Movable Cooling Media Panels for Low-Pressure-Drop Air Handling
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Solution Overview
Problem
Data centers face inefficiencies in air handling systems, leading to higher operating costs due to inefficient use of ambient conditions and flow restrictions caused by bypass ducts in cooling systems, which result in increased energy consumption and reduced fan efficiency.
Innovation Solution
A movable media air handling unit with adjustable cooling media panels that can be moved in and out of the airflow path, allowing for direct airflow without pressure drops and flow restrictions, and a modular design that can accommodate different types of cooling media based on environmental conditions, optimizing fan efficiency and energy usage.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Loss of energy
If bypass ducts are used in air handling systems, then cooling capacity is maintained, but flow restrictions and pressure drops increase leading to higher energy consumption
Solution Approach 1:
The air handling system uses movable cooling media panels that can dynamically adjust their position between fully inserted and retracted states. This dynamic configuration allows the system to optimize airflow paths based on cooling requirements, eliminating fixed bypass ducts that cause permanent flow restrictions and pressure drops, thereby reducing energy consumption while maintaining cooling efficiency.
Solution Approach 2:
The system changes the physical state and position of cooling media panels to optimize performance. By adjusting panel positions between fully inserted (for maximum cooling) and retracted (for minimum resistance), the system dynamically modifies airflow parameters and pressure characteristics, eliminating the need for energy-wasting bypass ducts while preserving cooling capacity when needed.
2Adaptability or versatility
If fixed cooling media panels are used, then cooling performance is consistent, but adaptability to variable ambient conditions is reduced
Solution Approach 1:
The cooling media panels are designed to be movable rather than fixed, allowing them to adjust their insertion depth into the airflow path based on ambient conditions. This dynamic capability enables the system to adapt to varying outdoor temperatures and humidity levels while maintaining reliable cooling performance through controlled panel positioning, achieving both adaptability and consistency.
3Productivity
If cooling media panels are always inserted in airflow path, then cooling efficiency is maximized, but fan energy consumption increases due to continuous flow restrictions
Solution Approach 1:
The system dynamically controls the insertion depth of cooling media panels based on real-time cooling requirements. When cooling demand is high, panels are fully inserted to maximize efficiency. When ambient conditions provide sufficient cooling or demand is low, panels are retracted to minimize airflow resistance and fan energy consumption, achieving optimal balance between cooling efficiency and energy usage.
Solution Approach 2:
The cooling media panels are periodically adjusted between inserted and retracted positions based on varying cooling demands and ambient conditions. This periodic action allows the system to alternate between high-efficiency cooling mode (panels inserted) and low-resistance airflow mode (panels retracted), optimizing the balance between cooling efficiency and fan energy consumption over time.
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
The solution reduces energy consumption by minimizing pressure drops and flow restrictions, enhancing fan efficiency, and allowing for adaptive cooling based on ambient conditions, thereby lowering operating costs and improving cooling efficiency.
Implementation Method 1
a movable cooling media panel coupled to a structure of the air handling unit between an inlet end of the air passage and an outlet end of the air passage
Implementation Method 2
one or more fans configured to induce air flow through the air passage
Data Source
AI summary
A movable media air handling unit includes cooling media panels that may be moved into or out of an airflow based on whether or not additional cooling is required from the movable cooling media panels. Moving the cooing media panels out of the air flow reduces flow restrictions/pressure drop through the movable media air handling unit. In some embodiments, various types of movable cooling media panels may be used, such as liquid coolant coil panels, gaseous coolant coil panels, evaporative cooling panels, or other types of panels.