Acoustically Absorptive Rack Panel for Hot Air Recirculation

Resolve Bottlenecks,
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions

Solution Overview

Problem

In data centers, the increasing power dissipation of integrated circuit chips leads to cooling challenges, particularly due to recirculation of hot air, which raises inlet temperatures and reduces component reliability, and excessive noise levels from air circulation systems.

Innovation Solution

An acoustically absorptive panel is placed above electronics racks to block hot air recirculation and attenuate noise, using materials like fiberglass or polyurethane foam, and optionally featuring printed advertisements, extending above and between racks to minimize recirculation and noise.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Temperature

If airflow rate is increased to cool high power modules, then cooling effectiveness is improved, but recirculation of hot air and noise levels increase

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvemodule temperatureVSAvoidhot air recirculation and noise

Core Design Contradiction:

TemperatureVSObject-generated harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The data center space is segmented into distinct thermal zones using baffles and panels. Hot aisles and cold aisles are physically separated, preventing hot air recirculation while maintaining high airflow rates for effective cooling of high power modules.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

Acoustically absorptive panels and thermal baffles serve as intermediary structures between hot and cold zones. These intermediaries block hot air recirculation paths and attenuate noise from fans and air moving devices while allowing the cooling system to operate at high airflow rates.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

2Productivity

If more powerful air moving devices are used to increase airflow, then cooling capacity is improved, but noise levels become unacceptably high

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvecooling capacityVSAvoidnoise

Core Design Contradiction:

ProductivityVSObject-generated harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

Acoustically absorptive panels are introduced as intermediary elements between the noise source (fans and air moving devices) and the surrounding environment. These panels attenuate noise while allowing the air moving devices to operate at high power levels to maintain adequate cooling capacity.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

Solution Approach 2:

Acoustically absorptive materials with porous structures are used in panels and baffles. These materials attenuate noise from air moving devices while maintaining airflow paths, enabling high cooling capacity with reduced noise propagation throughout the data center.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #31Porous materials

3Temperature

If fans operate at higher RPMs to handle increased power dissipation, then cooling effectiveness is improved, but acoustic noise becomes unacceptably high

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveair temperature controlVSAvoidacoustic noise

Core Design Contradiction:

TemperatureVSObject-generated harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

Thermal baffles and acoustically absorptive panels serve as intermediaries that decouple the fan operation from the acoustic environment. These structures allow fans to operate at high RPMs for effective temperature control while attenuating the resulting acoustic noise before it propagates through the data center.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

Solution Approach 2:

Porous acoustically absorptive materials are integrated into panels and baffles positioned near high-speed fans. These materials attenuate broadband noise generated by fans operating at high RPMs while maintaining thermal airflow paths, enabling effective temperature control without unacceptably high acoustic noise levels.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #31Porous materials

Applied Scientific Principles

This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.

Function Achieved in This Case

The solution effectively reduces hot air recirculation, maintaining optimal inlet temperatures and lowering noise levels within data centers, enhancing the reliability and performance of electronics systems while utilizing the panels as a marketing tool.

Implementation Method 1

hot air recirculation from one or more air outlet sides of the multiple electronics racks to one or more air inlet sides

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectHot air recirculation: Convection

Implementation Method 2

an acoustically absorptive material which is selected to attenuate noise

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectAcoustic absorption: Acoustic Absorption

Data Source

PatentUS20090129015A1Acoustically absorptive Anti-recirculation panel for one or more electronics racks of a data center

Publication Date: 2009.05.21 X CORP

AI summary

An acoustically absorptive panel is provided configured to reside above multiple electronics racks disposed in a row within a data center. The acoustically absorptive panel is configured to extend a height above the multiple electronics racks sufficient to at least partially block hot air recirculation from one or more air outlet sides of the multiple electronics racks to one or more air inlet sides of the electronics racks. The acoustically absorptive panel includes an acoustically absorptive material selected to attenuate noise, and in one embodiment, includes printed material on at least one side thereof related to one or more of the multiple electronics racks.