Superimposed Computer Room Cooling With Hot-Cold Zone Separation
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Current data center cooling systems are inefficient, leading to high energy consumption and poor temperature control, with existing designs either requiring large volumes or inducing high air pressure losses and uncontrolled mixing of hot and cold air.
Innovation Solution
A building design with superimposed computer rooms separated by perforated floors, where each room is divided into hot and cold zones with controlled air circulation through computer cabinets, minimizing pressure losses and preventing uncontrolled air mixing, using natural convection or air conditioning systems for air supply and discharge.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Device complexity
If natural convection is used for air circulation in a large volume hangar, then air circulation is simplified, but temperature control at server level becomes poor
Solution Approach 1:
The computer room is segmented into distinct cold and hot zones separated by computer cabinets. Perforated floors divide the space into upper and lower levels, creating organized air circulation paths. This segmentation allows precise temperature control in each zone while maintaining relatively simple air intake and exhaust systems.
2Temperature
If closed circuit air conditioning is used with fresh air supply corridor, then temperature control at server level is improved, but air pressure losses increase
Solution Approach 1:
The air circulation system utilizes vertical dimension by implementing perforated floors that allow air to move between upper and lower levels. Cold air is supplied from below and rises through computer cabinets, while hot air is exhausted from above. This three-dimensional air circulation reduces horizontal ducting and minimizes pressure losses.
3Volume of stationary object
If computer rooms are arranged in superimposed levels, then space utilization is improved, but air circulation control becomes more difficult
Solution Approach 1:
Multiple computer rooms are stacked vertically with shared cold and hot zones across levels. The perforated floors create common air circulation pathways that serve multiple floors simultaneously. This merging approach maintains efficient temperature control while maximizing building space utilization through vertical arrangement.
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 optimizes air circulation, reduces energy consumption, and allows precise temperature control by isolating hot and cold air zones, minimizing pressure drops and dead zones, and promoting efficient air circulation through the use of perforated floors and strategically placed air intake and discharge systems.
Implementation Method 1
allow free circulation of air, on the one hand, between the superimposed hot zones and, on the other hand, between the superimposed cold zones
Data Source
Figure 1
Figure 2~4
AI summary
The building (1) has computer rooms (2-5) whose interior wall (10) is formed for separating interior volume of computer rooms into hot and cold zones (Zc,Zf). The hot and cold zones are provided with columns (Ca,Ce), for supplying and exhausting fresh and hot air respectively. The air intake and exhaust vents (20,23) are arranged on cold and hot zones. The intermediate floors (7-9) allow the air to circulate between hot and cold zones. The floors and perimeter and interior walls of computer room prevents the direct flow of air between supply and exhaust columns. An independent claim is included for method for regulating temperature of computer rooms of building.