Facility including externally disposed data center air handling units
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional data center and co-location facility designs face inefficiencies in cooling and wire routing, with air conditioning units not being standardized, accessible, or transportable, leading to suboptimal airflow and maintenance challenges.
Innovation Solution
The design incorporates an external air handling system with condenser units and heat expulsion chambers that are transportable and easily accessible, combined with a thermal shield and modular cable routing system to create efficient airflow patterns and separate power and data wiring, allowing for rapid air recirculation and effective cooling.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Temperature
If air conditioning units are disposed inside the facility, then cooling effectiveness is improved, but accessibility for maintenance and repair deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The air conditioning system is divided into separate components: evaporator units remain inside the facility for effective cooling, while condenser units are placed outside for easy accessibility. This segmentation allows each component to be optimally positioned for its specific function.
Solution Approach 2:
A conduit system acts as an intermediary, connecting the indoor evaporator units with outdoor condenser units. This intermediary structure enables the transfer of refrigerant and thermal energy between the two locations, resolving the conflict between cooling effectiveness and accessibility.
2Ease of repair
If air conditioning units are disposed outside the facility, then accessibility for maintenance is improved, but cooling effectiveness deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The system separates the cooling function (evaporator inside) from the heat rejection function (condensor outside), allowing the condensor to be easily accessible while the evaporator remains positioned for optimal cooling performance.
Solution Approach 2:
The solution moves the condenser units to a different spatial dimension (outside the facility) while maintaining the evaporator units in the original position (inside the facility). This dimensional separation resolves the accessibility-effectiveness conflict.
3Adaptability or versatility
If air conditioning units are not in standardized positions, then installation flexibility is improved, but maintenance efficiency deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The condenser units are pre-positioned in standardized, accessible locations outside the facility during the design phase. This preliminary action ensures that future maintenance operations can be performed efficiently without requiring complex repositioning or access procedures.
4Ease of manufacture
If conventional wire routing is used, then installation simplicity is improved, but airflow efficiency deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The wire routing is segmented into separate pathways that follow the airflow patterns. Power and data wires are routed along the floor and wall channels that do not obstruct the hot and cold air corridors, maintaining both installation simplicity and airflow efficiency.
Solution Approach 2:
Different routing qualities are applied in different locations: wires are routed along edges and surfaces that do not interfere with airflow, while maintaining easy access for installation. This local optimization preserves both simplicity and efficiency.
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 enhances cooling efficiency, reduces temperature within the facility, and simplifies maintenance by ensuring all air conditioning units are in standardized, accessible positions, while also improving wire routing and airflow, resulting in a more environmentally friendly and efficient data center operation.
Implementation Method 1
a plurality of air conditioning units disposed in the external area outside the building that each receive heated air, emit cooled air, and emit vented air
Implementation Method 2
the thermal shield providing a contiguous wall around the central hot air area and defining a hot air containment chamber that traps the heated air within the central hot air area and causes substantially all the heated air within the central hot air area to rise up within the hot air containment chamber
Implementation Method 3
a warm air escape gap within the building disposed above the hot air containment chamber, the warm air escape channel feeding the heated air to the plurality of air conditioning units
Data Source
AI summary
Described herein is an integrated data center that provides for efficient cooling, as well as efficient wire routing.