Module Data Center Vent Control for Warm Air Recirculation
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Solution Overview
Problem
Module-type data centers face challenges in precisely controlling the circulation of warm air when outside temperatures are low, leading to inefficient use of warm air exhausted from servers, as existing methods struggle to uniformly adjust the angles of air-volume adjustment dampers to manage airflow effectively.
Innovation Solution
Incorporating a shielding-slat unit with adjustable slats controlled by a controller, which adjusts the aperture ratio of the exhaust vent based on temperature and humidity readings to optimize the circulation of warm air, ensuring it remains within operational limits for server functionality.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Use of energy by stationary object
If outside air is used to cool servers in low temperature conditions, then cooling cost is reduced, but server operating temperature cannot be maintained within required range
Solution Approach 1:
The patent recovers warm air that would otherwise be discarded from the server rack exhaust side and recirculates it to the intake side. This allows the system to maintain server operating temperature within required range even when outside air temperature is low, while still benefiting from reduced cooling power consumption by primarily using outside air for cooling.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent employs temperature sensors to detect the temperature of air on both the intake and exhaust sides of the server rack. Based on this feedback, the control unit adjusts the aperture ratios of the intake and exhaust vents dynamically, ensuring server operating temperature remains within required range while optimizing cooling efficiency.
2Productivity
If aperture ratio of exhaust vent is increased to discharge warm air, then cooling efficiency is improved, but warm air circulation control precision deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The patent makes the aperture ratio of the exhaust vent dynamic rather than fixed. The control unit continuously adjusts the exhaust vent aperture based on real-time temperature sensor readings, allowing precise control of warm air circulation while maintaining high cooling efficiency. This dynamic adjustment resolves the contradiction between discharge efficiency and control precision.
3Device complexity
If fixed aperture vents are used, then device complexity is reduced, but adaptability to varying temperature conditions deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The patent transforms fixed aperture vents into dynamic vents controlled by motor-driven apertures. The control unit adjusts the aperture ratios of both intake and exhaust vents based on temperature sensor feedback, enabling the system to adapt to varying outside temperature conditions while maintaining relatively simple overall device structure.
Solution Approach 2:
Temperature sensors provide continuous feedback on the thermal conditions inside the container, enabling the control unit to automatically adjust vent aperture ratios to adapt to outside temperature variations. This feedback mechanism provides high adaptability without significantly increasing 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 allows for precise control of warm air circulation, maintaining optimal server operating temperatures even in low outside temperatures, enhancing energy efficiency and operational reliability by ensuring the air introduced into the data center is within the required range.
Implementation Method 1
an air blower configured to introduce outside air into the casing through the intake vent and pass air through the rack from one of surfaces of the rack to another one of the surfaces of the rack
Implementation Method 2
a shielding-slat unit including a plurality of shielding slats configured to change between an open state and a closed state and drive devices configured to drive the corresponding shielding slats, the shielding-slat unit being configured to change an aperture ratio of the exhaust vent
Data Source
AI summary
A module-type data center includes: a casing having an intake vent and an exhaust vent; a rack accommodating an electronic device; an air blower configured to introduce outside air into the casing through the intake vent and pass air through the rack from one of surfaces of the rack to another one of the surfaces of the rack; a shielding-slat unit including a plurality of shielding slats configured to change between an open state and a closed state and drive devices configured to drive the corresponding shielding slats. An inner space of the casing is divided into a first space defined between the one surface of the rack and the intake vent, a second space defined between the other surface of the rack and the exhaust vent, and a third space defined above the rack and allowing the second space to communicate with the first space.