Overhead Grounding Mesh Reduces Inductive Loop Area
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Solution Overview
Problem
The increasing physical separation of cabling and electrical ground mesh in data centers due to design changes leads to undesirable electromagnetic susceptibility and increased risk of equipment damage from lightning strikes or high power electrical ground faults, as cabling is positioned above the ground mesh to ensure airflow, creating a large inductive loop pick-up area.
Innovation Solution
An overhead electrical grounding mesh and mechanical grid structure with orthogonally arranged, rigid, and electrically conductive grid beams that provide both structural support and electrical grounding, positioned above equipment racks to reduce electromagnetic interference by positioning the grounding mesh proximate to the cables.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Temperature
If cabling is positioned above equipment racks to ensure unrestricted airflow in the raised floor plenum, then air circulation for cooling equipment is improved, but electromagnetic susceptibility increases and the risk of equipment damage from lightning strikes or ground faults worsens due to large inductive loop pick-up area
Solution Approach 1:
The patent combines the mechanical support structure and electrical grounding mesh into a single integrated overhead structure. The grid beams provide both structural support for positioning cables and equipment, and electrical grounding functionality, eliminating the separation between support hardware and ground mesh that created large inductive loops.
Solution Approach 2:
The invention transitions from traditional under-floor grounding to overhead grounding by positioning the grounding mesh in the overhead space above equipment racks. This dimensional change allows the grounding system to be co-located with cables in the overhead region, reducing inductive loop area while maintaining effective equipment cooling through unrestricted under-floor airflow.
2Productivity
If cabling is positioned above equipment racks remote from the electrical ground mesh in the raised floor plenum, then airflow restriction is avoided, but electromagnetic emissions increase and equipment damage risk worsens
Solution Approach 1:
The patent merges the mechanical support structure and electrical grounding mesh into a single integrated overhead structure. The grid beams provide both structural support for positioning cables and equipment, and electrical grounding functionality, eliminating the separation between support hardware and ground mesh that created large inductive loops.
Solution Approach 2:
The invention converts the overhead space, which was previously used only for mechanical support and now causes electromagnetic issues when separated from grounding, into a beneficial location for an integrated grounding system. By placing the grounding mesh overhead near the cables it serves, the structure transforms the potential harm of overhead positioning into the benefit of reduced inductive loop area.
3Adaptability or versatility
If separate structures are used for mechanical support and electrical grounding, then functional specialization is achieved, but electromagnetic susceptibility increases due to physical separation creating large inductive loops
Solution Approach 1:
The patent combines the mechanical support structure and electrical grounding mesh into a single integrated overhead structure. The grid beams provide both structural support for positioning cables and equipment, and electrical grounding functionality, eliminating the separation between support hardware and ground mesh that created large inductive loops.
Solution Approach 2:
The grid beams in the overhead structure serve multiple functions simultaneously: they provide mechanical structural support for positioning cables and equipment, and they provide electrical grounding functionality. This multi-functionality eliminates the need for separate structures while maintaining both support and grounding capabilities.
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 overhead structure effectively reduces electromagnetic susceptibility and provides reliable electrical grounding, mitigating the risks of equipment damage from electromagnetic interference and lightning strikes by positioning the grounding mesh closer to the cables, ensuring both structural support and electrical conductivity.
Implementation Method 1
Each of the grid beams is a rigid and electrically conductive grid beam to provide an overhead structure configured to be positioned over electronic equipment in the data center... the grid structure is further adapted to be electrically coupled to the electronic equipment to provide an electrically conductive ground mesh
Implementation Method 2
This increasing physical separation of the upwardly positioned cabling and the electrical ground mesh within the raised floor plenum causes an undesirable increase in the electromagnetic susceptibility and emissions of the data center. This occurs because the physical separation of the cabling and the electrical ground mesh creates a large pick-up area of an inductive loop
Data Source
AI summary
An overhead electrical grounding mesh and mechanical grid structure for a data center includes a plurality of orthogonally arranged grid beams. Each of the grid beams is a rigid and electrically conductive grid beam to provide an overhead structure configured to be positioned over electronic equipment in the data center. The grid structure is configured to provide support for electronic equipment connected to the grid structure and to provide support for mechanical equipment in the data center that is connected to the grid structure. The grid structure is further adapted to be electrically coupled to the electronic equipment to provide an electrically conductive ground mesh for the electronic equipment in the data center.