Inverted Exhaust Plenum Venting for Headwind-Resistant Cooling
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Solution Overview
Problem
Waste heat removal systems in data centers face challenges due to environmental conditions like headwinds, which restrict exhaust airflow and lead to excess heat buildup, posing risks to heat-sensitive equipment and operator safety.
Innovation Solution
The implementation of an inverted exhaust plenum module with angled roof elements and vertically-oriented wall elements that obscure exhaust vents from ambient air flows, allowing for headwind-resistant air discharge by utilizing gradients to direct exhaust air into the ambient environment.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Productivity
If exhaust vents are positioned to discharge exhaust air into the ambient environment, then waste heat removal is facilitated, but headwinds impinge on the vents and restrict exhaust airflow
Solution Approach 1:
The patent inverts the conventional exhaust plenum orientation by positioning the exhaust plenum beneath the roof rather than above it. This inversion places the exhaust vents on the underside of the roof, where they are shielded from direct headwind impingement while still effectively discharging exhaust air into the ambient environment, thereby resolving the contradiction between waste heat removal efficiency and headwind restriction
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces angled roof elements as intermediary structures that extend over the exhaust vents. These roof elements act as mediators by deflecting headwinds away from the exhaust vents while allowing exhaust air to pass through the vents and plenum, thus protecting the vents from harmful headwind impingement without compromising exhaust airflow
2Productivity
If mechanical air moving devices are used to induce exhaust airflow, then waste heat removal is enhanced, but electricity consumption increases and additional waste heat is generated
Solution Approach 1:
The patent designs the exhaust system to be self-service by utilizing natural pressure gradients and buoyancy forces generated by the temperature difference between hot exhaust air and ambient air. This eliminates the need for mechanical air moving devices, allowing the system to achieve effective waste heat removal without consuming additional electricity or generating extra waste heat from mechanical components
Solution Approach 2:
The patent replaces the mechanical air moving device system with a passive airflow system based on thermal convection and pressure gradient principles. By substituting mechanical propulsion with natural physical forces, the system achieves waste heat removal enhancement without the energy consumption and additional waste heat generation associated with mechanical devices
3Productivity
If exhaust vents are exposed to ambient environment, then exhaust air discharge is facilitated, but environmental contaminants enter the data center through the same pathways
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments the exhaust air pathway from the ambient environment by introducing a dedicated exhaust plenum chamber that is separated from the data center interior. The plenum acts as an intermediate chamber where exhaust air is collected and discharged through controlled openings, allowing efficient exhaust discharge while preventing direct exposure of data center contaminants to the ambient environment
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces the exhaust plenum and angled roof elements as intermediary structures between the data center interior and ambient environment. These intermediaries facilitate exhaust air discharge while acting as barriers that prevent environmental contaminants like precipitation, smoke, and particulate matter from entering the data center through the exhaust pathway
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 ensures uninterrupted exhaust air flow, reducing the risk of heat buildup and enhancing cooling efficiency while maintaining safety by mitigating the impact of headwinds on waste heat removal.
Implementation Method 1
exhaust air is discharged from the vents into the ambient environment via a pressure gradient towards the ambient environment across the vents
Implementation Method 2
ambient air flow in the ambient environment, including ambient headwinds, may impinge on one or more exhaust vents used to discharge exhaust air from the enclosure
Data Source
AI summary
An inverted exhaust plenum module exhausts air from an enclosure into an ambient environment while mitigating airflow restrictions caused by ambient wind conditions, particularly headwinds impinging on exhaust vents. The plenum module includes wall elements that extend downwards from separate edges of two separate roof elements of the enclosure, forming a plenum between the wall elements that is open at the top. Exhaust vents in the wall elements exhaust air from the enclosure into the plenum to circulate into the ambient environment via the top of the plenum. By exhausting air into a plenum that extends beneath roof elements, the vents are at least partially obscured from ambient winds that might otherwise impinge on the vents. A wing element can be installed to induce exhaust airflow via lowering air pressure at the top of the plenum. The plenum module can be a separate module that is coupled to a structure.