Server Cooling Layout With Adjustable Gallery Airflow
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Solution Overview
Problem
The existing server cooling systems face inefficiencies in cooling capacity optimization due to the limitations in the combination of air conditioner capacity and casing size, leading to suboptimal energy conservation and increased power consumption, as indicated by the Power Usage Effectiveness (PUE) ratio.
Innovation Solution
A server cooling system with a hot aisle and cold aisle configuration, featuring a packaged air conditioner, thermosiphon, and outside air cooling means, where the shielding means with adjustable galleries optimizes cold air flow and allows for independent adjustment of cooling capacity, enabling efficient cooling while minimizing power consumption.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of manufacture
If a casing of a certain size is used, then the shipping and construction become easier, but the cooling capacity cannot be optimized because an appropriate air conditioner does not always exist for that size
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies the dynamics principle by making the gallery opening degree adjustable rather than fixed. The shielding means includes a gallery with an opening that can be dynamically adjusted to change the degree of opening, allowing the cold air flow amount to be optimized for different casing sizes and air conditioner capacities. This resolves the contradiction by enabling adaptive cooling optimization without requiring custom-designed casings for each air conditioner size.
2Device complexity
If the gallery opening degree is fixed, then the structure is simpler, but the cold air flow cannot be adjusted to optimize cooling efficiency
Solution Approach 1:
The gallery opening degree is made adjustable rather than fixed, allowing dynamic control of cold air flow. This enables optimization of cooling efficiency for different operating conditions while maintaining relatively simple shielding means structure.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent changes the parameter of gallery opening degree from a fixed value to an adjustable parameter. By controlling the opening degree, the amount of cold air flowing from the cold aisle to the hot aisle can be optimized, improving cooling efficiency without significantly complicating the overall structure.
3Temperature
If a large amount of power is used for cooling, then the servers can be cooled effectively, but the cost increases and energy conservation is reduced
Solution Approach 1:
The patent employs passive cooling mechanisms where cold air naturally flows from the cold aisle to the hot aisle through the gallery in the shielding means. This natural convection current reduces the need for additional active cooling equipment and power consumption, allowing effective server cooling while minimizing energy loss.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent creates a localized cold aisle environment directly at the server rack location, providing cold air precisely where needed. This targeted approach improves cooling effectiveness while reducing the overall power consumption compared to general-purpose cooling systems that cool entire spaces.
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 system achieves enhanced cooling efficiency and reduced power consumption by optimizing the flow of cold air and switching between cooling means based on heat quantities and coefficients of performance, thereby improving the PUE ratio.
Implementation Method 1
a gallery (18) capable of venting from the cold aisle (10c) to the hot aisle (10h) is provided in the partition wall (16). The degree of opening (18b) of the gallery (18) is adjusted so that a predetermined amount of the supply air (cold air) may flow into the hot aisle (10h).
Implementation Method 2
an air conditioner (packaged air conditioner) is provided on the hot aisle side; a circulation path is disposed so as to extend from the air conditioner to the cold aisle
Implementation Method 3
the server cooling system includes three kinds of cooling means, i.e., an air conditioner, a thermosiphon, and outside air cooling means
Implementation Method 4
the server cooling system includes three kinds of cooling means, i.e., an air conditioner, a thermosiphon, and outside air cooling means
Data Source
AI summary
In a server cooling device having a cold zone and a hot zone, a flow of cold air is determined depending on an air conditioner disposed in the hot zone and a size of a casing. A server cooling system is provided in which a chamber is substantially divided into two parts with a cold aisle formed in one part and a hot aisle formed in the other part, and a server rack is disposed on a boundary between the cold aisle and the hot aisle. The server cooling system includes: an air conditioner provided on the hot aisle side; a circulation path disposed so as to extend from the air conditioner to the cold aisle; and a shield provided on the boundary excluding the server rack. The shield is provided with a gallery capable of venting from the cold aisle to the hot aisle.