Method for improving the ventilation effectiveness of large conditioned air plenum environments including such environments in multilevel raised floor electro-mechanical distribution systems
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional raised floor systems in data centers face challenges with air distribution efficiency, leading to hot spots, cold spots, and structural integrity issues, while alternative designs like flooded rooms are costly and inflexible, compromising ventilation effectiveness and requiring extensive air handling units.
Innovation Solution
The method involves altering the height of the dedicated conditioned air plenum to maintain static pressure and velocity, using mechanical engineering calculations to determine the necessary height changes based on heat load and area, and employing a plenum transition barrier to confine air and improve ventilation effectiveness in multilevel raised floor electro-mechanical distribution systems.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If the plenum volume is increased to maintain air pressure and velocity, then ventilation effectiveness is improved, but the space occupied is increased
Solution Approach 1:
The plenum height is made variable rather than fixed, allowing the plenum volume to be dynamically adjusted based on the distance from air conditioning units. This enables the system to maintain optimal air pressure and velocity characteristics only where needed, improving ventilation effectiveness while minimizing overall plenum volume occupation.
Solution Approach 2:
Different plenum heights are implemented at different locations within the raised floor system. Areas farther from air conditioning units have greater plenum height to maintain air pressure, while areas closer to units have reduced plenum height. This localized optimization maintains ventilation effectiveness where required while reducing unnecessary space occupation in other areas.
2Area of stationary object
If multiple air handling units are installed to cover large areas, then area coverage is improved, but device complexity and space requirements are increased
Solution Approach 1:
The variable plenum height acts as a dynamic volume expansion mechanism that allows a smaller number of air handling units to effectively cover larger areas. By increasing plenum volume in distant areas, the system compensates for the reduced throw distance of individual units, thereby extending their effective coverage area without requiring additional units.
Solution Approach 2:
Instead of horizontally expanding the number of air handling units across the facility, the solution vertically expands the plenum volume in specific locations. This dimensional transition from horizontal to vertical space utilization allows the same number of units to serve a larger horizontal area, reducing overall system complexity.
3Ease of manufacture
If conventional raised floor systems are used, then ease of installation is improved, but air distribution efficiency deteriorates due to air leakage and hot/cold spots
Solution Approach 1:
The variable plenum height configuration optimizes air distribution dynamics by maintaining appropriate air pressure and velocity characteristics throughout the plenum. This dynamic volume adjustment prevents air leakage issues and eliminates hot/cold spots that plague conventional systems with fixed, suboptimal plenum dimensions, thereby improving air distribution efficiency while retaining the ease of raised floor installation.
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 approach enhances ventilation effectiveness, reduces the need for multiple air handling units, saves space, and allows for accurate matching of air conditioning capacity to actual heat loads, leading to energy savings and improved cooling efficiency in large data center installations.
Implementation Method 1
maintain the preferred static pressure and velocity for conditioned air throughout the entire plenum
Implementation Method 2
velocity for conditioned air throughout the entire plenum
Implementation Method 3
confine air to a conditioned air plenum where said plenum transitions from a higher to a lower plenum portion
Data Source
AI summary
The present invention is intended for use in large conditioned air plenum environments and particularly in the plenum environment of multilevel raised floor electro-mechanical distribution systems. The invention comprises the step of providing at least one height change of dedicated conditioned air plenum, which alters the plenum's volume. This makes it possible to maintain the preferred static pressure and velocity for conditioned air throughout the entire plenum even as the amount of air in the plenum decreases as conditioned air discharges into the intended space outside of the plenum.