Chassis Internal Air Plenum for Vertical Rack Cooling
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Solution Overview
Problem
Data centers face challenges with excessive heat generation from multiple computer systems, leading to high cooling costs and reduced data center efficiency due to traditional rack arrangements that require large floor space for heat management.
Innovation Solution
A chassis design with a central partition and vertically oriented vents allows for the creation of a vertical air plenum, enabling efficient removal and supply of air across multiple stacked chassis, reducing the footprint and enhancing cooling efficiency.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Temperature
If racks are arranged in parallel rows with hot aisles and cool aisles to manage heat, then heat removal capability is improved, but floor space consumption increases substantially
Solution Approach 1:
The patent transitions from horizontal rack arrangement to vertical stacking configuration. Multiple racks are stacked vertically with air plenums connecting them in the vertical dimension, allowing hot air to be exhausted upward through a common plenum structure. This vertical arrangement eliminates the need for horizontal hot aisles, substantially reducing floor space consumption while maintaining effective heat removal capability through vertical air flow paths.
2Area of stationary object
If multiple racks are stacked vertically to reduce floor space, then floor space efficiency is improved, but heat management becomes more difficult
Solution Approach 1:
The patent merges the air plenum structures of multiple vertically stacked racks into a unified common plenum system. The exhaust plenums of upper racks are positioned to communicate with the intake plenums of lower racks, creating an integrated heat management system. This allows hot air from multiple racks to be collected and exhausted through shared pathways, simplifying heat management while maintaining vertical stacking density.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces common air plenums as intermediary structures that facilitate heat management in vertically stacked racks. These plenums act as mediators between individual rack enclosures and the external environment, providing dedicated pathways for air intake and exhaust. The plenum structure enables controlled air flow distribution across multiple stacked racks, ensuring effective cooling without requiring complex individual ventilation systems for each rack.
3Temperature
If chassis are designed with internal air plenums for improved cooling, then cooling efficiency is improved, but chassis structural complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent designs the chassis with a universal air plenum structure that serves multiple functions: it acts as both the enclosure for computer system components and the air flow management system. The plenum walls are configured to provide both structural support and controlled air flow pathways. This multi-functional design integrates cooling efficiency into the basic chassis structure without adding separate complex cooling components, thereby improving cooling while limiting structural complexity.
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 design allows for effective heat management by creating a vertical pathway for air flow, reducing cooling costs and increasing data center efficiency while accommodating various chassis heights and configurations.
Implementation Method 1
Heated air is removed from each computer system through the vent in the partition that is associated with the computer system. In this vertical configuration, the vents form a vertically oriented common plenum that can be used to evacuate air from multiple chassis arranged in a rack
Data Source
AI summary
A chassis and rack system is disclosed in which a chassis separated into two separate enclosures by a central partition. Each of the enclosures is sized to receive a computer system. The partition includes a pair of vertically oriented vents, with each of the vents in fluid communication with one of the enclosures and the computer system contained therein. Heated air is removed from each computer system through the vent in the partition that is associated with the computer system. Multiple chassis may be placed one atop another in a vertical configuration in which each chassis is either directly above or directly below another chassis. In this vertical configuration, the vents form a vertically oriented common plenum that can be used to evacuate air from multiple chassis arranged in a rack.