Ceiling-Mounted Air Conditioning for Data Center Cable-Free Cooling
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional air conditioning systems for data centers face challenges in homogeneous temperature regulation, maintenance accessibility, dust accumulation, and structural support, particularly due to the presence of cables under raised floors, which impede efficient cooling and increase maintenance costs.
Innovation Solution
An air conditioning system with adjustable diffusion means placed at the ceiling level, featuring openings in a false ceiling that can modulate air flow by varying the size and arrangement of perforations, allowing for spatial control of air distribution and independent cable management, along with a blower and finned grille for efficient air circulation and filtration.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Temperature
If air conditioning means are placed under a false floor to cool computer rooms, then the system can project cold air towards the ceiling to maintain temperature, but the connection cables under the floor impede air diffusion and reduce cooling efficiency
Solution Approach 1:
The patent inverts the conventional air conditioning placement from under the false floor to the false ceiling. The air conditioning means are installed in the false ceiling above the computer room, where they can diffuse cold air downward through perforations without any cable obstructions, thereby resolving the contradiction between temperature control and cooling efficiency
Solution Approach 2:
The patent changes the spatial dimension of air conditioning placement from the horizontal plane (under floor) to the vertical plane (above ceiling). This dimensional shift allows air diffusion to occur in the vertical direction through the false ceiling, eliminating cable interference and improving cooling efficiency while maintaining temperature control
2Ease of operation
If a raised floor is used to house cables and equipment, then cable management is simplified, but maintenance operations require dismantling the floor and are cumbersome and costly
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts the air conditioning maintenance function from the false floor system and relocates it to the false ceiling system. Since the false ceiling is already accessible for cable management without dismantling, maintenance operations for air conditioning means can also be performed easily, resolving the contradiction between cable management convenience and maintenance accessibility
Solution Approach 2:
The false ceiling structure serves multiple functions: it houses both the cable management system and the air conditioning means. This multi-functionality allows both cable access and air conditioning maintenance to be performed from the same accessible location, eliminating the need to dismantle the floor for either operation
3Strength
If the false floor supports the weight of computer equipment and materials, then the structural requirements are met, but the manufacturing cost increases due to demanding dimensioning constraints
Solution Approach 1:
The patent inverts the structural support arrangement by moving the air conditioning means from the false floor to the false ceiling. This eliminates the need for the false floor to support heavy air conditioning equipment, reducing the structural dimensioning requirements and manufacturing cost of the false floor while the false ceiling assumes the support function for air conditioning means
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 enables precise temperature regulation according to thermal gradients, simplifies maintenance by eliminating cable hindrances, reduces dust impact, and supports the structural demands of data centers, ensuring efficient and reliable cooling while minimizing operational costs.
Implementation Method 1
The air sent by a blower circulates between the ceiling and the false ceiling, and is expelled through the porosities of the plates by applying pressure
Implementation Method 2
The projected air thus makes it possible to maintain the temperature of the room at a given temperature set point, by accompanying the rising hot air
Implementation Method 3
a computer room of a data processing center has a significant thermal gradient, due in particular to the various computer hardware in operation
Implementation Method 4
at least one fin grille, the air sent by the blower is deflected by the fin grille, so that the air is evenly distributed between the ceiling and the false ceiling
Data Source
Figure 1~3c
AI summary
A diffuser diffuses air in the room (1). Grilles and diaphragm (60) regulate the diffusion blown air and modulate the diffusion of air in the room. The diffuser, grilles and diaphragm are placed at the level of the room ceiling (4a), in a false ceiling (3) at a distance from the room ceiling.