Cooling systems for devices arranged in rows
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current cooling systems for datacenters face challenges in efficiently managing heat distribution without interfering with fire suppression systems and in preventing the mixing of cold and hot air aisles, which can lead to inefficient cooling and potential fire hazards.
Innovation Solution
The implementation of inflatable air ducts with air-permeable sidewalls and internal baffles that deflate during fires to allow for unobstructed fire extinguishing gas dispersion, while maintaining efficient heat extraction through radial air discharge and branch ducts to minimize air mixing between cold and hot aisles.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Productivity
If rigid air ducts are used to maintain cold and hot aisle separation, then cooling efficiency is improved, but fire suppression effectiveness deteriorates due to obstruction of extinguishing gas dispersion
Solution Approach 1:
The air duct transitions from a static rigid structure to a dynamic inflatable structure that can change its state based on operational requirements. During normal operation, the duct is inflated to maintain cold/hot aisle separation for efficient cooling. During fire suppression, the duct deflates to allow unobstructed dispersion of fire extinguishing gases, thus resolving the contradiction between cooling efficiency and fire suppression effectiveness.
Solution Approach 2:
The physical state parameter of the air duct is changed from fixed rigid to variable inflatable/deflated state. This parameter change allows the duct to adapt between two functional states: maintaining structural integrity for air separation during cooling, and becoming collapsible for fire suppression gas dispersion, thereby resolving the contradiction between the two opposing requirements.
2Productivity
If air ducts are positioned close to computer racks for efficient cooling, then heat extraction efficiency is improved, but fire hazard increases due to potential interference with fire suppression systems
Solution Approach 1:
The air duct positioning is made dynamic through inflatable structure that can be deployed close to racks during normal operation for efficient heat extraction, and collapsed during fire events to eliminate interference with fire suppression systems, thus resolving the contradiction between cooling efficiency and fire safety.
3Productivity
If traditional rigid ducting is used to prevent air mixing between cold and hot aisles, then cooling efficiency is improved, but device complexity increases due to fixed installation requirements
Solution Approach 1:
The cooling system uses dynamic inflatable ducts that can be easily deployed and reconfigured, replacing complex fixed rigid duct installations. The inflatable ducts maintain air separation for efficient cooling while offering simpler installation and reconfiguration capabilities, thus resolving the contradiction between cooling efficiency and installation 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 effectively manages heat distribution, reduces air mixing, and ensures fire safety by allowing for the free dispersion of fire extinguishing gases, thereby enhancing cooling efficiency and safety in datacenter environments.
Implementation Method 1
inflatable air ducts with air-permeable sidewalls
Implementation Method 2
air-permeable sidewalls
Implementation Method 3
radial air discharge
Implementation Method 4
cooling fan that forces a current of environmentally controlled air from a front face of the computer or other device, across the components, and out through a back end
Data Source
Figure 1
Figure 2~3
Figure 4
AI summary
Cooling systems for devices arranged in rows are disclosed. An example cooling system includes an inflatable air duct to be positioned above a cold aisle defined between two rows of electronic equipment. The inflatable air duct is to be air permeable to deliver conditioned air into the cold aisle. The electronic equipment has fans to force cool air within the cold aisle through the electronic equipment to adjacent hot aisles on opposite sides of the two rows of the electronic equipment. The inflatable air duct to be spaced apart from the rows of computers such that the cold aisle is in unobstructed fluid communication with the adjacent hot aisles over top of the rows of electronic equipment. The conditioned air delivered from the inflatable air duct to substantially prevent a mixing of warm air in the hot aisles with the cool air in the cold aisle.