Air Dam for Datacenter Underfloor Pressure Distribution
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Solution Overview
Problem
Traditional datacenter cooling systems suffer from inadequate air distribution, leading to localized heating and cooling issues due to uneven air pressure and velocity, which restricts the flexibility in placing electrical equipment and increases energy consumption.
Innovation Solution
The introduction of an air dam under the raised floor in datacenter facilities, which obstructs airflow to create a positive pressure distribution and even airflow across the entire data room, eliminating negative pressure areas and allowing for more flexible equipment placement and reduced energy consumption.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Temperature
If traditional ductwork or floor/ceiling supply paths are used for air distribution, then air can be delivered to the data center, but localized heating and cooling occurs due to inadequate air distribution
Solution Approach 1:
The air dam acts as an intermediary element between the air supply source and the data center space. It is positioned in the airflow path to modify and distribute air more effectively, creating a positive pressure zone that pushes air toward hot spots without requiring complex ductwork modifications
Solution Approach 2:
The air dam changes the pressure parameters of the airflow by creating a positive pressure differential. This pressure change enables air to be forced more effectively toward localized heat sources, improving temperature distribution without increasing the complexity of the air distribution system
2Stress or pressure
If obstructions are placed in the forced air flow path to improve pressure distribution, then even pressure distribution is achieved, but the amount of airflow reaching the room is restricted
Solution Approach 1:
The air dam extracts and redirects the excess air pressure that would otherwise be wasted. By capturing this pressure differential and directing it toward hot spots, the system maintains high airflow volumes while achieving uniform pressure distribution across the data center space
3Ease of operation
If custom ducting is created to direct supply air into desired locations, then air can be delivered to specific areas, but the system complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The air dam extracts the need for complex custom ducting by providing a simple, modular solution that achieves precise air delivery. Instead of building customized ductwork for each location, the dam creates pressure zones that naturally direct air to hot spots through the existing floor and ceiling openings
Solution Approach 2:
The air dam provides a universal solution that works with existing building structures. It can be installed in various locations and configurations, serving multiple functions: pressure distribution, air direction, and hot spot targeting, without requiring location-specific custom ductwork
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
This solution ensures consistent airflow and pressure distribution, enabling more efficient cooling, allowing for denser equipment placement and reduced energy usage, while maintaining even air distribution across the data room, thus improving datacenter operational efficiency and flexibility.
Implementation Method 1
The air dam creates a positive air pressure over the air dam, thus reducing and eliminating negative pressures areas in the data room floor
Implementation Method 2
The air dam works as an obstruction in the forced air flow path to cause the air passing through the opening between the top of the air dam and the bottom of the wall or raised floor to slow down the air entering the under floor space
Data Source
AI summary
A method, apparatus, and system in which an air dam is incorporated into an air ventilation stream of a datacenter to control the temperature of an interior space of the datacenter. The datacenter may include a raised floor in which the ventilation stream is injected through perforations within the raised floor. An air dam may be positioned at an entry region of the under floor plenum to obstruct the flow of air from a supply air plenum. The air dam is used to create a positive pressure across the raised floor at a substantially constant pressure distribution.