Collapsible Ventilation Tile Damper for Low-Blockage Airflow Control
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional ventilation tiles in data centers suffer from inefficiencies due to fixed airflow configurations and mechanisms that block air flow when adjusted, leading to increased energy costs and reduced cooling effectiveness.
Innovation Solution
A ventilation tile with a collapsible damper that can manually or motor-drivenly adjust the size of a circular opening to control airflow, minimizing blockage and optimizing airflow efficiency by allowing up to 78.5% of airflow when fully collapsed and blocking airflow when fully expanded.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If conventional slats are used to adjust airflow through ventilation tiles, then airflow control is achieved, but significant air blockage occurs when slats are in open position
Solution Approach 1:
The damper is divided into multiple segments that can independently rotate and collapse. Each segment can be positioned to control airflow while minimizing blockage, allowing the damper to adapt to different airflow requirements without significantly obstructing the air stream when open.
Solution Approach 2:
The damper transitions from a static structure to a dynamic one where segments can rotate and collapse. This dynamic capability allows the damper to change its configuration based on operational needs, reducing blockage when full airflow is required while maintaining control capability.
2Adaptability or versatility
If manually operated mechanisms are used to adjust cooling air flow, then airflow variation is achieved, but technician intervention and physical re-positioning are required
Solution Approach 1:
The manual mechanical adjustment system is replaced with an automated control system that uses sensors to detect environmental conditions and automatically actuates the damper segments. This substitution eliminates the need for technician intervention while maintaining precise airflow control.
Solution Approach 2:
The ventilation system becomes self-regulating by using sensors to monitor conditions and automatically adjusting the damper position without external intervention. The system serves itself by detecting its own operational state and making necessary adjustments autonomously.
3Ease of manufacture
If fixed configuration floor tiles are used, then manufacturing simplicity is maintained, but airflow control capability is lost
Solution Approach 1:
The fixed configuration is transformed into a dynamic structure with movable damper segments. This allows the ventilation tile to maintain a simple manufactured form while gaining the capability to adjust airflow dynamically through the rotation and collapse of damper segments.
Solution Approach 2:
The ventilation tile is designed to perform multiple functions: it maintains a simple fixed structure for ease of manufacture while incorporating a multi-position damper system that provides various airflow control capabilities, making it universally applicable to different cooling requirements.
Data Source
AI summary
A ventilation system includes a ventilation tile. The ventilation tile has a substantially circular opening to allow air to flow through the ventilation tile and a collapsible damper operable to collapse and expand to alter the size of the substantially circular opening in the ventilation tile and thereby variably restrict air flow through the substantially circular opening.