Multilevel Enclosure Cooling with Shared Air Movers

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Solution Overview

Problem

Data storage systems face challenges in maintaining desired temperatures due to heat generation, which leads to performance degradation from excessive acoustic energy and vibration caused by cooling devices, particularly as enclosures become denser and require more cooling, increasing power consumption and acoustic noise.

Innovation Solution

The system employs a shared cooling area with fewer, larger air movers positioned farther away from data storage devices and separate power supply enclosures with their own cooling, using vibration dampers and acoustic absorptive materials to reduce acoustic and chassis vibrations, and operates air movers at lower speeds to minimize noise and vibration impact.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Temperature

If more cooling devices are added to cool denser enclosures, then cooling efficiency is improved, but acoustic energy and vibration increase causing performance degradation

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvecooling efficiencyVSAvoidacoustic energy and vibration

Core Design Contradiction:

TemperatureVSObject-affected harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The cooling system is segmented into multiple independent air movers positioned at different heights (first and second sets of air movers at different vertical positions), each responsible for cooling specific device levels. This segmentation allows optimized cooling zones that reduce overall acoustic energy while maintaining effective cooling across the entire enclosure.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

A shared cooling area is introduced as an intermediary space between the data storage devices and the air movers. This intermediate zone allows for optimized airflow patterns and positioning of cooling devices farther from sensitive equipment, reducing direct acoustic and vibration impacts while maintaining cooling effectiveness.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

2Temperature

If air movers are positioned closer to data storage devices, then cooling effectiveness is improved, but vibration and acoustic noise increase

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvecooling effectivenessVSAvoidvibration and acoustic noise

Core Design Contradiction:

TemperatureVSObject-affected harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The system transitions from horizontal positioning to vertical dimensionality by placing air movers at different heights (first height and second height) within the enclosure. This vertical arrangement allows effective cooling coverage while maintaining greater horizontal distance from devices, reducing vibration and acoustic noise transmission.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #17Another dimension (Dimensionality change)

Solution Approach 2:

The shared cooling area serves as a spatial intermediary that decouples the direct proximity relationship between air movers and data storage devices. Cooling airflow is channeled through this intermediate zone, allowing effective heat removal while buffering mechanical and acoustic disturbances.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

3Temperature

If traditional separate cooling systems are used for each device level, then cooling coverage is improved, but device complexity and power consumption increase

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvecooling coverageVSAvoidsystem complexity

Core Design Contradiction:

TemperatureVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

Multiple cooling functions for different device levels are merged into a unified shared cooling area with consolidated air mover assemblies. The first and second sets of air movers operate from common mounting structures and share airflow pathways, reducing the number of independent cooling systems while maintaining comprehensive cooling coverage across all storage levels.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #5Merging (Combining)

Solution Approach 2:

The shared cooling area and air mover assemblies are designed to serve multiple device levels simultaneously. Each set of air movers performs universal cooling function across different vertical zones, eliminating the need for dedicated cooling systems for each level and reducing overall system complexity.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

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 reduces acoustic energy and chassis vibrations, improving data storage device performance by minimizing noise-induced read/write head instability and vibration impacts, while optimizing cooling efficiency and power consumption.

Implementation Method 1

air movers positioned in a shared cooling area in the enclosure to draw air across each of the multiple slideable device levels

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectConvection: Convection

Implementation Method 2

using vibration dampers and acoustic absorptive materials to reduce acoustic and chassis vibrations

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectVibration damping: Damping

Implementation Method 3

using vibration dampers and acoustic absorptive materials to reduce acoustic and chassis vibrations

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectAcoustic absorption: Acoustic Absorption

Data Source

PatentUS10856436B2Multilevel enclosure cooling

Publication Date: 2020.12.01 SEAGATE TECH LLC

AI summary

A system including an enclosure including a data storage enclosure. The data storage enclosure includes multiple storage levels and a shared cooling area. The system further includes data storage devices positioned within each of the multiple storage levels and a first and second set of air movers positioned within the data storage enclosure in the shared cooling area. The first and second sets of air movers are arranged to cool the data storage devices.