Server Room Air Flow Control Using Differential Pressure Monitoring

Solution Overview

Problem

Current cooling systems for server rooms in data centers are inefficient, requiring significant computational power and resources to manage air flow and temperature, and often fail to passively mitigate heat buildup and pressure within servers.

Innovation Solution

A method and system that control air flow by monitoring and adjusting air pressures between cold and hot chambers using differential pressure gauges and fans, with a controller unit executing PID algorithms to maintain optimal pressure differences and airflow, reducing the need for extensive computational resources and energy consumption.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Temperature

If traditional air conditioning and venting systems are used to cool servers, then the servers are cooled down, but the system requires significant energy consumption and computational resources

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveserver temperatureVSAvoidenergy consumption

Core Design Contradiction:

TemperatureVSUse of energy by moving object

Solution Approach 1:

The system uses the heat generated by servers themselves to drive the cooling process. Heat-sensitive materials placed near servers generate thermal energy that activates fans, creating airflow to remove heat without requiring external power sources for the cooling mechanism

Inventive Principle:

Principle #25Self-service

Solution Approach 2:

The patent replaces traditional mechanically-controlled air conditioning systems with a passive thermal-responsive system. Instead of using powered compressors and controlled ventilation, the system relies on thermal expansion and heat-sensitive material activation to automatically generate cooling airflow

Inventive Principle:

Principle #28Mechanics substitution (Replace mechanical system)

2Temperature

If traditional air conditioning systems are used to cool servers, then the servers are cooled down, but the system complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveserver temperatureVSAvoidsystem complexity

Core Design Contradiction:

TemperatureVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The system uses the heat generated by servers themselves to drive the cooling process. Heat-sensitive materials placed near servers generate thermal energy that activates fans, creating airflow to remove heat without requiring external power sources for the cooling mechanism

Inventive Principle:

Principle #25Self-service

Solution Approach 2:

The patent extracts the cooling function from the complex centralized air conditioning system and implements it locally at each server or rack level using simple thermal-responsive components, thereby reducing overall system complexity

Inventive Principle:

Principle #2Taking out (Extraction)

3Temperature

If centralized control systems are used to manage cooling, then temperature control is achieved, but computational burden on controlling systems increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvetemperature controlVSAvoidcomputational power

Core Design Contradiction:

TemperatureVSPower

Solution Approach 1:

The system uses the heat generated by servers themselves to drive the cooling process. Heat-sensitive materials placed near servers generate thermal energy that activates fans, creating airflow to remove heat without requiring external power sources for the cooling mechanism

Inventive Principle:

Principle #25Self-service

Solution Approach 2:

The patent replaces traditional mechanically-controlled air conditioning systems with a passive thermal-responsive system. Instead of using powered compressors and controlled ventilation, the system relies on thermal expansion and heat-sensitive material activation to automatically generate cooling airflow

Inventive Principle:

Principle #28Mechanics substitution (Replace mechanical system)

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 enhances air flow efficiency, reduces energy consumption, and decreases the computational burden on controlling systems, effectively preventing overheating in server rooms while maintaining a stable airflow from the cold to the hot chamber.

Implementation Method 1

a differential pressure gauge configured to measure a differential pressure value of an air pressure of the cold chamber relative to an air pressure of the hot chamber

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectDifferential pressure measurement: Pressure Gradient

Implementation Method 2

a fan configured to move air from the cold chamber to the hot chamber in response to the differential pressure value

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectPressure-driven flow: Pressure Gradient

Data Source

PatentUS10798852B2Method of controlling cooling in server room and system implementing thereof

Publication Date: 2020.10.06 Y E HUB ARMENIA LLC

AI summary

An air flow control method and system for cooling a data center including a server room is disclosed. The method including receiving a first differential pressure value of an air pressure of a first chamber relative to the air pressure of the outside area; receiving a second differential pressure value of the air pressure of a second chamber relative to the air pressure of the outside area; generating a first control signal to adjust the speed of an inlet fan based on the first differential pressure value; generating a second control signal to adjust an outlet fan speed based on the second differential pressure value; transmitting the control signals to the respective inlet and outlet fans to adjust the first differential pressure value to a first target value, and adjust the second differential pressure value to a second target value.