Controlled Airflow Cooling for UPS Power Systems
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional cooling systems for UPSs face challenges such as high fan counts leading to increased costs and footprint, complex control schemes prone to failure, and inefficient airflow distribution due to direct fan placement and individual ducting.
Innovation Solution
A controlled airflow cooling system that includes dampers connected to functional blocks, a pressurized intake plenum, intake fans, and a system control that adjusts fan speed and damper position to optimize airflow and redundancy, allowing for granular control and flexible component placement.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Temperature
If multiple fans are used to cool each functional block directly, then cooling effectiveness is improved, but the number of fans increases leading to higher costs and larger footprint
Solution Approach 1:
The patent combines multiple fan functions into a single centralized fan that serves all functional blocks through a common air plenum and ducting system. This merging approach maintains cooling effectiveness while reducing the total number of fans from multiple individual fans to one shared fan unit.
Solution Approach 2:
The single fan unit is designed to perform the cooling function for all functional blocks simultaneously, making it a universal cooling component. The fan works in conjunction with adjustable dampers and a common plenum to distribute air to multiple functional blocks, eliminating the need for dedicated fans for each block.
2Reliability
If redundancy is added by doubling the number of fans, then system reliability is improved, but the footprint and complexity of the system increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements redundancy through a single fan unit with adjustable dampers that can independently control airflow to different functional blocks. This allows the system to maintain reliability by isolating failures to specific dampers or functional blocks without requiring duplicate fan units, thereby reducing footprint.
Solution Approach 2:
The system uses dynamically adjustable dampers that can modulate airflow based on the operational status of functional blocks. This dynamic control enables the system to maintain redundancy and adapt to failures without the need for static duplicate fan installations, optimizing space utilization.
3Quantity of substance
If a singular large fan is used for all functional blocks, then the number of fans is reduced, but the fan must be oversized to account for inactive blocks and cooling cannot be granularly controlled
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments the airflow control function by introducing individual adjustable dampers for each functional block. These dampers divide the air flow path, allowing granular control of cooling to each block independently. This segmentation enables precise airflow management while using a single fan unit.
Solution Approach 2:
The system employs dynamically adjustable dampers that can independently modulate airflow to each functional block based on real-time operational requirements. This dynamic control mechanism allows the single fan to provide granular cooling control by adjusting damper positions rather than requiring multiple fixed fans.
4Temperature
If fans are placed directly adjacent to functional blocks with individual ducting, then cooling efficiency is improved, but device complexity and cost increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent merges the cooling infrastructure into a single centralized system with one fan unit, a common air plenum, and shared ducting that serves all functional blocks. This consolidation reduces the complexity of multiple separate fan assemblies and individual ducting runs while maintaining cooling efficiency through a unified air distribution network.
Solution Approach 2:
The single fan unit and common plenum form a universal cooling infrastructure that serves all functional blocks through adjustable dampers. This multi-functional design eliminates the need for separate fan assemblies and individual ducting for each block, reducing overall system complexity while maintaining efficient cooling through centralized control.
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 system reduces the number of fans required while maintaining effective cooling, provides reliable redundancy and faster response to component failures, and offers a more flexible and customizable cooling solution with reduced footprint.
Implementation Method 1
a pressurized intake plenum comprising one or more walls and one or more openings, the one or more dampers aligned with the one or more openings; one or more intake fans in communication with the pressurized intake plenum
Implementation Method 2
one or more dampers that are each connected to at least one of the one or more functional blocks of a power system
Data Source
AI summary
A system for one or more functional blocks of a power system includes: one or more dampers each connected to at least one of the one or more functional blocks of the power system; a pressurized intake plenum comprising one or more walls and one or more openings, the one or more dampers aligned with the one or more openings; one or more intake fans in communication with the pressurized intake plenum and the one or more walls of the pressurized intake plenum; a system control, wherein the one or more intake fans are configured to force cooling air through the pressurized intake plenum and the one or more functional blocks of the power system via the one or more dampers, wherein the system control is configured to send signals to the one or more intake fans to change a speed of the one or more intake fans.