Directional grate access floor panel
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Existing access floor panel systems in data centers inefficiently distribute cooling air, leading to inconsistent temperatures and high energy costs due to the vertical plume of cool air between IT racks, resulting in wasted air and increased energy consumption.
Innovation Solution
A directional grate panel with angled vanes and strategically placed openings that direct airflow evenly across the height of IT racks, optimizing airflow distribution and reducing air velocity through turbulent flow, thereby enhancing cooling efficiency.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Temperature
If traditional vertical airflow through grates is used, then cooling air reaches IT racks, but temperature distribution is inconsistent and energy consumption is high
Solution Approach 1:
The grate structure is divided into multiple vanes with different orientations (first set at first angle, second set at second angle) to create locally optimized airflow patterns. Each vane configuration directs air to specific areas of the IT rack, ensuring uniform temperature distribution across different locations rather than creating vertical plumes that concentrate cooling in specific zones.
Solution Approach 2:
The invention changes the airflow direction parameters by angling the vanes at specific angles (first angle and second angle different from each other) rather than allowing vertical airflow. This parameter modification redirects the cooling air horizontally across the IT rack faces, improving temperature consistency and reducing energy waste from ineffective vertical plumes.
2Productivity
If cooling air is supplied to plenum, then air reaches IT racks, but air velocity is high causing wasted airflow
Solution Approach 1:
The grate panel uses selectively angled vanes that locally redirect airflow to match the specific cooling needs of different IT rack sections. This localized flow direction control ensures that cooling air is delivered where needed most, preventing waste from uniform high-velocity airflow that doesn't effectively reach all required areas.
Solution Approach 2:
The invention converts the potentially harmful effect of high air velocity (which causes airflow waste) into a beneficial directed flow pattern. By using angled vanes to redirect the high-velocity air horizontally across IT rack faces rather than allowing vertical plumes, the system utilizes the kinetic energy of the air effectively, transforming what would be wasted vertical flow into productive horizontal cooling flow.
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
The directional grate panel achieves consistent temperature distribution across IT racks by directing a higher percentage of cooling air directly to the racks, reducing energy consumption and minimizing wasted airflow, thus providing more economic and efficient cooling.
Implementation Method 1
A directional grate panel with angled vanes and strategically placed openings that direct airflow evenly across the height of IT racks
Implementation Method 2
optimizing airflow distribution and reducing air velocity through turbulent flow, thereby enhancing cooling efficiency
Data Source
AI summary
A grate access floor panel comprising a support frame and a plurality of vanes supported by the frame, each of the plurality of vanes having an upstream end and a downstream end with respect to a direction of airflow across the plurality of vanes and faces that extend between the upstream and downstream ends, wherein at least some of the vanes have openings that extend through the faces thereof and have angled tips.