Modular thermal isolation barrier for data processing equipment structure
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Data center thermal management is inefficient due to the concentration of thermal energy within enclosed equipment, leading to overheating and the need for cooling the entire room, which is not adequately pressurized, limiting individual row cooling and airflow management.
Innovation Solution
A modular thermal isolation barrier system using extruded edge seals and panels with retention fingers, coupled with rigid support structures, to create a sealed environment that segregates heated and cooled air, allowing for flexible sealing around obstructions and enhancing airflow management.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Temperature
If the entire data center room is cooled to manage thermal energy, then thermal management is achieved, but energy efficiency deteriorates due to cooling unnecessary spaces and inadequate pressurization prevents effective airflow management
Solution Approach 1:
The data center space is segmented into individual cooling zones using thermal isolation barriers that separate hot and cold aisles. This allows targeted cooling of only the necessary equipment areas rather than cooling the entire room, directly resolving the contradiction between achieving temperature control and reducing energy waste from cooling unnecessary spaces.
Solution Approach 2:
Thermal isolation barriers are installed at specific locations where hot and cold air flows converge or where equipment generates concentrated heat. This localized approach creates pressure differentials and airflow management at critical points, enabling effective thermal management without the need to cool or pressurize the entire room, thus improving energy efficiency.
2Loss of energy
If thermal isolation barriers are added to seal gaps and improve airflow segregation, then thermal management efficiency improves, but device complexity increases due to additional components and installation requirements
Solution Approach 1:
The thermal isolation barrier system extracts and addresses only the specific problem areas where hot and cold air mixing occurs, such as gaps around equipment and transitions between hot and cold aisles. By focusing on extracting and sealing these specific thermal leakage points rather than implementing a comprehensive complex system throughout the entire data center, the solution improves thermal management efficiency while minimizing added structural complexity.
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 modular thermal isolation barrier system effectively seals gaps and obstructions, improving airflow segregation and thermal management within data centers, enhancing equipment performance and uptime by allowing for targeted cooling and reduced overheating.
Implementation Method 1
a first edge seal arranged along a first edge of the first panel and adapted to abut, and establish a seal with, the enclosure to thermally isolate the first panel from the exterior environment of the enclosure
Implementation Method 2
The modular thermal isolation barrier system effectively seals gaps and obstructions, improving airflow segregation and thermal management within data centers
Data Source
AI summary
An edge seal for a modular thermal isolation barrier for preventing passage of air through a gap in a data processing equipment arrangement includes a seal portion and a base portion. The seal portion is formed of a resilient material capable of deflection by a rigid adjacent structure. The base portion is formed of a rigid material and includes a pair of side channels opening at opposite sides thereof and a panel-receiving end channel. Each of the pair of side channels includes a first distal flange arranged to extend inwardly from one side of the respective channel and a second distal flange arranged to extend inwardly, and toward the first distal flange, from the other side of the respective channel, whereby each side channel is generally C-shaped and includes a channel opening having a width that is narrower than a width of a channel interior. Each of the seal portion and the base portion has a generally uniform cross-sectional shape.