Partitioned Data Center Cooling to Prevent Air Mixing
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current cooling systems for data centers and telecommunications equipment are inefficient, leading to excessive electricity consumption and thermal failures due to the mixing of cooling air with warmer air, resulting in inadequate cooling of electronic components, especially in high-density installations where airflow is restricted and stratification occurs.
Innovation Solution
A system and method that reduce the volume of the cooled environment and control airflow to prevent mixing with external air, using partitions to create airtight enclosures that deliver cooling air directly to electronic components, ensuring high-volume, high-temperature airflow reaches all components, regardless of their location or configuration, and utilizing compressed gases for consistent cooling.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Loss of energy
If the volume of the cooled environment is reduced and airflow is controlled, then electricity consumption for cooling is reduced and cooling efficiency is improved, but the system complexity increases due to the need for partitions and airflow control mechanisms
Solution Approach 1:
The data center space is divided into multiple isolated cooling zones using partitions, allowing each zone to be cooled independently with controlled airflow. This segmentation prevents mixing of cooled air with warmer air from other areas, reducing the total volume of air that needs to be cooled and lowering electricity consumption for cooling operations
Solution Approach 2:
Airflow control devices such as deflectors, guides, and adjustable vents are introduced as intermediary elements to direct and regulate the flow of cooling air within each partitioned zone. These intermediaries ensure that cooled air reaches the intended equipment efficiently without mixing with warmer air, maintaining cooling effectiveness while reducing energy consumption
2Reliability
If partitions are used to create airtight enclosures for cooling, then cooling air delivery efficiency is improved and thermal failures are prevented, but the adaptability of the cooling system to different equipment configurations is reduced
Solution Approach 1:
The partitioning system incorporates adjustable and reconfigurable elements such as movable partitions, adjustable airflow deflectors, and flexible mounting mechanisms. These dynamic components allow the cooling zones to be reconfigured according to different equipment layouts and heat generation patterns, maintaining reliable cooling performance while adapting to various equipment configurations
Solution Approach 2:
The cooling system provides localized cooling solutions within each partitioned zone, with airflow control and temperature management tailored to the specific equipment and heat loads in that area. This local quality approach ensures that each zone maintains optimal cooling conditions for its specific equipment while allowing other zones to be configured differently, thus maintaining both reliability and adaptability
3Reliability
If high-volume airflow is delivered to all electronic components, then cooling effectiveness is improved and thermal failures are prevented, but the electricity consumption increases
Solution Approach 1:
By segmenting the data center into multiple isolated cooling zones, the system can deliver high-volume airflow to each individual zone or small group of zones as needed, rather than attempting to cool the entire facility uniformly. This targeted approach maintains high cooling effectiveness for equipment that requires it while reducing the total electricity consumption by avoiding unnecessary airflow to areas with lower heat loads or already adequate cooling
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 approach significantly reduces electricity consumption for cooling, increases airflow efficiency, prevents thermal failures, and allows for maximum utilization of data center space by ensuring consistent cooling across all equipment, even in high-density installations, while also providing energy savings and improved system reliability.
Implementation Method 1
at least one partition for defining a reduced-volume cooled environment
Implementation Method 2
means for controlling the cooling air flow through the reduced-volume cooled environment
Implementation Method 3
preventing dilution of the cooling air by warmer air from outside of the cooled environment
Data Source
AI summary
A system and method of reducing consumption of electricity used to cool electronic computer data center, networking, and telecommunications equipment, and to reduce the incidence of thermal failure of electronic components, includes provision of one or more partitions to reduce the volume of the cooled environment supplying coldest possible cooled air from air conditioning systems to a chamber adjacent to the cooling air intake side of electronic components, preventing dilution of the supplied cooling airflow by warmer air from outside of the reduced volume environment, and controlling the delivery of cooling air flow through the reduced volume of the cooled environment.