Inflatable Air Ducts for Datacenter Hot and Cold Aisle Separation
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Solution Overview
Problem
In datacenter cooling systems, there is a challenge in maintaining efficient air separation between hot and cold aisles to prevent overheating while ensuring that fire suppression systems can function effectively without interference.
Innovation Solution
The implementation of inflatable air ducts with air permeable sidewalls that expand to block air mixing during normal operation and deflate to allow fire extinguishing gases to disperse, combined with features like lateral wings and internal baffles to enhance air discharge and prevent excessive drooping or obstruction.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Temperature
If rigid air ducts are used to block air mixing between hot and cold aisles, then cooling efficiency is improved, but fire suppression system operation is hindered
Solution Approach 1:
The air duct transitions from a static rigid structure to a dynamic inflatable structure that can change its state between inflated (blocking air mixing) and deflated (allowing fire suppression gas dispersion). This dynamic adaptability resolves the contradiction by allowing the duct to serve different functions based on operational conditions.
Solution Approach 2:
The physical state parameter of the air duct is changed from fixed to variable. By controlling the inflation/deflation state, the duct's permeability and blocking capability are adjusted, enabling it to maintain cooling efficiency during normal operation while allowing fire suppression systems to function when needed.
2Adaptability or versatility
If air ducts are made collapsible for fire suppression, then fire response is improved, but air mixing prevention capability deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The air duct employs dynamic inflation/deflation capability to switch between two functional states: inflated state for preventing air mixing and maintaining cooling, and deflated state for allowing fire suppression gas dispersion. This dynamic behavior resolves the contradiction between fire response adaptability and air mixing prevention.
Solution Approach 2:
The air duct operates in periodic cycles between inflated and deflated states based on operational requirements. During normal cooling operation, it remains inflated to prevent air mixing; during fire suppression events, it deflates to allow gas dispersion, creating a periodic functional response that satisfies both contradictory requirements.
3Temperature
If inflatable ducts are used to prevent air mixing, then cooling efficiency is improved, but structural stability deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The air duct utilizes flexible inflatable material that can maintain structural integrity while being collapsible. The flexible shell design allows the duct to hold its inflated shape for effective air separation while enabling controlled deflation for fire suppression, resolving the contradiction between structural stability and flexibility.
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 reduces air mixing between hot and cold aisles, maintaining efficient cooling while ensuring that fire suppression systems can operate unimpeded, thereby preventing overheating and facilitating safe fire response.
Implementation Method 1
When inflated, the air ducts have an expanded shape that inhibits adverse mixing of air between hot aisles and cold aisles
Implementation Method 2
air permeable sidewalls that expand to block air mixing during normal operation and deflate to allow fire extinguishing gases to disperse
Data Source
Figure 1
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Figure 4
AI summary
Cooling systems for devices arranged in rows are disclosed. An example cooling system comprises an inflatable air duct to extend lengthwise along a first aisle within a building, the first aisle defined between a first row of electronic equipment and a second row of electronic equipment, the first row of electronic equipment between the first aisle and a second aisle, the second row of electronic equipment between the first aisle and a third aisle, conditioned air delivered to the first aisle via the inflatable air duct in a manner that substantially prevents mixing of ambient air above the first and second rows of electronic equipment with air in the first aisle without a structural barrier above the first and second rows of computers to partition the first, second, and third aisles; and a nozzle to be attached to the inflatable air duct, the nozzle to guide a discharge current of air from an interior of the inflatable air duct to an exterior of the inflatable air duct, a velocity of the discharge current of air to be insufficient to entrain ambient air above the first and second rows of electronic equipment.