards by the fans to a heat exchanger section 104. The fan section 102 and the heat exchanger section 104 may be open to each other, with no obstructions between them to avoid restricting airflow. Air may pass through / through the heat exchanger in the heat exchanger section 104, which cools the warm air. The cooled air is exhausted back into the enclosed space via perforations or slits 106. This circulation removes warm air from the enclosed space and returns it to the enclosed space after it has been cooled. This absorbs heat generated in the enclosed space and cools the enclosed space and the components therein, or at least prevents the enclosed space and the components therein from overheating.

[0027] Figure 2 An example of a cooling unit 200 according to this disclosure is depicted. The cooling unit 200 may correspond to... Figure 1 The cooling unit 100 is described.

[0028] The cooling unit 200 includes an axial fan 202 and a heat exchanger 208. Although Figure 2 Only a single axial fan 202 and a single heat exchanger 208 are shown in the diagram, but it should be understood that the cooling unit 200 may include multiple axial fans 202 and / or multiple heat exchangers 208.

[0029] The axial flow fan 202 includes fan blades 204 and a central support 206. The fan blades 204 are fixed to the central support 206 and extend towards the outer edge of the axial flow fan 202. The central support 206 coincides with the central axis of the axial flow fan 202. The central support 206 is driven to rotate, causing the fan blades 204 to rotate about the central axis. Although Figure 2 The document depicts two fan blades 204, but it should be understood that the axial fan 202 described herein may include any number of fan blades 204, such as two, three, four, five, six, seven, or eight fan blades 204. As those skilled in the art will understand, depending on the application and desired performance, the fan blades 204 may include any suitable shape and any suitable blade angle. The fan blades 204 may be flat, angled, curved, or airfoil-shaped. The axial fan 202 may be a propeller fan, a tubular axial fan, or a bladed axial fan.

[0030] exist Figure 2 In the diagram, box-shaped arrows depict the movement of air. Warm air can be received from an enclosed space into a warm containment zone 210. The warm containment zone 210 may include ducts or pipes and may be positioned above or on top of the cooling unit 200, for example, adjacent to the ceiling of the enclosed space. Figure 2 As depicted by the horizontal frame-shaped arrow at the top, the warm air receiving area 210 can guide warm air to the axial fan 202. The warm air can move into the axial fan 202. (As shown...) Figure 2 As depicted, the movement of the blades 204 of the axial fan 202 can create a pressure difference between the top and bottom of the axial fan 202, which draws warm air into the axial fan 202 and causes the warm air to pass through the axial fan 202.

[0031] like Figure 2 As depicted by the two frame-shaped arrows at the bottom of the axial fan 202, the axial fan 202 is arranged / oriented to guide warm air toward the heat exchanger 208. Figure 2 As depicted by the three frame-shaped arrows directed to heat exchanger 208, warm air can pass through / through heat exchanger 208. Figure 2 Depicted using three horizontal box-shaped arrows, heat exchanger 208 is configured to cool warm air and output cool air to the enclosed space. This cool air can be delivered via the aforementioned... Figure 1 The relevant perforation or slit 106 is output.

[0032] The heat exchanger 208 can take any suitable form for absorbing heat from warm air to cool the air. The heat exchanger 208 can be a chilled water unit in which heat is transferred from air to chilled water. The heat exchanger 208 may include a cold water inlet 212 configured to introduce cold water into the heat exchanger 208. As warm air passes over / through the surface of the heat exchanger 208, heat from the warm air can be transferred to the cold water. This cools the air and heats the water. The heat exchanger 208 may include a warm water outlet 214 configured to remove warm water from the heat exchanger 208. The cold water inlet 212 and / or the warm water outlet may each include a corresponding pipe. The cold water inlet 212 and / or the warm water outlet may each include a corresponding valve configured to control the flow of water through the heat exchanger 208. As those skilled in the art will understand, such valves may include any suitable type of valve, including two-way valves, three-way valves, and pressure-independent control valves. In some examples, a liquid other than water may be used as the medium for receiving heat. Heat exchanger 208 may include a tube-fin heat exchanger or a microchannel heat exchanger. In some examples, heat exchanger 208 may be a direct expansion unit.

[0033] Cooling unit 200 can be mounted on floor 216 of an enclosed space. Cooling unit 200 is particularly suitable for use in data centers or other enclosed spaces that do not have raised floors. For example, floor 216 can be described as solid, with no ductwork beneath the floor to allow for significant airflow. Alternatively, warm air can be introduced into cooling unit 200 via a warm containment area and can exit cooling unit 200 via perforations or slits 106.

[0034] The service area 218 is located near the cooling unit 200. The service area provides access to the cooling unit 200 for repairing or maintaining one or more components of the cooling unit 200, or for controlling the operation of the cooling unit 200 (e.g., via a control panel). Figure 2 In the design, the cooling unit is depicted in a front air delivery arrangement, in which the maintenance area is depicted on the left side of the cooling unit 200, for example, on the same side of the cooling unit 200, from which warm air enters the cooling unit 200.

[0035] Figure 3 An example of a cooling unit 300 according to this disclosure is depicted. The cooling unit 300 may correspond to... Figure 1 The cooling unit 100 is described. The cooling unit 300 can roughly correspond to... Figure 2 The cooling unit 200 is described.

[0036] Cooling unit 200 is a front air delivery cooling unit 200, while cooling unit 300 is a rear air delivery cooling unit 300. For example... Figure 3 As depicted, the maintenance area 318 is located to the right of the cooling unit 300, for example, on the opposite side of the cooling unit 300, from which warm air enters the cooling unit 300. Additionally, the cold water inlet 312 and the warm water outlet 314 are located to the right of the heat exchanger 308, for example, on the same side as the maintenance area 318. The maintenance area 318, cold water inlet 312, and warm water outlet 314 can otherwise substantially correspond to the maintenance area 218, cold water inlet 212, and warm water outlet 214, respectively. The axial fan 302, fan blades 304, central support 306, heat exchanger 308, warm containment area 310, and floor 316 can respectively substantially correspond to the axial fan 202, fan blades 204, central support 206, heat exchanger 208, warm containment area 210, and floor 216.

[0037] like Figure 2 The following (similar comments apply) Figure 3 In this configuration, the heat exchanger 208 is positioned after the axial fan 202 during the airflow cycle. This reverses the order of the components compared to other implementations of the heat exchanger and axial fan, in which the axial fan is typically placed after the heat exchanger.

[0038] Typically, CRAH units are designed with a fan following the heat exchanger. Such units are developed for raised floor applications, where, to provide high efficiency, the fan is placed below the floor to deliver airflow over a wide range of directions. For implementations without a raised floor, it is important to have a uniform air distribution after the heat exchanger / coil and to provide a straight airflow at the outlet of the cooling unit. According to this disclosure, fan 202 has been positioned before heat exchanger 208 in the path of airflow through cooling unit 200, for example, at the intake end of cooling unit 200. Furthermore, according to this disclosure, axial fan 202 has been implemented, which avoids radial components.

[0039] The warm air is hotter at the intake end of the cooling unit 200 than at the exhaust end. Over time, data centers tend to operate at higher temperatures. This may require greater airflow rates and lower temperature variations in the cooling unit. The axial fan 202 is particularly well-suited to meet these requirements and may be able to operate effectively at very high temperatures where precise air distribution is needed to avoid hotspots.

[0040] Because axial fan 202 can manage more airflow than radial fan, it can operate at higher return air temperatures, thus expanding the operating range of cooling unit 200. Attempting to achieve this with a radial fan would require an increased motor size and increased power consumption, corresponding to an increase in the size and cost of the electrical infrastructure used.

[0041] In addition, such as Figure 2 As shown, the axial fan 202 and the heat exchanger 208 are separated by a separation distance. This separation distance can be the distance between the bottom of the axial fan 202 and the top of the heat exchanger 208, for example, the distance between these components at their closest points. In other examples, the separation distance can be defined as the distance from the center of the axial fan 202 to the center of the heat exchanger 208.

[0042] At the separation distance between the axial fan 202 and the heat exchanger 208, there may only be air / free space. For example, the axial fan 202 and the heat exchanger 208 may be arranged such that warm air flows from the axial fan 202 to the heat exchanger 208 through the air / free space. For example, there may be no obstruction between the components of the axial fan 202 and the heat exchanger 208, for example, no obstruction that would substantially affect / reduce the flow of warm air from the axial fan 202 to the heat exchanger 208. In other words, an empty chamber or compartment is provided between the axial fan 202 and the heat exchanger 208 for warm air to pass through. For example, the separation distance is the distance that air travels from the axial fan 202 to the heat exchanger 208 along the airflow path through the cooling unit 200 when the cooling unit 200 is in use.

[0043] Axial fans are generally considered unsuitable for cooling unit implementations that cool enclosed spaces, such as those with significant obstructions to airflow. These obstructions can include various housings, ductwork, and servers or other computing equipment, resulting in high pressure drops. In contrast, radial fans are commonly used in these implementations because they are known to provide high static pressure to overcome pressure drops within the radial fan and heat exchanger, as well as those caused by obstructions in the enclosed space.

[0044] However, the inventors of this application have determined an arrangement of the cooling unit 200 that enables the axial fan 202 to be used in the cooling of enclosed spaces. The axial fan 202 typically provides relatively low static pressure, which can lead to a considerable pressure drop when obstacles are present in the enclosed space / when an enclosed space is formed, thus causing difficulties.

[0045] Air is drawn into the axial fan 202, which causes air to pass through the axial fan 202 and exit from its outlet (in...). Figure 2 In the process of cooling, at the bottom of the axial fan 202, the air pressure and velocity increase. Bernoulli's principle states that an increase in fluid velocity occurs simultaneously with a decrease in its static pressure or potential energy, and a decrease in fluid velocity occurs simultaneously with an increase in its static pressure or potential energy. According to this disclosure, the axial fan 202 and the heat exchanger 208 are separated by a separation distance. As the warm air discharged from the axial fan 202 travels over this separation distance, the warm air decelerates. As the velocity of the warm air decreases, its static pressure increases accordingly. For example, the dynamic pressure provided by the axial fan 202 has already been converted into static pressure over the separation distance, thereby increasing the static pressure that the axial fan 202 can provide, for example, at the location of the heat exchanger 208. This enables the axial fan 202 to provide sufficient static pressure for the implementation of the cooling unit 200 used to cool an enclosed space, because the provided static pressure is sufficient to overcome the pressure drop caused by various obstacles to the airflow.

[0046] For implementations without a raised floor, a more uniform air distribution is required on the cooling unit 200 to avoid radial components at the cooling unit outlet. Therefore, in the current disclosure, a fan is positioned at the intake end of the cooling unit. This achieves a wider exhaust surface and a lower pressure drop, as the air velocity decreases along the air path, thus restoring static pressure using an axial fan and avoiding radial components at the outlet of the cooling unit 200.

[0047] Other aspects of the axial fan 202 also enable its implementation in a space where there is considerable obstruction to airflow and therefore a considerable pressure drop. In a radial fan, air changes direction as it passes through the fan. In contrast, in the axial fan 202, air generally travels parallel to the central axis of the axial fan 202, resulting in a lower pressure drop within the axial fan 202 itself. Furthermore, the axial fan 202 can be mounted with a larger diameter compared to a radial fan. This maintains a lower local velocity and reduces turbulence within the axial fan 202, which further reduces the pressure drop associated with the fan itself. This minimization of the pressure drop associated with the axial fan 202 itself also enables the implementation of the axial fan 202 in an enclosed space where a high pressure drop exists. For example, the lower pressure drop inside the fan offsets the high pressure drop in the air distribution network.

[0048] In the axial fan 202, air is exhausted using only axial components, avoiding the pressure drop associated with fan installation within the cabinet of the cooling unit 200. If the impeller of a radial fan is close to an obstacle, the radial fan cannot provide the same performance and efficiency as in free-air exhaust applications. This results in higher pressure drops, higher energy consumption, and lower airflow. For example, if the fan is located within a series of obstacles forming a tight box around it, the fan's performance degrades, necessitating the use of a smaller diameter radial fan. This problem does not exist with the axial fan 202, which lacks radial components. Therefore, the use of the axial fan 202 allows for more space-efficient use of the entire unit's intake space for installation, without the limitations mentioned above regarding radial fans.

[0049] In addition to the airflow benefits of the axial fan 202 mentioned above, the implementation of the axial fan 202 can offer further advantages compared to radial fans. The axial fan 202 is more efficient than its counterpart in a radial fan, which allows for a reduction in the power consumption of the cooling unit 200. The axial fan 202 can provide a higher maximum airflow rate compared to a radial fan. Therefore, fewer axial fans may be needed to cool a specific enclosed space compared to the number of radial fans required. This reduces costs and, due to the fewer components that may fail, reduces the amount of maintenance or repairs required. For example, three axial fans 202 can be used instead of four radial fans.

[0050] This disclosure is not limited to the specific size of the cooling unit or its components. As those skilled in the art will understand, these can be adjusted according to the intended implementation, the component to be cooled, or a specific space. By way of non-limiting example, a specific implementation of cooling units 100, 200, 300 for cooling a data center may have approximate dimensions of approximately 1 m depth, 2.5 m to 3.5 m width, and 3 m height. By way of non-limiting example, the diameter of the axial fan 202 may be approximately 1 m.

[0051] Different separation distances can be provided depending on the specific implementation, such as the number and extent of existing obstacles and their associated pressure drops, and the resulting static pressure required by the axial fan 202. A larger separation distance may result in better performance. However, there is a trade-off between this and the size / footprint of the cooling unit 200. Therefore, the separation distance used can be chosen to vary depending on the operating environment, based on considerations including required performance, desired efficiency, available space, and acceptable cost.

[0052] By way of non-limiting example, the separation distance between the lowermost part of the axial fan 202 (e.g., its outlet) and the uppermost part of the heat exchanger 208 can be approximately 15 cm, approximately 18 cm, or approximately 25 cm. The separation distance can be at least 15 cm. The separation distance can be in the range of approximately 15 cm to approximately 25 cm. The separation distance can be approximately 10 cm, approximately 15 cm, approximately 20 cm, approximately 25 cm, or approximately 30 cm.

[0053] The separation distance can be defined relative to the diameter of the axial fan 202, which can correspond to the diameter of the circle swept by the fan blades 204 of the axial fan 202. For example, the separation distance can be at least 10% of the diameter of the axial fan 202. The separation distance can be between 10% and 50% of the diameter of the axial fan 202. The separation distance can be between 20% and 40% of the diameter of the axial fan 202. The separation distance can be approximately 10%, approximately 20%, approximately 30%, approximately 40%, approximately 50%, approximately 60%, approximately 70%, approximately 80%, approximately 90%, or approximately 100% of the diameter of the axial fan 202, or it can be greater than the diameter of the axial fan 202.

[0054] The axial fan 202 and the heat exchanger 208 can be arranged with a separation distance between them, such that as air moves between the axial fan 202 and the heat exchanger 208, the air is significantly slowed down in order to provide static pressure recovery. The separation distance described herein is applicable to providing this air slowdown and static pressure recovery.

[0055] The axial fan 202 can be oriented such that its central axis is parallel to the vertical axis, wherein the axial fan 202 is configured to guide warm air vertically downwards. The heat exchanger 208 can be located below the axial fan, forming an acute angle with the vertical axis. The heat exchanger 208 can be approximately cuboid in shape, wherein its front plane is parallel to its rear plane. Figure 2 The acute angle (the longer side of the heat exchanger 208 depicted in the figure) can be formed between the front / rear plane and the vertical axis. By way of non-limiting example, the acute angle can be approximately 12°, approximately 13°, approximately 14°, approximately 15°, approximately 16°, approximately 17°, or approximately 18°. In some examples, the acute angle can be approximately 10°, approximately 15°, approximately 20°, approximately 25°, or approximately 30°. Water can condense on the surface of the heat exchanger 208. The acute angle can advantageously retain the water on these surfaces without it being carried away by moving air.

[0056] The cooling units 100, 200, 300 described herein may include any number of axial fans 202 and any number of heat exchangers 208. In some examples, the number of axial fans 202 is equal to the number of heat exchangers 208, wherein each axial fan 202 is configured to direct warm air to a corresponding heat exchanger 208. In some examples, the number of axial fans 202 may differ from the number of heat exchangers 208, wherein each axial fan is configured to direct warm air to multiple corresponding heat exchangers 208, or each heat exchanger 208 is configured to receive warm air from multiple corresponding axial fans 202.

[0057] Figure 4 An example method 400 for cooling an enclosed space according to this disclosure is described. The above-mentioned methods can be used... Figures 1 to 3 Any of the described cooling units 100, 200, and 300 may perform method 400.

[0058] In step 402, the method may include: receiving warm air from the containment area by an axial fan of the cooling unit.

[0059] In step 404, the method may include: guiding warm air toward a heat exchanger of a cooling unit by an axial fan, wherein the heat exchanger is separated from the axial fan by a separation distance.

[0060] In step 406, the method may include cooling the warm air by a heat exchanger.

[0061] When describing these components themselves, the axial fan and heat exchanger of the cooling unit in this method may include any of the features and related arrangements set forth herein. Similarly, when describing these features themselves, the enclosed space in this method and its relationship to the cooling unit may correspond to the enclosed space and its relationship to the cooling unit set forth herein.

[0062] The method may include a receiving area for warm air from an enclosed space, and the receiving area may be located near the ceiling of the room comprising the enclosed space. The warm air cooled by a heat exchanger can be described as cold air (having a lower temperature than warm air), and the heat exchanger may, for example, guide the cold air into the enclosed space through one or more perforations in the housing of a cooling unit. In this way, a circulation of airflow can be established in which servers and other computing devices in the enclosed space warm the surrounding air, which is then guided to a cooling unit that cools the air, and the cooling unit returns the cooled air to the enclosed space to be reheated by the servers and other computing devices. The servers and other computing devices are thus cooled, or at least prevented from becoming overheated, by the cooling unit.

[0063] Although the methods disclosed herein are presented in a certain order, this should not be construed as limiting the methods to that order. One or more steps of the methods may be omitted or rearranged. The steps may be performed in a different order. The steps may be performed simultaneously or substantially simultaneously. In this document, "substantially simultaneous events" may refer to events that at least partially overlap in time and / or events that occur simultaneously within the scope of measurement uncertainty.

[0064] The cooling unit described herein can be configured to perform any of the method steps in the currently disclosed method steps, and may include computer-executable instructions that, when executed by a processor, cause the processor to perform any of the method steps in the currently disclosed method steps. Any step in the steps to which the cooling unit is configured to perform can be considered a method step of this disclosure and can be embodied in computer-executable instructions for execution by a processor. A computer-readable medium (which may be a non-transitory computer-readable medium) may include the computer-executable instructions described above.

[0065] It should be understood that the above description is intended to be illustrative and not restrictive. Many other implementations will become apparent to those skilled in the art after reading and understanding the above description. Although specific exemplary implementations have been described with reference to them, it should be recognized that this disclosure is not limited to the described implementations, but can be practiced with modifications and variations within the scope of the appended claims. Therefore, the specification and drawings should be regarded in an illustrative sense rather than a restrictive sense. Consequently, the scope of this disclosure should be determined by referring to the appended claims and the full scope of their equivalents.

[0066] This disclosure includes the following:

[0067] 1. A method for cooling an enclosed space using a cooling unit, the method comprising:

[0068] The axial fan of the cooling unit receives warm air from the containment area;

[0069] The warm air is guided towards the heat exchanger of the cooling unit by the axial fan, wherein the heat exchanger is separated from the axial fan by a separation distance; and

[0070] The warm air is cooled by the heat exchanger.

[0071] 2. The method according to item 1, comprising:

[0072] Cold fluid is received through the fluid inlet of the heat exchanger;

[0073] Warm fluid is removed from the heat exchanger through its fluid outlet, wherein at least one pipe connects the fluid inlet to the fluid outlet; and

[0074] The heat exchanger cools the warm air by transferring heat from the warm air to the cold fluid.

[0075] 3. The method according to item 2, wherein the cold fluid and the warm fluid comprise the same fluid whose temperature is changed in the heat exchanger, and wherein the same fluid is water.

[0076] 4. The method according to any of the preceding claims, wherein the axial fan is disposed above the heat exchanger.

[0077] 5. The method according to any of the preceding claims, wherein the central axis of the axial fan is aligned with the vertical axis.

[0078] 6. The method according to item 5, wherein the heat exchanger is configured at an acute angle to the vertical axis.

[0079] 7. The method according to any of the preceding claims, wherein the axial fan and the heat exchanger are arranged such that there is a space between the axial fan and the heat exchanger.

[0080] 8. The method according to any of the preceding claims, wherein there is no obstruction to airflow between the axial fan and the heat exchanger.

[0081] 9. The method according to any of the preceding claims, wherein the heat exchanger is at least 15 cm away from the axial fan.

[0082] 10. The method according to any of the preceding claims, wherein the heat exchanger is separated from the axial fan by a distance ranging from 15 cm to 25 cm.

[0083] 11. The method according to any of the preceding claims, wherein the enclosed space includes one or more ducts and / or one or more components that obstruct airflow within the enclosed space.

[0084] 12. The method according to any of the preceding claims, wherein the warm air cooled by the heat exchanger is cold air, and wherein the heat exchanger guides the cold air to the enclosed space through one or more perforations in the housing of the cooling unit.

[0085] 13. The method according to any of the preceding claims, wherein the accommodating area receives warm air from the enclosed space, and the accommodating area is arranged adjacent to the ceiling of the room including the enclosed space.

[0086] 14. The method according to any of the preceding claims, wherein the axial fan and the heat exchanger are arranged with a separation distance therebetween, such that the dynamic pressure provided by the axial fan is converted into static pressure over the separation distance.

Claims

1. A cooling unit for cooling an enclosed space, the cooling unit comprising: Axial flow fan; as well as heat exchanger The axial fan is configured to receive warm air from the containment area and guide the warm air toward the heat exchanger. The heat exchanger is configured to cool the warm air and is separated from the axial fan by a distance.

2. The cooling unit according to claim 1, wherein, The heat exchanger includes: A fluid inlet configured to receive cold fluid; A fluid outlet configured to remove warm fluid from the heat exchanger; and At least one pipe, wherein the at least one pipe connects the fluid inlet to the fluid outlet. The heat exchanger is configured to cool the warm air passing through it by transferring heat from the warm air to the cold fluid.

3. The cooling unit according to claim 2, wherein, The cold fluid and the warm fluid comprise the same fluid, the heat exchanger is configured to change the temperature of the same fluid, and wherein the same fluid is water.

4. The cooling unit according to any of the preceding claims, wherein, The axial fan is positioned above the heat exchanger.

5. The cooling unit according to any of the preceding claims, wherein, The central axis of the axial flow fan is aligned with the vertical axis.

6. The cooling unit according to claim 5, wherein, The heat exchanger is configured to form an acute angle with the vertical axis.

7. The cooling unit according to any of the preceding claims, wherein, The axial fan and the heat exchanger are arranged such that there is space between the axial fan and the heat exchanger.

8. The cooling unit according to any of the preceding claims, wherein, There are no obstructions arranged to impede airflow between the axial fan and the heat exchanger.

9. The cooling unit according to any of the preceding claims, wherein, The heat exchanger is at least 15 cm away from the axial fan.

10. The cooling unit according to any of the preceding claims, wherein, The heat exchanger is located 15cm to 25cm away from the axial fan.

11. The cooling unit according to any of the preceding claims, wherein the enclosed space includes one or more ducts and / or one or more components that obstruct airflow within the enclosed space.

12. The cooling unit according to any of the preceding claims, wherein, The heat exchanger is configured to guide cooled air through one or more perforations in the housing of the cooling unit into the enclosed space.

13. The cooling unit according to any of the preceding claims, wherein, The containment area is configured to receive warm air from the enclosed space, and the containment area is positioned adjacent to the ceiling of the room that includes the enclosed space.

14. The cooling unit according to any of the preceding claims, wherein, The axial fan and the heat exchanger are arranged with the separation distance therebetween, so that the dynamic pressure provided by the axial fan can be converted into static pressure over the separation distance.

15. A method for cooling an enclosed space using a cooling unit, the method comprising: The axial fan of the cooling unit receives warm air from the containment area; The warm air is guided toward the heat exchanger of the cooling unit by the axial fan, wherein the heat exchanger is separated from the axial fan by a separation distance; as well as The warm air is cooled by the heat exchanger.

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