Slide Rail Airflow Channels for Cooling Rear Server Components
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Solution Overview
Problem
Efficiently delivering cooling airflow to densely packed components in computing devices, particularly to posterior regions such as power supply units and hard drives, is challenging due to interference from intervening components and preheating of air within the device.
Innovation Solution
An airflow device with external cooling air passage structures, such as slide rails, guides airflow through channels external to the chassis to directly reach heat-generating components, using strategically placed vents to ensure cooler air reaches these regions without significant preheating.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Temperature
If air is drawn through the interior of the server to cool components, then cooling effect is achieved, but air temperature increases due to preheating from heat-generating components
Solution Approach 1:
The invention divides the airflow path into separate segments: an external airflow channel through the slide rail and an internal airflow path within the server. This segmentation allows cool air to be delivered directly to specific heat-generating components without being preheated by other components, resolving the temperature increase issue while maintaining cooling efficiency.
Solution Approach 2:
The slide rail acts as an intermediary structure that provides an external airflow channel. This intermediary pathway enables cool air to bypass heat-generating components during its journey to the target area, preventing preheating while still achieving effective cooling delivery.
2Volume of moving object
If components are densely packed in the server, then space utilization is optimized, but airflow delivery to posterior regions is hindered
Solution Approach 1:
The invention extends the airflow channel into the external dimension by utilizing the slide rail structure outside the server chassis. This dimensional extension allows air to be delivered directly to posterior regions without navigating through the densely packed internal component layout, maintaining both compact packaging and effective airflow delivery.
3Ease of manufacture
If traditional internal airflow paths are used, then manufacturing is simpler, but cooling efficiency to posterior components decreases
Solution Approach 1:
The slide rail serves multiple functions: it provides mechanical support for mounting the server in the rack and simultaneously acts as an airflow channel structure. This multi-functionality enables efficient cooling delivery to posterior components without adding separate complex airflow management structures, maintaining manufacturing simplicity while improving cooling efficiency.
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
Enhances cooling efficiency by maintaining airflow temperature and directing it precisely to heat-generating components, reducing manufacturing complexity and optimizing space utilization within the device.
Implementation Method 1
Airflow channels (18, 40) formed within the cooling air passage structures (14, 38) to guide ambient air to the posterior of the server
Implementation Method 2
cooling air passage structures (14, 38) extending in a depth direction (D) of the server chassis from a front side (68)
Implementation Method 3
guide ambient air to the interior, particularly to posterior regions such as the batteries (62) and power supply unit (60)
Data Source
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AI summary
An airflow device includes a cooling air passage structure formed external to and along a side of a server chassis, the cooling air passage structure extending in a depth direction of the server chassis from a front side of the server chassis. The airflow device further includes an airflow channel formed within the cooling air passage structure, the airflow channel extending in the depth direction, and a vent fluidically connecting the airflow channel with an interior of the server chassis at a vent location that is rearward in the depth direction relative to the front side.