System and method for cooling computing devices within a facility having a plurality of supply air spaces
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Solution Overview
Problem
Large computing facilities face significant heat management challenges due to high power consumption of computing devices, which traditional cooling systems, such as HVAC, are inefficient in addressing, especially in environments with varying temperatures and humidity levels.
Innovation Solution
A passive cooling system that utilizes external ambient air, driven by the fans of computing devices, to supply cool air and exhaust heated air, with a mixing damper and turbulators to recirculate and mix heated air with fresh air to achieve optimal temperature and humidity conditions, minimizing pressure losses and vortices.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Temperature
If conventional HVAC systems are used to cool computing facilities, then cooling capacity is provided, but system complexity and energy consumption increase
Solution Approach 1:
The computing devices themselves serve the cooling function by using their internal fans to draw ambient air through heat-generating components. The system leverages the existing operational components (fans) of the computing devices to perform the cooling function, eliminating the need for separate HVAC infrastructure.
Solution Approach 2:
The cooling function is extracted from the computing devices and implemented as a separate spatial arrangement where ambient air flows through the facility, cooling devices passively through convection without requiring the devices' fans to drive the airflow.
2Temperature
If dedicated cooling systems are installed, then temperature control is achieved, but energy consumption increases
Solution Approach 1:
The system uses the computing devices' own operational fans to drive the cooling airflow, converting what would be wasted energy into useful cooling work. No additional energy is consumed for dedicated cooling systems.
Solution Approach 2:
The high-power fans necessary for computing operations are repurposed to drive the cooling airflow. The energy consumption required for computing tasks is converted into a beneficial cooling effect rather than being purely wasteful heat generation.
3Device complexity
If ambient air is used for cooling, then system simplicity increases, but temperature and humidity control precision decreases
Solution Approach 1:
The system creates different thermal zones within the facility - a cooler supply air zone and a warmer exhaust air zone - allowing different regions to serve different functions. This spatial differentiation enables precise cooling where needed while maintaining overall system simplicity.
Solution Approach 2:
The interior space is segmented into distinct supply air space and exhaust air space, allowing independent control and optimization of airflow paths. This segmentation enables precise temperature control in the supply zone while maintaining system simplicity through passive operation in the exhaust zone.
4Productivity
If computing devices are arranged to partition supply and exhaust spaces, then cooling efficiency improves, but space utilization decreases
Solution Approach 1:
The computing devices serve dual functions: their operational fans provide cooling airflow while their physical arrangement creates the spatial partition between supply and exhaust zones. This multi-functionality eliminates the need for separate partition structures, maintaining space utilization.
Solution Approach 2:
The cooling function and spatial partitioning function are merged into a single arrangement where device placement accomplishes both objectives simultaneously, rather than requiring separate infrastructure for each function.
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 cools computing devices by leveraging ambient air, reducing the need for dedicated fans and cooling systems, while maintaining airflow efficiency and preventing overheating or overcooling, thus optimizing the cooling process in varying environmental conditions.
Implementation Method 1
Some, most, or substantially each of the computing devices include a fan that is capable of moving the cool air across one or more heat generating components of the computing device to cool the heat generating components
Implementation Method 2
The air filter assembly is configured to filter the cool air that is supplied to the computing devices from the air supply space
Implementation Method 3
The mixing damper is operable to control an amount of exhaust air that is supplied from the exhaust air space to the supply air space for mixing with the cool air supplied through the air inlet
Data Source
AI summary
A system for cooling computing devices within a facility includes an air inlet that delivers cool air to a supply air space within the facility, an exhaust air damper that is configured to exhaust heated air from an exhaust air space within the facility, and computing devices that are arranged within the facility to at least partially partition the supply air space from the exhaust air space. The system also includes an air filter that is configured to filter the cool air and a mixing damper that is positioned within the interior space of the facility and that is operable to control an amount of exhaust air that is mixed with the cool air. The cool air and/or a portion of the exhaust air are used to cool the computing devices and airflow through the system is substantially driven by fans of the computing devices.