System for cooling computing devices of a plurality of facilities
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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 system and method utilizing ambient external air for cooling, where airflow is driven by computing device fans, and heated air is either exhausted or recirculated and mixed with fresh air to achieve a target temperature and humidity, using a design that minimizes pressure losses and employs turbulators for turbulent airflow to enhance mixing and prevent stratification.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Temperature
If conventional HVAC systems are used to cool computing facilities, then temperature control is achieved, but energy consumption and system complexity increase significantly
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 infrastructure of the computing devices rather than imposing a separate cooling infrastructure, thereby eliminating dedicated HVAC energy consumption while maintaining effective temperature control.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent extracts the cooling function from the traditional HVAC system and relocates it to the computing devices themselves. By removing the need for centralized air conditioning infrastructure and using decentralized, device-level cooling, the system eliminates the energy burden of large-scale HVAC operations while preserving thermal management effectiveness.
2Temperature
If dedicated cooling systems are installed, then heat removal capability is improved, but device complexity and infrastructure requirements increase
Solution Approach 1:
The computing devices perform dual functions: their processors execute computational tasks while their fans simultaneously provide cooling airflow. This multi-functionality eliminates the need for separate cooling infrastructure, reducing overall system complexity while maintaining adequate heat removal capabilities through the existing operational components of the computing devices.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent merges the cooling function with the computing operation itself. The same devices that generate heat also provide the cooling mechanism through their integrated fans, combining what were traditionally separate systems into a unified operational framework, thereby simplifying infrastructure requirements.
3Device complexity
If ambient air is used for cooling without recirculation, then system simplicity is maintained, but cooling efficiency decreases in varying environmental conditions
Solution Approach 1:
The system dynamically adapts to environmental conditions by using sensors to monitor temperature and humidity levels, then adjusting the recirculation ratio accordingly. When ambient conditions are favorable, the system operates in simple ambient air mode; when conditions deteriorate, it automatically incorporates recirculated cooled air, providing adaptive responsiveness without requiring complex predetermined control logic.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent implements feedback mechanisms where temperature and humidity sensors continuously monitor environmental conditions and feed this information back to the control system. This feedback enables the system to adjust its cooling strategy in real-time, switching between ambient air intake and recirculated air modes based on actual measured conditions, thereby maintaining cooling efficiency across varying environments.
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 effectively cools computing devices within facilities by leveraging ambient air, reducing the need for dedicated fans and cooling systems, while maintaining efficient airflow and temperature control, thus addressing the inefficiencies of traditional cooling methods.
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
moving the cool air across one or more heat generating components of the computing device to cool the heat generating components and heat the filtered cool air
Implementation Method 3
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 4
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.