Improved fan wall module and fan wall unit arrangement comprising such fan wall module

Abstract

Fan wall module (4) for a fan wall unit arrangement (1), extending along a longitudinal axis (A) and suitable for being connected to other frame (2) of other fan wall modules (4), the fan wall module (4) comprising a filter (9) carried by frame (2, such filter (9) comprising a first portion (9') and a second portion (9''), said first portion (9') being carried by a wall (7) of the frame faced to said a fan assembly (6) according to a transversal axis (B) direction, the second portion (9'') being carried by the wall (7) in a direction perpendicular to the transversal axis (B) direction.

Description

[0001]“IMPROVED FAN WALL MODULE AND FAN WALL UNIT ARRANGEMENT COMPRISING SUCH FAN WALL MODULE” Cross-Reference to Related Applications This Patent Application claims priority from Italian Patent Application No. 102024000020014 filed on September 9, 2024, the entire disclosure of which is incorporated herein by reference. Technical Field The present invention concerns a fan wall module, in particular a fan wall module of a conditioning fan wall unit arrangement. The present invention finds its preferred, although not exclusive, application in IT device conditioning, such as data hall conditioning. Reference will be made to this application by way of example below. Background of the Invention IT devices need to be maintained within a pre-set temperature range to allow an optimized operation. Indeed, for sake of example, it is known that the elaboration of data by an IT device produces heat that should be dissipated, taking into account the environmental temperature, in order to allow the correct operation of the IT device. An example of such IT devices are data halls that are provided with so-called fan wall units that are voted to their conditioning. Fan wall units are constructed in a modular way so that a single fan wall module is overlapped side-by-side, i.e. on the left and / or the right and upper and / or lower by another fan wall module in order to cover the entire data hall surface with fan modules. Figure 1 discloses a prior art known arrangement of a row of fan modules of a fan wall unit arrangement. As can be appreciated, the fan wall modules 1’ are arranged linearly in front of IT device such as a data hall. The modules 1’ comprises essentially a fan 3’ that is rigidly carried by a frame 4’ defining a space 5’ that houses the fan 3’. The frame 4’ comprises a plate 6’ on which the fan 3’ is mounted that divides the space 5’ into a negative pressure portion 5a’ and a positive pressure portion 5b’. The positive pressure portion 5b’ houses heat exchanger assembly 8’ provided conduits for allowing passage of conditioning fluid while the negative pressure portion 5a’ houses filters 7’ for the fan 3’. As can be appreciated by the figure 1, the filters are provided on the axial wall of the frame 4’ faced to fans 3’. However, such disposition has drawbacks linked to the energy needed to the fans 3’ to aspirate air from the environment to the negative pressure portion 5a’ via filters 7’. In view of the above, the need is felt to provide a fan wall module for a fan wall unit arrangement having reduced energy consumption while maintaining the known easy installation and maintenance. An aim of the present invention is to satisfy the above- mentioned needs in a cost effective, compact and optimized manner. Summary of the Invention The aforementioned aim is reached by a fan wall module and a fan wall unit arrangement as claimed in the appended set of claims. Brief Description of Drawings For a better understanding of the present invention, a preferred embodiment is described in the following, by way of a non-limiting example, with reference to the attached drawings wherein: • Figure 1 is a schematic top sectioned view of a fan wall unit arrangement as known in the art; • Figure 2 is a schematic top sectioned view of a fan wall unit arrangement according to the invention; • Figure 3 is a perspective view, with parts removed for sake of clarity, of a portion of the fan wall arrangement according to the present invention, • Figure 4 is a perspective view, with parts removed for sake of clarity, of a first constructional detail of a portion of the fan wall arrangement according to the present invention; • Figures 5A-5B are enlarged front view of a portion of figure 4; • Figure 6 is a perspective view, with parts removed for sake of clarity, of a second constructional detail of a portion of the fan wall arrangement according to the present invention; and • Figures 7A-7B are enlarged front view of a portion of figure 6. Detailed Description of the Invention Figure 1 discloses a fan wall unit arrangement 1 comprising a plurality of fan modules 4, as shown, arranged laterally one with respect to the other along a longitudinal axis A one with respect to the other. The arrangement 1 comprises a frame 2 provided with a plurality of rods and walls to delimit a space 3 into which the plurality of fan modules 4 are arranged. In detail, the frame 2 extends along a longitudinal axis A, a transversal axis B and a vertical axis C, therein such three axes are perpendicular one with respect to the other. In greater detail, each fan module 4 is faced to an IT device (not shown) such as a data hall, on a first side along transversal axis B and, on a second side opposite to the first side each module 4 is faced to a frame wall defined by frame 2. Other details about frame 2, the rods / walls comprised by the latter and their fixation are not further disclosed for sake of brevity being clear that the disclosed shape and mounting may be varied according to the dimension and needs of the IT device to be conditioned. In detail, each fan module 4 comprises a portion of frame 2 that can be connected to another portion of frame 2 of another fan module 4. Such portion of frame 2 is configured to carry a fan assembly 6 that may be of any typology. As shown in figure 2, the fan assembly 6 is carried by a wall 7 that subdivide the space 3 into a positive pressure portion 3a and a negative pressure portion 3b, according to a standard operation of the fan assembly 6, i.e. pushing out air through the IT device, i.e. along transversal axis B. As exemplarily shown, the wall 7 defines an opening that is entirely occupied by fan assembly 6 configured to suck air from the negative pressure portion 3b and push out air into positive pressure portion 3a. In detail, the wall 7 is carried by the aforementioned portion of frame 2 and it is substantially flat and extends parallel to the longitudinal axis A. Even if not shown into detail, the positive pressure portion 3a houses heat exchangers 8 and any other element need to the conditioning circuit to condition the IT device via fan assembly airflow, while the negative pressure portion 3b houses filters 9 for allowing filtering air sucked by fan assembly 6. In particular, the filters 9 are carried by the frame 2. According to the invention, as shown in figures 2 and 3, the filters 9 comprise a first portion 9’ carried by the frame 2 frontally the fan assembly 6, i.e. faced thereby along transversal axis B and a second portion 9’’ carried by the frame 2 in a direction perpendicular to the one of the first portion 9’, i.e. along longitudinal axis A. Accordingly (see figure 2 schematic) air can be sucked by fan assembly 6 providing a main flow within the negative pressure portion 3b via first portion 9’ and an auxiliary flow within the negative pressure portion 3b via second portion 9’’. Clearly, the second portions 9’’ are placed on the frame 2 on the extremity modules 4 along longitudinal axis A, as per the disclosed embodiment. Should the modules 4 be vertically free, it could be foreseen the presence of such second portion 9’’ therein or the presence of a third portion (not shown) configured to provide a further auxiliary flow towards the negative pressure portion 3b. As shown in figures 4 to 7, first and second portions 9’, 9’’ are selectively fixed to the frame 2 in order to allow both their substitution and to allow to module the sucked airflow towards fan assembly 6. In detail, in order to maximize the airflow, the first and second portions 9’, 9’’ lay on a portion of their external border on the frame 2, i.e. on the portion of wall that defines the opening occupied by themselves. In particular, both first and second portions 9’, 9’’ are secured within frame 2 by flanges 11, 12 connected to the frame by respective movable connections in order to assume a first position in which they are coupled to frame 2 thereby maintaining the respective first and second portions 9’, 9’’ into the opening defined by frame 2 and a second position in are uncoupled by frame 2 thereby allowing removal of first and second portions 9’, 9’’ from the aforementioned opening. Making reference to figures 4, 5A and 5B, it is disclosed a first flange 11 configured to cooperate at contact with a border of first portion 9’ to maintain the latter within frame 2. Such first flange 11 comprises a main portion 11a, mainly shaped as a plate portion extending along vertical axis C and configured to occupy the entire lateral borders of two adjacent first portion 9’. The first flange 11 further comprises a pair of openings 11b realized in their terminal portions, i.e. along vertical extremities of the main portion 11a, and configured to cooperate with a protuberance 13, in the disclosed example a pin such as a threaded element, configured to be housed within the opening 11b. In detail, opening 11b comprises a first portion 11b’ and a second portion 11b’’. The second portion 11b’’ has a diameter greater than the diameter of the protuberance 13 while the first portion 11b’ has a diameter lower than a portion of the protuberance 13. Accordingly, the protuberance 13 may be inserted via second portion 11b’ and the protuberance may be moved within the first portion 11b’ thereby securing flange 11 to the frame 2. In the disclosed embodiment, the first portion 11b’ has substantially a longitudinal shape, extending along longitudinal axis A while the second portion 11b’’ has a substantially circular shape. Accordingly, the motion of the flange 11 with respect to protuberance 13 is a sliding along longitudinal axis A. Making reference to figures 6, 7A and 7B, it is disclosed a second flange 12 configured to cooperate at contact with a border of second portion 9’’ to maintain the latter within frame 2. Such second flange 12 comprises a main portion 12a, mainly shaped as a plate portion extending along vertical axis C and a cantilevered portion 12b extending cantilevered from a lateral edge of the main portion 12a and configured to occupy the entire lateral borders of the second portion 9’’. The second flange 12 is connected by a movable connection 14 to the frame 2 thereby assuming a first position in which the cantilevered portion 12b cooperates at contact with the second portion 9’’ and a second position in which it is spaced with respect to second portion 9’’ thereby allowing its movements. In detail the movable connection 14 comprises a guide 14’ realized – in the disclosed embodiment – in the main portion 12a of the second flange 12 and a protuberance 14’’, such as a pin or a threaded element, carried by frame 2 and configured to slide within guide 14’. According to the position of the protuberance 14’’ within guide 14’, the second flange moves, in the disclosed embodiment along transversal axis B, thereby securing or freeing the second portion 9’’ via cooperation of the cantilevered portion 12b. On the opposite side, the second portion is maintained by a fixed position flange 15 configured to allow to house the opposite border to the one connectable by second flange 12. Clearly, two second flanges 12 could be foreseen, if needed. The operation of the above-described fan wall unit arrangements according to the invention is the following making reference to figure 2 schematic. During their operation, fan assemblies 6 aspire fresh air from the environment to pass through heat exchangers 8, thereby cooling down these latter. Heat exchangers 8 are part of an air-cooled refrigeration system that provides known thermodynamic transformations to a refrigerant fluid to cool down a specific space, e.g. IT devices or the room housing this latter. In particular, a main flow is aspirated directly axially from the fan assemblies 6 via first filter portion 9’ and an auxiliary flow is aspirated transversally via second filter portion 9’’, thereby reducing the required energy to fan assemblies 6. If there is need to substitute or to clean filters 9, the user may act displacing flanges 11, 12 thereby freeing the first and second portions 9’, 9’’ allowing cleaning of space 3 and / or substitution of filters 9. In view of the foregoing, the advantages of a fan module and a fan arrangement according to the invention are apparent. Thanks to the greater area of filters 9, the fan module 4 have a reduced resistance, therefore they use less energy than existing ones. Accordingly, the overall efficiency of the fan wall unit arrangement 1 is increased. In particular, since the second portion 9’’ of filters 9 may be placed where necessary and when necessary, the proposed fan wall unit arrangement 1 is particularly versatile. Indeed, the presence of the flanges 11, 12 allows a easy removal for substitution of for cleaning purpose of first and second portions 9’, 9’’ without reducing excessively the aspiration area of these latter. In particular, first and second portion 9’, 9’’ lays in contact with the frame and, only where needed, to the flanges that have a negligible extension with respect to the suction area while allow the maintenance of filters on the frame. The proposed movable connections, moreover, allows a quick and economic way for coupling or uncoupling first and second portions 9, 9’’ to the frame. It is clear that modifications can be made to the described fan module and the fan arrangement which do not extend beyond the scope of protection defined by the claims. In detail, as discussed, the filter may comprise more transversal portion with respect to the main axial one, thereby increasing the aspiration surface and further decreasing the energy consumption of fan assemblies. Clearly, frame may have a different shape comprising more fan modules placed adjacent longitudinally or vertically one with respect to the other. Similarly, the flanges and the movable connections may be realized with different shapes or on different borders with respect to the described ones.

Claims

CLAIMS 1.- Fan wall module (4) for a fan wall unit arrangement (1), said fan wall module (4) comprising a frame (2) extending along a longitudinal axis (A) and suitable for being connected to other frame (2) of other fan wall modules (4), said frame (2) delimiting a space (3) suitable for housing a wall (7) carried by the frame (2), said fan wall module (4) comprising a fan assembly (6) supported by said wall (7) and configured to aspire a flow of air according to a standard operation of said fan assembly (6) along a transversal axis (B) perpendicular to said longitudinal axis (A), said wall (7) dividing said space (3) in a first portion (3a) and a second portion (3b), wherein said first portion (3a) is a positive pressure portion and said second portion (3b) is a negative pressure portion, said fan wall module (4) comprising a filter (9) carried by said wall (7) upstream to said second portion, said filter (9) comprising a first portion (9’) and a second portion (9’’), said first portion (9’) being carried by said wall (7) faced to said fan assembly (6) according to said transversal axis (B) direction, said second portion (9’’) being carried by said wall (7) in a direction perpendicular to said transversal axis (B) direction. 2.- Fan wall assembly according to claim 1, wherein said second portion (9’’) is carried along said longitudinalaxis (A) direction. 3.- Fan wall assembly according to claim 1 or 2, wherein said second portion (9’’) is carried along a vertical axis (C) direction perpendicular to said longitudinal and transversal axes (A, B) directions. 4.- Fan wall assembly according to any of the preceding claims, wherein said filter (9) is selectively removable by said frame (2). 5.- Fan wall assembly according to claim 4, comprising a first flange (11) movably connected to the frame (2) in order to assume a first configuration in which they maintain the first portion (9’) within the frame (2) or a second configuration in which they uncouple the first portion (9’) by the frame (2). 6.- Fan wall assembly according to claim 4 or 5, comprising a second flange (12) movably connected to the frame (2) in order to assume a first configuration in which they maintain the second portion (9’’) within the frame (2) or a second configuration in which they uncouple the second portion (9’’) by the frame (2). 7.- Fan wall assembly according to claim 5 or 6, wherein said first and second flange (11, 12) comprises a main portion (11a, 12a) defining an opening (11b, 14’) configured to house a protuberance (13, 14’’) fixed by the frame (2) and configured to move within said opening (11b, 14’).8.- Fan wall according claim 6 or claims 7 when depending on claim 6, wherein said second flange (12) comprises a cantilevered portion (12b) extending from said main portion (12a) and cooperating at contact with said second portion (9’’). 9.- Fan wall according to claim 7 when depending on claim 5, wherein said opening comprises a first portion (11b’) and a second portion (11b’’) wherein said second portion (11b’’) has a diameter greater than said protuberance (13) thereby allowing said main portion (11a) to be removed by said frame (2), said main portion (11a) in said first configuration cooperating at contact with said first portion (9’).

10. Fan wall unit arrangement (1) comprising a plurality of fan wall modules disposed in rows and / or column, said fan wall unit arrangement (1) comprising at least one fan wall module (4) according to any of the preceding claims.

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