Telecom Equipment Cooling Channels for ETSI-Compliant Airflow
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Existing 'side-to-side' airflow cooling systems in telecommunications network equipment units are less effective than 'front-to-rear' systems, leading to insufficient cooling of downstream optical transceivers and limiting the number of high-performance devices that can be accommodated, while 'front-to-rear' systems do not meet ETSI standards for airflow direction.
Innovation Solution
A cooling system with separate air input and exhaust channels and a plurality of air conduits arranged to transfer heat from devices to air without direct contact, allowing for 'side-to-side' airflow compliance and effective cooling of high-performance devices.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If a 'side-to-side' airflow cooling system is used to meet ETSI standards, then compliance with telecommunications standards is achieved, but cooling effectiveness is reduced and downstream optical transceivers are insufficiently cooled
Solution Approach 1:
The cooling system is segmented into multiple independent air conduits (first air conduit, second air conduit, third air conduit, fourth air conduit), each serving specific optical transceivers. This segmentation allows separate airflow paths for different device groups, enabling the system to meet ETSI side-to-side airflow requirements while maintaining effective cooling for each transceiver group independently.
Solution Approach 2:
Air conduits act as intermediaries between the airflow system and optical transceivers. The conduits channel air from the side-to-side airflow source to the front-to-rear cooling path, mediating between the conflicting airflow requirements and enabling both standard compliance and effective cooling.
2Temperature
If a 'front-to-rear' airflow cooling system is used, then cooling effectiveness is improved and more high-performance devices can be accommodated, but compliance with ETSI standards is not achieved
Solution Approach 1:
The air conduits are segmented into different groups (first and second air conduits for upstream transceivers, third and fourth air conduits for downstream transceivers), allowing independent optimization of airflow paths for each group while maintaining overall side-to-side airflow compliance.
Solution Approach 2:
The system combines side-to-side airflow (horizontal dimension) with front-to-rear cooling paths (depth dimension) through the air conduits, effectively adding a third dimension to the airflow architecture to satisfy both conflicting requirements.
3Productivity
If the number of high-performance pluggable optical transceivers is increased to improve connectivity and traffic capacity, then device performance is improved, but temperature control becomes more difficult and device lifespan is shortened
Solution Approach 1:
By segmenting the cooling system into multiple dedicated air conduits for different transceiver groups, each transceiver receives focused cooling attention, allowing more transceivers to be accommodated without compromising temperature control or lifespan.
Solution Approach 2:
Each air conduit is optimized for its specific function (cooling particular transceivers), providing localized quality cooling where needed. This allows high-performance transceivers to operate at higher capacities while maintaining appropriate temperature control for each device.
4Temperature
If higher power fans are used to increase cooling capacity, then cooling effectiveness is improved, but power consumption increases
Solution Approach 1:
The cooling system is divided into multiple smaller air conduits that can be independently controlled. This segmentation allows the fan to operate at lower power levels while still providing adequate cooling distribution across all transceivers, avoiding the need for a single high-power fan.
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 effectively cools devices within telecommunications network equipment units, enabling increased connectivity and traffic capacity without exceeding temperature limits, reducing power consumption, and eliminating the need for air filters, thus enhancing device longevity and performance.
Implementation Method 1
heat can be transferred from respective ones of a plurality of devices in the telecommunications network equipment to air passing through respective ones of the plurality of air conduits
Implementation Method 2
air is drawn by a fan positioned at the rear of the telecommunications network unit such that air enters the unit from the front of the unit, passing and thereby cooling each of the pluggable optical transceivers
Data Source
AI summary
There is provided a telecommunications network equipment unit, comprising a cooling system. The cooling system comprises an air input channel and an exhaust air output, wherein the exhaust air output is separate from the air input channel. The cooling system further comprises a plurality of air conduits. The plurality of air conduits is arranged such that heat can be transferred from respective ones of a plurality of devices in the telecommunications network equipment to air passing through respective ones of the plurality of air conduits. Each of the plurality of air conduits is arranged to receive a respective outflow of air from the air input channel and to direct said outflow of air therethrough to the exhaust air output. There is further provided telecommunications network equipment comprising one or more telecommunications network equipment units.