Data processing equipment structure
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Solution Overview
Problem
Data center thermal management is inefficient due to the concentration of thermal energy within enclosed equipment, leading to overheating and reduced performance, as existing methods require cooling the entire room and cannot manage cooling for each row individually.
Innovation Solution
A modular thermal isolation barrier system using extruded edge seals and panels with bulb-shaped seals and retention fingers to create a sealed gap between data processing equipment structures, allowing for individual row cooling and improved airflow management.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Temperature
If the entire data center room is cooled to manage thermal energy, then thermal management is achieved, but energy efficiency deteriorates and individual row cooling control is lost
Solution Approach 1:
The patent divides the data center into individual row segments using thermal isolation barriers, allowing each row to be cooled independently rather than cooling the entire room. This segmentation enables targeted cooling only where needed, improving energy efficiency while maintaining effective thermal management for each segment.
Solution Approach 2:
The thermal isolation barriers create localized thermal zones around specific equipment rows, applying cooling only to areas with thermal needs. This local quality approach prevents unnecessary cooling of empty or already-cooled areas, thereby improving overall energy efficiency while maintaining adequate temperature control.
2Reliability
If equipment is enclosed in enclosures for protection, then security and protection are improved, but thermal energy concentration worsens causing overheating
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments the enclosed equipment space by inserting thermal isolation barriers between equipment rows within the enclosure. This creates separate thermal zones that allow heat to be contained and managed in specific segments, preventing thermal energy concentration across the entire enclosed space while maintaining equipment protection.
Solution Approach 2:
The thermal isolation barriers act as intermediary elements between enclosed equipment units, providing thermal separation that prevents heat buildup while maintaining the protective enclosure structure. These barriers mediate between the need for equipment protection and the need for thermal management.
3Productivity
If thermal isolation barriers are added to segregate air flows, then thermal management efficiency is improved, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent employs flexible thermal isolation barriers that can be easily installed and configured, reducing the overall structural complexity despite adding thermal segmentation functionality. These flexible barriers can adapt to existing equipment layouts without requiring complex structural modifications, thereby improving thermal management efficiency with minimal 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
Enhances thermal management by segregating heated and cooled air, improving equipment performance and uptime by allowing for targeted cooling of each row and reducing the need for extensive room cooling, thereby increasing efficiency and flexibility in data center design.
Implementation Method 1
The bulb seal portions are compressed between the panel and an adjacent structure to establish a seal
Implementation Method 2
segregate heated air from cooled air... allowing for individual row cooling and improved airflow management
Data Source
AI summary
A data processing equipment structure includes a plurality of vertical and horizontal frame components, which, together, define an equipment structure frame, and a plurality of panels disposed relative to the equipment structure frame to define a periphery. At least one of the plurality of vertical and horizontal frame components is an extruded strut having a generally uniform cross-section. The extruded strut includes an outwardly-facing channel extending along each of a pair of opposing sides of the extruded strut, at least one of which includes a set of evenly-spaced ridges, extending along each of two sides of the channel, for accommodating a threaded fastener. The extruded strut further includes one or more ledges, each having a depth sufficient to accommodate a thickness of one of the plurality of panels.