External Air Mover for Compact Computer Cooling
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Solution Overview
Problem
High-power, compact computer systems generate excessive heat, challenging current air-cooled systems that rely on airflow to dissipate heat effectively, especially in dense data center environments where ambient air temperature increases reduce cooling efficiency.
Innovation Solution
The system employs an externally mounted air mover and air director to create high flow rate, high static pressure airflow through the chassis, with varying exhaust port sizes and configurations to optimize cooling, and utilizes exhaust ducts to isolate and redirect warm air away from the cooling intake, potentially directing it to CRAC or outside the data center.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Temperature
If air-cooled systems use fans to move air through compact computer chassis, then heat dissipation is achieved, but the cooling effectiveness decreases when ambient air temperature increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts the air moving function from internal fans and relocates it to an external air mover device. This external device draws cool air from outside the data center environment and directs it through the computer chassis, bypassing the heated ambient air that reduces cooling effectiveness. The external air mover is positioned to intake air from a location with lower temperature than the data center ambient air.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces an external air mover as an intermediary device between the external environment and the computer chassis. This intermediary component creates a separate air supply pathway that is independent of the data center's ambient air temperature, thereby maintaining consistent cooling effectiveness regardless of internal heat accumulation.
2Volume of moving object
If computer systems are packaged in compact designs with components in close proximity, then space utilization improves, but airflow restriction increases reducing cooling capacity
Solution Approach 1:
The patent removes the air moving function from within the compact chassis to an external device. This extraction allows the internal chassis space to be fully utilized for computational components without needing to allocate space for large fans or complex internal airflow management systems, while still achieving effective cooling through the external air mover.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent shifts the airflow generation from a three-dimensional internal fan system to an external device that creates airflow along a different dimensional pathway. The external air mover draws air from outside the chassis and pushes it through the component array, creating an external-to-internal airflow path that efficiently navigates the compact component layout without requiring internal fan space.
3Power
If high power components are used to increase computational power, then processing capability improves, but heat generation increases challenging cooling systems
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts the heat removal function from the computational components by using an external air mover. This separation allows the high-power components to operate without being constrained by internal cooling limitations, as the external device provides dedicated high-volume airflow specifically for heat dissipation without interfering with component placement or power density.
4Temperature
If internal fans are used for air cooling, then heat dissipation is achieved, but noise levels increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent removes the noise-generating fans from inside the computer chassis and relocates them to an external air mover device. This extraction places the noise source outside the immediate workspace, reducing the perceived noise level for users while maintaining the same heat dissipation performance. The external device can be positioned in a location where noise is less problematic.
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 configuration enhances cooling capacity, reduces noise, and allows for denser data center layouts by isolating and managing heat exhaust, improving overall cooling efficiency and reducing the need for heavy AC systems.
Implementation Method 1
Air-cooled systems often utilize an array of fans to move air from the environment, through a computer chassis, and back to the environment
Implementation Method 2
As the air passes through the enclosure it comes in thermal contact with, and absorbs heat from, the heat generating components within the enclosure
Data Source
AI summary
A computer system comprising a chassis supporting a processor, memory, and a power supply. An inlet allows air to flow into the chassis and an outlet allows air to flow out of the chassis. An air mover is operable to generate an airflow through said chassis between the inlet and the outlet and in thermal communication with the processor, memory, and power supply. The air mover is disposed external to said chassis.