Compute Node Air Channels for Continuous Cooling During Maintenance
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing data centers face inefficiencies in cooling distribution, particularly in rack systems with non-uniform component density, leading to uneven heat dissipation and potential server failures due to inadequate air cooling in certain areas, and require full server withdrawal for maintenance, disrupting cooling and performance.
Innovation Solution
A computing system design with backplanes and air channels that allow continuous cooling during maintenance, utilizing air passages and channels between circuit boards, with channel-capping elements to maintain airflow, enabling partial withdrawal of computing systems for service while maintaining cooling.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Productivity
If servers are mounted on a common chassis in rack systems, then server density and space utilization are improved, but maintenance of a single failed server requires withdrawal of all servers on the chassis, disrupting cooling air flow and causing performance degradation or additional failures
Solution Approach 1:
The chassis is divided into multiple independent server slots (first slot, second slot, third slot, fourth slot), each capable of being accessed and maintained independently. This segmentation allows individual server withdrawal without requiring removal of entire chassis, thereby maintaining cooling air flow paths for remaining servers and preventing system-wide performance degradation.
Solution Approach 2:
Different regions of the chassis are designed with specific cooling characteristics - front slots receive cooling air from the front, while rear slots receive cooling air from the rear. This local quality approach ensures that when one server is removed, the cooling air distribution to other servers remains optimized and undisturbed, maintaining reliable cooling operation.
2Temperature
If fans are used to move air through rack-mounted computer systems, then heat removal capability is improved, but non-uniform component density results in some areas receiving insufficient cooling air, leading to component failures
Solution Approach 1:
The cooling system employs asymmetric air flow paths with dedicated front and rear cooling air inlets. Front fans move cooling air through front slots, while rear fans move cooling air through rear slots. This asymmetric design ensures uniform cooling distribution across non-uniform component density configurations, preventing hot spots in high-density areas while maintaining reliable operation throughout the system.
Solution Approach 2:
Different cooling air sources are assigned to different spatial regions - front cooling air for front-mounted components and rear cooling air for rear-mounted components. This local quality approach matches cooling supply to local heat generation patterns, ensuring each area receives adequate cooling regardless of overall component density variations.
3Ease of repair
If all servers on a chassis must be withdrawn for maintenance of one failed server, then complete system access is achieved, but cooling air flow to all other servers is lost, causing performance impairment or additional failures
Solution Approach 1:
The chassis structure enables independent access to individual server slots through separate withdrawal paths. When one server fails, only that specific server needs to be withdrawn while other servers remain in place and continue receiving cooling air flow. This segmentation resolves the contradiction by allowing repair access without sacrificing overall system productivity.
Solution Approach 2:
The cooling system maintains continuous operation for all servers except the one being maintained. While one server is withdrawn for repair, cooling fans continue to move air through channels serving other servers, ensuring uninterrupted cooling and preventing performance degradation or cascading failures during maintenance operations.
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
Ensures consistent cooling across computing devices, allowing maintenance without performance disruption, and supports flexible reconfiguration of computing systems to adapt to changing needs.
Implementation Method 1
air channels formed by adjacent circuit board assemblies... Air may be moved from front to back in the rack... to remove heat from components
Data Source
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AI summary
A computing system includes a chassis, one or more backplanes coupled to the chassis. Computing devices are coupled to the one or more backplanes. The one or more backplanes include backplane openings that allow air to pass from one side of the backplane to the other side of the backplane. Air channels are formed by adjacent circuit board assemblies of the computing devices and the one or more backplanes. Channel capping elements at least partially close the air channels.