Electronic Device Cooling Container With Airflow Mixing
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Solution Overview
Problem
Efficient cooling of multiple electronic devices within a casing is challenging due to the need for effective airflow distribution and heat dissipation, particularly in configurations where devices are arranged vertically and have varying heat sources.
Innovation Solution
A container design incorporating a blower system with dual fan modules generating airflow through distinct paths, a mixing room for airflow mixing, and a rectifying shielding plate to ensure equal cooling of electronic devices, including a Service Controller and Front end Routers, by directing airflow through specific flow paths and openings to optimize cooling efficiency.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Device complexity
If multiple electronic devices are arranged in a casing with a single cooling fan, then the device complexity is reduced, but the cooling efficiency and temperature uniformity across devices deteriorate
Solution Approach 1:
The cooling system is segmented into multiple independent fan modules (first cooling fan, second cooling fan) that can be divided into different flow paths. Each fan module independently cools specific electronic devices, allowing for differentiated cooling strategies for different device locations and heat generation characteristics, thereby improving temperature uniformity without excessive complexity.
Solution Approach 2:
Different regions of the casing are provided with different cooling characteristics through localized fan module placement and flow path design. The first cooling fan targets devices in the first region while the second cooling fan targets devices in the second region, ensuring that each electronic device receives appropriate cooling based on its specific thermal requirements and position.
2Device complexity
If airflow is divided into multiple paths without mixing, then the cooling system is simpler, but the cooling efficiency for multiple devices deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The patent merges multiple divided airflow paths into a common flow path through a mixing chamber. The first airflow from the first cooling fan and the second airflow from the second cooling fan are combined in the mixing chamber before being distributed to multiple electronic devices. This merging approach allows the system to maintain the benefits of divided flow paths (targeted cooling) while achieving improved cooling efficiency through combined airflow momentum and heat dissipation capacity.
3Productivity
If cooling airflow is strongly directed at electronic devices, then cooling efficiency improves, but reliability during hot swapping deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The system employs adjustable fan modules that can dynamically control airflow intensity. During normal operation, the fan modules operate at higher speeds to provide strong cooling. During hot swapping operations, the fan modules can be dynamically adjusted to reduce or pause airflow to the affected device, preventing excessive cooling wind from interfering with the hot swap process and ensuring operational reliability.
4Reliability
If fan modules are made redundant for reliability, then system reliability improves, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts the redundancy function from a monolithic cooling system and implements it through modular, independently controllable fan modules. Each fan module can be independently controlled and monitored, allowing the system to achieve redundancy benefits while maintaining manageable complexity through modular architecture. The independent control capability allows selective operation of fan modules based on actual cooling needs.
Solution Approach 2:
The fan modules are designed with multi-functionality to serve multiple purposes: primary cooling during normal operation, selective shutdown during hot swapping, and redundant backup capability. This universal design allows a limited number of fan modules to perform multiple functions that would otherwise require separate dedicated components, thereby improving reliability without proportionally increasing complexity.
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 configuration ensures efficient cooling of all electronic devices within the container, maintaining reliability even if one fan module is stopped or detached, and prevents excessive cooling wind from entering during hot swapping, ensuring continuous operation and improved redundancy.
Implementation Method 1
a blower that generates an airflow; a first electronic device that is arranged to be adjacent to the blower and is arranged on a first flow path, through which a first diversion divided from the airflow passes
Implementation Method 2
a mixing room that is arranged at a downstream portion of the first rectifier and that mixes the first diversion having passed through the first opening and the second diversion having passed through the second opening
Data Source
AI summary
An effective cooling system is provided by the configuration including: a blower; a first rectifier comprising a first opening that lets a first diversion pass through and a second opening that lets a second diversion divided from airflow pass through downstream a first electronic device; a mixing room that is arranged at a downstream portion of the first rectifier and that mixes the first diversion having passed through the first opening and the second diversion having passed through the second opening; and a second rectifier that is arranged at a downstream portion of the mixing room and includes a third opening and a fourth opening, a mixed airflow of the first diversion and the second diversion passing through the third opening and the fourth opening.