Check Valve Assembly for Modular Cooling Air Backflow Prevention
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Solution Overview
Problem
Modular cooling systems face challenges with air backflow during fan hot-swap, leading to reduced cooling efficiency and potential stalling of newly installed fans due to reverse rotation, and existing solutions are space inefficient and not compatible with all cooling systems.
Innovation Solution
A check valve assembly is introduced, located at the inlet side of the exhaust device, comprising a valve frame with non-symmetrical valve flaps that allow airflow in one direction while preventing backflow, using a thin film material with internal spring force to maintain closure, and can be installed independently of the exhaust device, ensuring effective air flow control and orientation independence.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If rotatable vanes are used to prevent air backflow, then air backflow is prevented, but the system becomes space inefficient and the vanes resist airflow due to heavy plate material
Solution Approach 1:
The patent uses a thin flexible membrane instead of heavy plate material to form the valve flap. This membrane is attached to the housing and can deflect under pressure differential to allow or block airflow. The thin film approach maintains air backflow prevention functionality while dramatically reducing the space and weight requirements compared to traditional rotatable vanes made of heavy plates.
Solution Approach 2:
Instead of using gravity-dependent mechanisms where vanes remain closed under gravity and open under airflow, this invention inverts the approach by using a spring-loaded mechanism that keeps the valve closed by default and opens only when sufficient positive pressure differential overcomes the spring force. This eliminates the need for gravity-dependent orientation and provides more reliable backflow prevention.
2Reliability
If rotatable vanes made of heavy plate material are used, then air backflow is prevented, but airflow resistance increases and efficiency decreases
Solution Approach 1:
The thin flexible membrane used in this invention creates minimal resistance to airflow when in the open position compared to heavy plate vanes. The membrane can conform to the flow path and requires less force to deflect, reducing the energy loss due to airflow resistance while maintaining effective backflow prevention when closed.
Solution Approach 2:
The invention changes the material parameter from heavy plate to thin flexible membrane, and introduces a spring mechanism to change the force balance parameters. This allows the valve to open more easily with smaller pressure differentials, reducing airflow resistance and energy loss while maintaining reliable closure for backflow prevention.
3Reliability
If gravity-dependent mechanisms are used for air backflow prevention, then backflow is prevented, but the system becomes incompatible with various orientations and complex
Solution Approach 1:
The spring-loaded mechanism is self-regulating and does not depend on external gravity fields or complex control systems. The spring automatically adjusts to pressure differentials and orientation changes, providing consistent backflow prevention regardless of device orientation or installation position, thereby reducing overall system complexity.
4Reliability
If existing check valve architecture is used, then air backflow is prevented under normal conditions, but the system cannot prevent backflow during fan hot-swap
Solution Approach 1:
The spring-loaded check valve is pre-configured to remain closed unless sufficient positive pressure differential is applied. During fan hot-swap operations, this preliminary closed state prevents backflow that would otherwise occur when fans are removed or installed, while still allowing normal airflow when the system is operational and pressure differential is sufficient.
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 prevents air backflow during fan hot-swap, ensuring proper operation of newly installed fans and maintaining cooling efficiency without the need for complex gravity-dependent mechanisms, while being space-efficient and compatible with various cooling systems.
Implementation Method 1
using a thin film material with internal spring force to maintain closure
Data Source
AI summary
A cooling system for electrical and electronic devices for hot swapping of a fan module without affecting cooling efficiency due to air backflow, preventing stalling of newly installed exhaust device due to reverse rotation. A check valve assembly having an inlet side frame member, an outlet side frame member, and one or more non-symmetrical valve flaps, each flap having a movable part and a fixed part. The outlet side frame allows the flaps to open under suction pressure on side of the outlet side frame, the inlet side frame disallows the flaps to open under suction pressure on side of the inlet side frame, allowing air to flow in one direction from inlet side frame side to outlet side frame side only. The check valve assembly can be independent of the exhaust device. The check valve assembly can prevent backflow of air during hot swapping of the exhaust device.