Rack-Mounted Fire Suppression System with Seismic Stabilization
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Solution Overview
Problem
Data centers face challenges in stabilizing computing equipment during seismic events and effectively suppressing fires, with existing methods either failing to prevent equipment damage from seismic loads or causing unnecessary water distribution beyond the fire area.
Innovation Solution
The implementation of stabilization devices with ballast members and spring devices on rack computing systems to mitigate seismic loads, combined with fire suppression systems that include reservoirs and dispensing devices to direct fire suppression material precisely onto fires.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If sprinkler systems distribute water broadly to contain fire, then fire suppression coverage is improved, but equipment damage from water distribution beyond fire area increases
Solution Approach 1:
The fire suppression system applies water locally and selectively to the specific rack containing fire, rather than broadly to the entire computing room. This localized approach suppresses fire effectively while minimizing water damage to equipment in unaffected areas.
Solution Approach 2:
The fire suppression system is segmented into rack-specific zones with individual control. Each rack can be independently targeted for fire suppression, allowing precise control over water distribution and preventing unnecessary water application to other racks.
2Stability of the object's composition
If rack systems are bolted to the floor to prevent tipping, then rack stability is improved, but protection from seismic shaking in rack portions above floor level is insufficient
Solution Approach 1:
The stabilization system extends protection to multiple dimensions by adding dampers at both lower and upper portions of the rack. This multi-level approach addresses seismic forces acting at different heights and orientations, providing comprehensive protection beyond simple floor bolting.
Solution Approach 2:
The stabilization devices include dampers and shock-absorbing elements positioned to cushion the rack against seismic forces before damage occurs. The upper and lower stabilization components work together to absorb and dissipate seismic energy, protecting equipment in advance of potential damage.
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 stabilization devices effectively reduce displacement and prevent tipping of racks during seismic events, while the fire suppression systems efficiently distribute materials to extinguish fires without damaging equipment or causing unnecessary water distribution.
Implementation Method 1
a spring device coupled between the ballast member and the mounting portion. The ballast member reduces displacement of the rack from seismic loads transmitted from the floor to the rack
Implementation Method 2
dispensing at least a portion of the fire suppression material in response to a fire condition
Data Source
AI summary
A data center includes a plurality of racks on a floor and one or more fire suppression systems coupled to at least some of the racks. The fire suppression systems include reservoirs mounted on the racks, a fire suppression material in the reservoir, and one or more material dispensing devices coupled to the reservoir. The material dispensing devices may dispense fire suppression material onto or into the racks in response to a fire condition.