U.S. patent application number 13/237996 was filed with the patent office on 2012-10-04 for air conditioning device for cooling air for an electronic device cabinet or the like.
Invention is credited to BRETISLAV SKLENAK.
Application Number | 20120247708 13/237996 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 43502974 |
Filed Date | 2012-10-04 |
United States Patent
Application |
20120247708 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
SKLENAK; BRETISLAV |
October 4, 2012 |
AIR CONDITIONING DEVICE FOR COOLING AIR FOR AN ELECTRONIC DEVICE
CABINET OR THE LIKE
Abstract
This invention entails an air conditioning device (2) for
cooling an electronic device cabinet or the like. It is equipped
with a housing, an air supplying device (10) and a heat exchanger
(4). The air supplying device (10) sucks air in from one side and
conducts it through a heat exchanger (4) to a second side (14) and
supplies it in radial direction to the second side (14). The heat
exchanger (4) is connected so as to impact with its external or
internal cooling device the heat exchangers with cooled cooling
medium. The outgoing current of radially streaming air is applied
to front surface of adjacent electronic device cabinets so that the
air can thus be used without being substantially mixed in advance
with warmer air. The air can also be sucked in by the electronic
device cabinets and used for cooling without losses of efficiency
levels.
Inventors: |
SKLENAK; BRETISLAV;
(Mainburg, DE) |
Family ID: |
43502974 |
Appl. No.: |
13/237996 |
Filed: |
September 21, 2011 |
Current U.S.
Class: |
165/11.1 ;
165/104.11; 165/104.34 |
Current CPC
Class: |
H05K 7/20745
20130101 |
Class at
Publication: |
165/11.1 ;
165/104.11; 165/104.34 |
International
Class: |
F28D 15/00 20060101
F28D015/00; F28F 27/00 20060101 F28F027/00 |
Foreign Application Data
Date |
Code |
Application Number |
Sep 22, 2010 |
EP |
EP 10 010 196.3 |
Claims
1. Air conditioning devices for cooling of air for an electronic
device cabinet or the like, equipped with a housing having a first
side, and a second side located opposite the first side, an air
supplying device and a heat exchanger, wherein the air supplying
device sucks in air from the first side, conducts it through the
heat exchangers to the second side and delivers it in radial
direction to the second side, and wherein the heat exchanger is
connected with an external cooling device or with an internal
cooling device impacting the heat exchangers with cooled cooling
medium.
2. Air conditioning device according to claim 1, wherein the air
supplying device comprises a radial fan, which is extended from the
second side of the air conditioning device outward and which is
arranged so as to discharge an air stream which axially enters the
air conditioning device in radial direction parallel to a limiting
surface of the second surface.
3. Air conditioning device according to claim 1, equipped with a
plurality of air supplying devices arranged at a distance between
them at different heights.
4. Air conditioning device according to claim 3, wherein the heat
exchanger is provided with respective individually controllable
heat exchanger segments at different heights.
5. Air conditioning device according to claim 1, further equipped
with a projecting frame in which is arranged the air supplying
device.
6. Air conditioning device according to claim 1, further equipped
with an internal cooling device.
7. Air conditioning device according to claim 1, further equipped
with at least one line connecting the heat exchangers with a
central cooling device.
8. Air conditioning device according to claim 1, wherein the air
volume stream induced by the air supplying device is
controllable.
9. Air conditioning device according to claim 8, wherein the air
volume stream induced by each air supplying device can be
controlled individually.
10. Air conditioning device according to claim 8, further equipped
with at least one temperature sensor detecting temperature of air
streaming in and/or streaming out at the rear side of an electronic
device cabinet to be cooled, at the rear side of the air
conditioning device, or at the outlet side of the heat
exchanger.
11. Air conditioning device according to claim 10, equipped with a
plurality of temperature sensors which detect the temperature at
different levels, wherein the detected temperatures are utilized
for individual regulation of the volume of the air stream and/or of
the heat exchanger segments.
12. Air conditioning device according to claim 1, wherein the air
supplying device emits cold air in a radial stream so as to move
directly along a front surface of the electronic device cabinet or
the like, so that the cold air does not substantially mix with
warmer air prior to reaching a front surface.
13. Air conditioning device according to claim 12, wherein the air
supplying device is adjustable to curves along a front surface or
front sides of the cabinets for electronic devices or the like.
14. Air conditioning device according to claim 12, which is
positioned between two cabinets for electronic devices, and wherein
the air supplying device comprises a radial fan, which radial fan
discharges cold air in a radial stream so as to move directly along
a front surface of the two cabinets.
Description
[0001] This application for patent claims priority from European
patent application EP 10 010 196.3, filed Sep. 22, 2010, and the
contents of that prior application are incorporated herein in their
entirety.
TECHNICAL FIELD
[0002] The invention relates to an air conditioning device for
cooling air for an electronic device cabinet or the like.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
[0003] Electronic devices are commonly accommodated in computer
centers and production facilities in cabinets for electronic
devices (also known as "racks") which have standardized modular
dimensions, for example 19 inches. These cabinets often provide
sufficient amount of space for a plurality of electronic devices
which are tightly stacked on top of another. In addition to
supplying the necessary electric power and data, the electronic
devices must be also sufficiently cooled to ensure their correct
operation. For cooling purposes are usually employed air
conditioning devices which are essentially used to supply cooling
air, which is conducted by means of air supplying devices through
the electronic devices so that heat is removed in this manner from
electronic components. As the computing power is becoming more and
more concentrated per unit of space, the result is a requirement to
enable the accommodation of air conditioning device in the most
effective manner in order to make it possible to provide reliably
and constantly cooling air in sufficient amounts, without requiring
a large amount of space for installation. Known air conditioning
devices are customarily equipped with simple cooling mechanisms,
which are based for example on an evaporator cooling circuit.
[0004] Cabinets for electronic devices are arranged in modern
computer centers in several rows arranged next to each other in the
available space at a certain distance between them, while the front
sides of the cabinets for electronic devices can be arranged so as
to face cabinets for electronic device in an adjacent row. The
front sides are often provided with air inlets which are designed
to suck in cooling air from a so called "cool duct". The air which
is warmed up by the electric devices is then supplied at the rear
side from the cabinets for electronic devices into a so called
"warm duct". It is thus necessary in this case to provide at least
an air conditioning device which supplies the cooling air into the
cool ducts, for example air from the warm ducts which has been
cooled down. It is know that cold air can be blown into a cool duct
through floor discharge outlets. It is further also known that air
conditioning devices can be arranged between the cabinets for
electronic devices so that the cooling air is blown in from the air
conditioning devices arranged between the electronic device
cabinets at right angle to the front of adjacent electronic device
cabinets. This concept is a based on the open cooling concept.
[0005] Closed architectures are also known. In this case, an
electronic device and an air conditioning device of this type
cabinet are located in a closed jacket or in a common housing.
[0006] An apparent disadvantage of air conditioning device
according to prior art is that the air which is cooled by the air
conditioning devices is not supplied in an ideal manner by an air
conditioning device based on the open cooling system to the
electronic devices to be cooled. When the known outlets are used,
the supplied cooling air is mixed with warmed up air before it can
be finally used when it is sucked in at the fronts of the
electronic device cabinets for cooling of the electronic
devices.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
[0007] The purpose of the invention is therefore to propose an air
conditioning device of the type described in the introduction,
which can reduce or eliminate the disadvantages described above. In
particular, an objective of the invention is to propose an air
conditioning device, wherein although it is designed as a separate,
independent unit, the air is guided particularly effectively to the
electronic device cabinets so that the supplied cooling air can be
absorbed for cooling by the individual electronic devices.
[0008] This task is achieved with the air conditioning device
having the characteristics of the independent claim 1. Advantageous
embodiments are described in dependent claims.
[0009] According to a first aspect of the invention, the air
conditioning device is provided with a housing having a first side
and a second side oriented in such a way that that air is sucked in
at the first side and blown out as cooled air at the second side.
The first side and the second side of the air conditioning device
according to the invention are in this case arranged opposite one
another so that the air conditioning device according to the
invention can be arranged between electronic device cabinets, and
so that cooling air is available which can be used on the second
side in the electronic device cabinets. This is available in
particular for the open air cooling concept with warm and cool
ducts between rows of electronic device cabinets.
[0010] According to a second aspect of the invention, the second
side of the air conditioning device according to the invention is
equipped with an air supplying device which guides the cooling air
in radial direction outward. The radial direction in this case
means a direction that is substantially perpendicular to an axis
between the first side and the second side. On the first side is
thus located an axial air current, which is provided in the air
conditioning device according to the invention and which is
conducted to a radially directed discharging of the air current on
the other side.
[0011] According to a third aspect of the invention, a cooling
device is located between the first side and the second side of the
air conditioning device according to the invention, which cools the
axial inflow of air before the air leaves again the air
conditioning device in radial direction.
[0012] Essentially, the air conditioning device according to the
invention makes it possible to provide in this manner a cooling
stream for the open air cooling concept. For a particularly
effective air outflow which results in an ideal absorption by the
adjacent electronic devices, the depth of the air conditioning
device according to the invention is preferable adjusted so that
the air supplying device or an air outlet of the air conditioning
device according to the invention are extended through the fronts
of adjacent electronic device cabinets, or so that the air
supplying device is extended on the second side of the air
conditioning device according to the invention from the front level
in such a way in the radial direction that the radial stream runs
parallel and at a negligible distance along the fronts of the
adjacent electronic device cabinets. A particularly advantageous
feature is in this case the fact that the exiting cooling stream
displays the tendency to move along the surfaces of adjacent
electronic device cabinets and to be positioned on the surfaces
instead of becoming detached, so that it can then move further in
the originally impacted direction of the air flow. The effect of
the attachment of the air flow is known as Coanda effect according
to the inventor of this effect Henri Coanda. Due to this adjoining
current, the radially outgoing cooling air flow is not directed
freely into the space available in several electronic device
cabinets, where it can become mixed with warmer air. Instead, the
electronic device cabinets adjacent to the air conditioning device
according to the invention are directly impacted by a current of
colder air, for example on their front surfaces, which means that
corresponding air supplying devices supply directly almost
exclusively pure cooling air, which is absorbed in the electronic
device cabinets and which can be used for cooling of the electronic
devices.
[0013] In spite of the fact that the open concept of cooling with
air has been realized with independently and separately designed
air conditioning device, the efficiency of the air conditioning
device according to the invention is clearly improved over known
air conditioning devices because the utilized cooling output does
not have to overcome constant losses which are caused by the mixing
with warmer air since instead, almost the entire cooling output
provided by the air conditioning device can reach the electronic
devices to be cooled.
[0014] Another particular advantage of the construction of the air
conditioning device according to the invention is based on the fact
that a cooling system which has several air conditioning devices
can be very easily scaled, since it is possible for example to
arrange very easily additional air conditioning devices next to
locations particularly exposed to heat loads (so called "hot
spots"), which can supply directly additional cooling air without
requiring modifications of the carriers of the electronic
devices.
[0015] The air supplying device is designed in a preferred
embodiment of the invention as a radial fan, which is extended
outward from the second side of the air conditioning device
according to the invention, so that an air current entering axially
the air conditioning device is guided out in the radial direction
parallel to a boundary surface of the second side.
[0016] It is preferred when the rotational speed of the air
conditioning device and thus also the resulting air volume stream
can be regulated so that the cooling output can be read out
individually and made available for the devices to be cooled.
Brushless direct current motors are particularly suitable for
operating fans because these motors are particularly effective and
they are characterized by a high efficiencies level under full load
conditions.
[0017] It is particularly preferred when the air conditioning
device according to the invention is equipped with at least one
temperature sensor, which is positioned such that it detects the
temperature of the outgoing cool air or of the incoming warmed air.
This makes it possible to realize the regulation of the rotational
speed of the air supplying device and/or of the cooling
performance.
[0018] In another development of a preferred embodiment, the air
conditioning device according to the invention is provided with an
interface for at least one temperature sensor located an adjacent
device which is to be cooled. The temperature on the rear side of
an adjacent device to be cooled, typically a cabinet for electric
devices, or an electronic device in an electronic device cabinet,
can be used in order to regulate the volume of the air current
and/or of the heat exchanger. The feedback of the temperature
measured in an adjacent device can be used for example to prevent
the situation when the cooling output that is available is not
sufficient for cooling of a device which requires a particularly
high output.
[0019] Several radial fans are distributed in an advantageous
embodiment of the invention throughout the second side of the air
conditioning device according to the invention, so that a radial
air stream is created as uniformly as possible throughout the
entire height of the construction of the air conditioning device
according to the invention. In addition, each individual radial fan
can be preferably realized with an individual construction height
for regulation of the supply of air or of the temperature of the
returning air by using individual rotational speeds, or by
regulating the volume of the air current generated in this manner.
Several temperature sensors can be placed for this purpose
throughout the height of the air conditioning device according to
the invention, so that an individual adjustment to cooling
requirements can be ensured throughout the entire construction
height. In a particularly preferred embodiment, the heat exchanger
is provided with several heat exchanger segments, so that an
associated controllable heat exchanger segment belongs to each
radial fan. This means that not only each radial fan can be
regulated individually, but that the associated heat exchange
segments can be also controlled.
[0020] In a preferred embodiment of the invention, the air
conditioning device is provided on the second side with a
projecting frame in which the air supplying device is arranged.
This serves to protect the air supplying device from mechanical
damage since due to the design according to the invention of the
adjacent electronic device cabinets which are integrated at the
front level, the device stands out from the electronic device
cabinets at the uniform front level, so that the device is thus
exposed to significant damage. It is preferred when the projecting
frame is provided with a wire mesh which enables lateral
discharging of cooling air.
[0021] According to a preferred embodiment of the invention, the
air conditioning device is equipped with conducting elements which
are used for a defined adjustment and harmonization of the outgoing
stream of cooling air. These elements can be arranged for example
in a projecting frame such as the one mentioned above, for example
on its lateral surfaces. The conducting elements can be further
also used for an overall adjustment of the radial discharging of
the cooling air on the side of the air conditioning device
according to the invention, for example if an electronic device
cabinet is arranged only on one side of the air conditioning
device.
[0022] According to a preferred embodiment of the invention, such
conducting elements can be adjusted in such a way that the Coanda
effect can occur in a nearly ideal manner, for example with a
strong concentration of the outgoing air current, or with an
adjustment to potential curves in the front sides of adjacent
cabinets for electronic devices.
[0023] According to a preferred embodiment of the invention, the
air conditioning device is equipped with a cooling device which can
cool the incoming warm air. The cooling device can also be used as
a separate device for active generation of cooling, which can be
arranged for example directly inside the cooling device according
to the invention. As an alternative, the cooling device could be
also designed only as a heat exchanger which impacts another
location with a central cooled medium in order to cool warm air
passing through it.
[0024] When an active cooling device is used, it is also
advantageous when this device is provided with an RPM-regulated
compressor. This permits to regulate the cooling output so that the
energy costs are reduced and the energy efficiency of the device
can be further improved. When brushless direct current motors are
used, a very high efficiency level can be achieved also under full
load conditions.
[0025] The regulation of the fan rotations and of the compressors
can be realized by means of a single central control unit which is
controlled and influenced through a control terminal. The control
unit could be used to fine-tune the level of the voltage which is
used to operate the controlled component, or as an alternative, it
could use a frequency of the voltage, or a control variable could
be output in another alternative, which is then compared by
decentralized control units in or on the components to be regulated
to nominal variables.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF FIGURES
[0026] Other characteristics, advantages and possible applications
of the present invention will be evident from the description of
embodiments and figures below. At the same time, all described
and/or illustrated characteristics are can be used independently
and in any combination with the subject of the invention, including
independently of their composition in individual claims, or
independently of their retroactive applications. Further, the same
reference symbols are used in the figures for the same or similar
objects.
[0027] FIGS. 1a, 1b, 1c, 1d, 1e and 1f show a first embodiment of
the air conditioning device according to the invention.
[0028] FIGS. 2a, 2b, 2d, 2e and 2f show a second embodiment of the
air conditioning device according to the invention.
[0029] FIGS. 3a, 3b, 3c and 3d show a conceptual rendering of an
air conditioning device, wherein FIG. 3d shows an air conditioning
device in installed state.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF EXEMPLARY EMBODIMENTS
[0030] FIG. 1a shows an air conditioning device 2 according to the
invention in a first side view. The air conditioning device 2
comprises an air-liquid heat exchanger 4, which is connected with
lines 6 to a central cooling unit, not shown in the figure,
supplying a cooled cooling medium. Air, which is located at a first
side 8 shown on the right side of the illustration representing the
rear side of the air conditioning device according to the
invention, is sucked by means of a radial fan 10 which serves as an
air supplying device into the air conditioning device, and it flows
onto the heat exchanger 4 which is impacted by cooling medium so
that the air is cooled in this manner and then exits the air
conditioning device through openings 12 created in a side wall of
the air conditioning device 1 according to the invention. This
means that air is streamed onto the first side 8 of the air
conditioning device 2 of the invention, where it is cooled so that
it flows in the direction of the second side 14 of the air
conditioning device 2 according to the invention, where it is
diverted essentially by 90.degree. by radial fans 10 and streamed
radially, which is to say substantially parallel to the extension
direction of the second side 14 so that it flows again out of the
air conditioning device 2.
[0031] The openings 12 may be realized in the form of a grid, which
has grid openings and which covers one part of the air conditioning
device 2, for example in order to protect the fans 10 from
damage.
[0032] The air conditioning device 2 according to the invention is
designed in such a way so that it can be preferably built in
between or next to electronic device cabinets, while a front outlet
region 16 having side openings 12 is distinctly extended from the
front sides of the electronic device cabinets, so that the air
flowing from the openings 12 can be swept along and applied to the
front sides of the electronic device cabinets. Thanks to the
independence of the air conditioning device according to the
invention, it is not necessary to implement any further
modifications of the adjacent electronic device cabinets in order
to realize particularly effective cooling.
[0033] As one can see clearly from the front view of the air
conditioning device 2 indicated in FIG. 1b, particularly
advantageous cooling of adjacent electronic device cabinets can be
achieved with a relatively small width. The air conditioning device
2 according to the invention requires a very small width in
comparison to conventional electronic device cabinets.
[0034] As one can see from the illustration in FIG. 1c, the heat
exchanger 4 is arranged inclined in the air conditioning device 2
according to the invention, so that a sweeping air stream can flow
through a relatively large surface of the heat exchanger 4.
[0035] Further, FIG. 1d shows a top view of the components of the
air conditioning device which are visible in FIGS. 1a through 1b,
wherein it is in particular evident here that the heat exchanger 4
is arranged inclined, that is to say inclined at an angle to an
axis between the first side 8 and the second side 14. The active
surface of the heat exchanger 4 can be maximized with a
particularly effective use of the available volume.
[0036] Finally, FIGS. 1e and 1f show two different isometric
projection views of the first embodiment of the air conditioning
device 2 according to the invention. The grid 12 is removed for
better visibility so that the fans 10 can be freely observed. In
order to prevent damage and contamination, the first side 8 is
covered with an inlet grid 18, which can be for example suspended
on hinges 20 to enable access to the lines 6 and to other
components of the air conditioning device. Finally, a control unit
22 is arranged on the second side 14 for controlling the air
conditioning device 2 according to the invention, which can be used
for example to control the arrangement of the valves of the lines 6
in order to fine-tune the streaming of the cooling medium through
the device and thus the individual cooling output as required.
[0037] The lines 6 lead in one example into a bottom 24, and they
are extended up to an upper cover 26 so that connecting lines can
be employed above or below the air conditioning device 2 according
to the invention.
[0038] A second embodiment of an air conditioning device according
to the invention is shown in the FIGS. 2a through 2f. An essential
difference between the air conditioning device 2 of the invention
according to the first embodiment and according to this embodiment
is that a compact, active cooling device 30 is integrated in this
embodiment. This is suitable in particular for small computer
centers, or for stand-alone electronic cabinets such as those that
are used in production environments when a central cooling facility
is not practical for economic reasons for supplying heat exchangers
with a cooled cooling medium. The air conditioning device 30, which
is indicated here only schematically, could be for example based on
an evaporator cooling circuit know from refrigerators. An air-fluid
heat exchanger 32 is impacted by a fluid cooled by the cooling
device 30 so that the air is subjected to cooling as it flows from
the from the first side 8 to the second side 14. The air-fluid heat
exchanger 32 may be arranged in the air conditioning device 28
according to the invention as shown, without being inclined at an
angle for space reasons, although the cooling device 30 could also
occupy the installation space for the tilted installation type,
which, however, would be compensated for with a somewhat greater
depth of the air-fluid heat exchanger.
[0039] Nevertheless, the second embodiment of the air conditioning
device 28 according to the invention can be also provided with a
relatively narrow width in comparison to customary cabinets for
electronic devices as one can clearly see from FIG. 2b.
[0040] Finally, FIGS. 2e and 2f show the second embodiment of the
air conditioning device 28 according to the invention in two
different isometric projection views which make it possible to see
inside the inner construction of the device. As was described
above, the principle according to the invention is based on the
fact that an air conditioning device 2 or 28 according to this
invention enables open air cooling for cooling of electronic device
in adjacent electronic device cabinets, while disadvantages known
from prior art can be eliminated at the same time. This can be
achieved in that an outlet region 16 of an air conditioning device
2 or 28 according to the invention is provided in front of the
adjacent electronic cabinets, so that cooling air is blown out
radially along the front sides of these adjacent electronic device
cabinets. The current of cooling air is thus blown directly at the
front sides of the electronic devices, which must be sucked only
into the corresponding electronic device cabinets to achieve
cooling. The principle of the Coanda effect, which describes the
application of a current to surfaces, is thus used according to the
invention.
[0041] This principle will now be further explained with reference
to FIGS. 3a through 3d. FIGS. 3a through 3c shows embodiment 2 or
28 in a schematic view. The first side 8, which is to say the rear
side of the of the air conditioning device 2 or 28 according to the
invention, is oriented toward a so called "warm duct" with the
used, warmed up cooling air, while the second side 14, which is to
say the front side, is oriented toward the "cool duct" with fresh,
cooled cooling air. Optionally, the temperature of the air
streaming in can be measured by means of temperature sensors 9 to
enable regulation of the rotational speed of the radial fan 10 as
required. In FIG. 3b are indicated several temperature sensors 9,
which are distributed throughout the construction height of the air
conditioning device 2 according to the invention, and which thus
allow individual adjustments of the rotational speed of all radial
fans. As an alternative or in addition, it would be in this context
also conceivable to arrange one or several temperature sensors on
the discharging side of the heat exchanger. It is particularly
advantageous when temperature sensors are arranged on the rear side
of the adjacent electronic device cabinets to be cooled at
different heights, so that the temperature data measured in this
location is then used to regulate jointly or individually the
rotational speed of the radial fans 10 and/or so that the heat
exchanger segments are also individually regulated--when a heat
exchanger segment is provided which can be individually regulated
in an advantageous manner.
[0042] In conclusion, FIG. 3d shows an air conditioning device 2 or
28 according to the invention between two electronic device
cabinets 34, wherein cold air from radial fans impacts the area in
the direction along the front sides 36 and is applied based on
Coanda effect to the front sides.
[0043] The embodiments of the air conditioning devices according to
the invention are particularly effective based on the Coanda effect
of radially conducted cooling air. It should be pointed out in this
context that the air conditioning devices according to the
invention are not limited to indicated embodiments since every
conceivable variation of the technical realization having air
supplying devices, which are arranged more or less next to or on
top of one another and which are provided with different internal
or external cooling devices, or designs of heat exchangers and flow
mechanics details, also represent a subject of this invention.
* * * * *