Data Cabinet Sealing Members for Plenum Airflow Control
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Solution Overview
Problem
Efficient cooling of rack-mount data cabinets is challenging, particularly in large facilities, as conventional cooling systems waste energy due to uncontrolled airflow paths, leading to low cooling efficiency and increased energy consumption.
Innovation Solution
The implementation of sealing members around rack-mounted units to create hermetic seals between plenum spaces, forcing airflow through the units and preventing bypass, along with gastight seals at inlets and outlets, ensures that cool air is effectively utilized for cooling, reducing airflow rates and maintaining a positive pressure difference.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Loss of energy
If conventional air conditioning systems cool the whole volume of the space, then the cooling medium can be supplied to multiple cabinets, but the cooling efficiency is low due to uncontrolled airflow paths and energy waste
Solution Approach 1:
The cabinet interior is segmented into a cold plenum space and a hot plenum space by sealing members positioned at the front and rear of rack-mounted units. This segmentation creates distinct airflow zones that prevent mixing of cold and hot air, ensuring that cooling energy is not wasted and improving overall cooling efficiency.
Solution Approach 2:
Different regions of the cabinet are assigned different functions: the cold plenum space is dedicated to supplying chilled air to rack-mounted units, while the hot plenum space is dedicated to receiving and expelling warm air. This local functional differentiation optimizes the cooling process by maintaining distinct temperature zones and preventing energy loss.
2Productivity
If rack-mounted units are installed in the cabinet, then hardware density is increased, but airflow bypass between units reduces cooling effectiveness
Solution Approach 1:
Sealing members are positioned at the front and rear of each rack-mounted unit to segment the airflow path. This ensures that chilled air from the cold plenum space must pass through the rack-mounted units to reach the hot plenum space, preventing bypass flows that would reduce cooling effectiveness while maintaining high hardware density.
3Loss of energy
If sealing members are added to create hermetic seals, then airflow control is improved, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The sealing members are designed as flexible or compressible elements that can be positioned between the cabinet body and rack-mounted units. These thin film-like seals create hermetic barriers without requiring complex mechanical structures, achieving effective airflow control while minimizing the increase in device 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 solution enhances cooling efficiency by directing airflow through rack units, reducing total airflow rates, and maintaining a clean environment by preventing dust and warm air leakage, thereby improving heat extraction and reducing the load on air conditioning systems.
Implementation Method 1
The chilled air is then drawn into the cabinets by the server fans, where it absorbs heat from the internal computing components before being blown back into the room
Implementation Method 2
the one or more rack-mounted units and the cabinet body define a first plenum space and a second plenum space. The first plenum space is in fluid communication with the inlet, and the second plenum space is in fluid communication with the outlet
Data Source
Figure 1
Figure 2
Figure 3A~3B
AI summary
A data cabinet is disclosed, comprising a cabinet body for enclosing one or more rack-mounted units, the cabinet body comprising an inlet for allowing a cooling medium to enter the cabinet and an outlet for allowing the cooling medium to exit the cabinet, a rack for supporting the one or more rack-mounted units within the cabinet body, and one or more sealing members. Together, the rack and the cabinet body define a first plenum space in fluid communication with the inlet and a second plenum space in fluid communication with the outlet. The sealing members substantially block the cooling medium from flowing between the first and second plenum spaces via the rack, whilst permitting the cooling medium to flow from the first plenum space to the second plenum space through the one or more rack-mounted units. This arrangement can improve the cooling efficiency, by increasing the flow rate through the rack-mounted units. A facility comprising one or more of the data cabinets is also disclosed.