Rack Aisle Cooling Layout for Data Center Hotspot Control
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Solution Overview
Problem
In data centers, the inefficient airflow through electronic device racks leads to inadequate cooling, resulting in excessive power consumption by climate control units, as they often respond to 'hotspots' by increasing cooling across the entire room, which is not only wasteful but also poses a risk to other devices.
Innovation Solution
A climate control system that includes a duct for exchanging air between racks and a climate control unit, with sensors and conveyors to manage airflow and temperature, ensuring efficient cooling by delivering cooler air to hotspots while minimizing energy usage.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Temperature
If climate control units increase performance to cool hotspots, then temperature control is improved, but energy consumption increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements local climate control by introducing a duct system that delivers cooled air directly to specific racks identified as hotspots, rather than uniformly cooling the entire data center. Temperature sensors monitor individual rack temperatures, and the climate control unit responds by directing cooling resources precisely where needed, creating local quality improvements without wasting energy on already-cooled areas.
2Quantity of substance
If electronic devices are packed tightly in racks, then space utilization is improved, but cooling efficiency deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments the data center into individual rack zones, each with its own temperature monitoring and targeted cooling delivery. The duct system divides the cooling flow into rack-specific streams, allowing each densely packed rack to receive customized cooling attention. This segmentation enables effective heat management even as device density increases within each rack.
3Reliability
If generalized cooling is applied across the entire room, then temperature limits are maintained, but power consumption increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements a dynamic climate control system that continuously monitors temperatures across multiple racks and adjusts cooling delivery in real-time. When a hotspot is detected in a specific rack, the system dynamically redirects cooled air through the duct system to that location. This dynamic response maintains temperature limits while avoiding the continuous energy consumption of generalized cooling, as cooling is applied only when and where needed.
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 system effectively maintains optimal climate parameters within racks, reducing energy consumption and preventing overheating, while allowing for flexible placement and operation of IT systems, even in legacy data center configurations.
Implementation Method 1
a conveyor (310) for conveying a current of medium towards a medium supply side of the rack
Implementation Method 2
climate control unit for controlling climate parameters of a medium
Data Source
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AI summary
A system and method for cooling a rack is provided. The system comprises a constellation of racks that form an aisle between them and all cooling air supply sides of all racks face the aisle. The aisle is covered on top and at both ends against leaking air. Cooling air enters the aisle from below. In a method for controlling a temperature inside a rack, cooling air of a fixed temperature is advanced towards the cooling air supply side of the racks and it is determined, whether a turnover of cooling air through the rack corresponds to a turnover of cooling air through a conveyor, which delivers the cooling air towards the rack.