U.S. patent application number 14/251847 was filed with the patent office on 2014-08-07 for universal telescopic louvered panel attachment and system for passive stack effect cooling in a data center.
The applicant listed for this patent is Gary Meyer. Invention is credited to Gary Meyer.
Application Number | 20140216683 14/251847 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 45438936 |
Filed Date | 2014-08-07 |
United States Patent
Application |
20140216683 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Meyer; Gary |
August 7, 2014 |
Universal Telescopic Louvered Panel Attachment and System for
Passive Stack Effect Cooling in a Data Center
Abstract
A telescopic louvered panel and system for enhancing cold aisle
and hot aisle passive stack effect cooling efficiency in a data
center is provided. The panel has a panel frame with a pair of
vertical side walls. Each of the side walls has a back flange
portion with mounting apertures for mounting the panel frame to
either one of a computer cabinet or server door. A series of
horizontally telescoping blade members have opposite ends which are
pivotally connecting the side walls. The blade members are capable
of slidably adjusting a width dimension of the frame, and pivoting
on a horizontal plane. A vertical tilt bar links the blades
together so that the blades push to open and close in unison.
Inventors: |
Meyer; Gary; (GOLDEN,
CO) |
|
Applicant: |
Name |
City |
State |
Country |
Type |
Meyer; Gary |
GOLDEN |
CO |
US |
|
|
Family ID: |
45438936 |
Appl. No.: |
14/251847 |
Filed: |
April 14, 2014 |
Related U.S. Patent Documents
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Application
Number |
Filing Date |
Patent Number |
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13135452 |
Jul 6, 2011 |
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14251847 |
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61398893 |
Jul 6, 2010 |
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Current U.S.
Class: |
165/48.1 ;
160/185 |
Current CPC
Class: |
H05K 7/20009 20130101;
H05K 7/20836 20130101; H05K 7/20745 20130101 |
Class at
Publication: |
165/48.1 ;
160/185 |
International
Class: |
H05K 7/20 20060101
H05K007/20 |
Claims
1. A universal telescopic louvered panel attachment for enhancing
cold aisle and hot aisle passive stack effect cooling efficiency in
a computer room, comprising: (a) a panel frame, said panel frame
having a pair of vertical side walls, each of said side walls,
having a front edge, back edge, and a flange portion adjacent to
said back edge, wherein said flange includes a plurality of
mounting apertures being adapted for receiving a fastening means
for mounting said panel frame to either one of a computer cabinet
or server door; and (b) a series of horizontally telescoping blade
members, said blade members being a combination including a first
sheet and a second sheet, said sheets having corresponding faces
adapted to slide-by adjacent each other in a horizontal direction,
and whereby said telescoping blade members are pivotally connecting
said side walls, at opposite ends thereof, so that said blade
members arc capable of slidably adjusting a width dimension of said
frame, and pivoting on a horizontal plane within said frame.
2. The telescopic attachment according to claim 1, further
comprising a vertical tilt bar pivotally connected to each of said
blade members, said tilt bar linking said blade members together so
that said blade members operate to open and close in unison.
3. The telescopic attachment according to claim 1, whereby said
corresponding faces include a first and a second parallel planes,
said second plane being inclined relative to said first plane, said
panes being demarcated by a horizontal valley formed
therebetween.
4. The telescopic attachment according to claim 1, wherein at least
one of said side walls includes an elliptical array of clear holes,
said clear holes being capable of receiving at least one stop
member, said stop being capable of retaining said telescoping blade
members in a predetermined open and close position.
5. A system for enhancing cold aisle and hot aisle passive stack
effect in a computer room, comprising: (a) a cold aisle; (b) a hot
aisle; (c) an air conditioning and ducting system capable of
circulating a cooling airflow in said cold aisle and a heated
airflow in said hot aisle; (d) a row of computer server cabinets,
each of said cabinets having an anterior server door, and a back
panel, said server doors including a cooling air intake and said
back panel adapted for thermal dissipation, said row of said server
cabinets being aligned in said computer room so that said server
doors are facing said cold aisle and said back panels are facing
said hot aisle; and (e) a louvered panel attachment being mounted
on either one of said server cabinet doors or back panels, said
louvered panel attachment being a panel frame and a series of
horizontally telescoping blade members, said panel frame having as
pair of vertical side walls, each of said side walls having a front
edge, back edge, and a flange portion positioned adjacent to said
back edge, wherein said flange portion includes a plurality of
mounting apertures being adapted for receiving a fastening means
for mounting said panel frame to either one of said server doors or
back panels, said blade members being an assembly including as
first sheet and a second sheet having parallel corresponding faces
that slide-by adjacent each other in a horizontal direction,
whereby said telescoping blade members are pivotally connecting
said side walls, at opposite ends thereof, so that said blade
members are capable of slidably adjusting a width dimension of said
frame, said width dimension being relative for attachment to either
one of said cabinet doors or cabinet back panels, whereby said
blade members are capable of pivoting on a horizontal plane within
said frame.
6. The system according to claim 5, further comprising a vertical
tilt bar assembly pivotally connected to each of said blade
members, said tilt bar assembly linking said blade members together
so that said blades operate to open and close in unison.
7. The system according to claim 5, wherein said computer room
includes a raised floor assembly being a matrix of raised floor
panels carried on a pedestal support system, said raised floor
assembly defining a lower plenum and an upper plenum, and said
ducting system further includes a row of air-grate floor panels
capable of directing said cooling airflow from said lower plenum
into said cold aisle.
8. The system according to claim 5, wherein said air conditioning
and ducting system includes a loop comprising a first ducting and a
second ducting, said first ducting and said second ducting being
positioned in an alternating alignment so that said first ducting
is capable of supplying said cooling airflow into said cold aisle
and said second ducting is capable of removing said heated airflow
from said hot aisle.
9. A method for enhancing cold aisle and hot aisle passive stack
effect in a computer room, comprising; (a) providing a cold aisle;
(b) providing a hot aisle; (c) providing an air conditioning and
ducting system capable of circulating as cooling airflow in said
cold aisle and a heated airflow in said hot aisle; (d) providing a
row of computer server cabinets, each of said cabinets having an
anterior server door, and a back panel, said server doors including
a cooling air intake and said back panel adapted for thermal
dissipation, said row of said server cabinets being aligned in said
computer room so that said server doors are facing said cold aisle
and said back panels are facing said hot aisle; (e) providing a
louvered panel attachment being mounted on either one of said
server cabinet doors or back panels, said louvered panel attachment
being panel frame and a series of horizontally telescoping blade
members, said panel frame having a pair of vertical side walls,
each of said side walls having a front edge, back edge, and a
flange portion positioned adjacent to said back edge, wherein said
flange portion includes a plurality of mounting apertures being
adapted for receiving a fastening means for mounting said panel
frame to either one of said server doors or back panels, said blade
members being an assembly including a first sheet and a second
sheet having parallel corresponding faces that slide-by adjacent
each other in a horizontal direction, whereby said telescoping
blade members are pivotally connecting said side walls, at opposite
ends thereof, so that said blade members are capable of slidably
adjusting a width dimension of said frame, said width dimension
being relative for attachment to either one of said cabinet doors
or cabinet back panels, whereby said blade members are capable of
pivoting on a horizontal plane within said frame; and (f) operating
said air conditioning and ducting system in combination with the
lowered panel attachment to optimize a cold aisle and hot aisle
passive stack effect cooling efficiency.
10. The method according to claim 9, further comprising a vertical
tilt bar assembly pivotally connected to each of said blade
members, said tilt bar assembly linking said blade members together
so that said blades operate to open and close in unison.
11. The method according to claim 9, wherein said computer room
includes a raised floor assembly being a matrix of raised floor
panels carried on a pedestal support system, said raised floor
assembly defining a lower plenum and an upper plenum, and said
ducting system further includes a row of air-grate floor panels
capable of directing said cooling airflow from said lower plenum
into said cold aisle.
12. The method according to claim 9, wherein said computer room is
a solid floor construction and said air conditioning and dueling
system includes a recirculation loop, said loop comprising a first
ducting and a second ducting, said first ducting and said second
ducting being positioned in an alternating alignment relative to
said cold aisles and said hot aisles so that said first ducting is
capable of supplying said cooling airflow into said cold aisles and
said second ducting is capable of removing said heated airflow from
said hot aisle as a make-up air to a computer room air conditioning
unit.
13. The method according to claim 10 wherein operating the tilt bar
assembly is a direct digital control having a predetermined
set-point.
Description
CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS
[0001] Pursuant to 35 U.S.C. 120, the Applicant claims the benefit
of U.S. Ser. No. 13/135,452, filed Jul. 6, 2011, pursuant to 35
U.S.C. 111(a), which claims the benefit, pursuant to 35 U.S.C.
119(e), of U.S. Ser. No. 61/398,893, filed, pursuant to 35 U.S.C.
111(b), on 6 Jul. 2010.
STATEMENT OF FEDERALLY SPONSORED RESEARCH
[0002] Not Applicable.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
[0003] 1. Field of the Invention
[0004] The present invention relates to passive cooling of computer
servers in a data center. In particular, it relates to an improved
telescopic louvered panel attachment and system for enhancing hot
aisle and cold aisle passive stack effect cooling in a data
center.
[0005] 2. Description of the Related Art
[0006] Raised floors are used in data centers to create a space
between a sub-floor of the building and the normal working
environment of the computer room. The space between the sub-floor
and the raised floor panels creates an under-floor cool-air
circulating plenum for thermal management of the data processing
servers installed in banks of rack systems installed on top of the
raised floor. The floor panels, themselves, are either solid or
perforated.
[0007] Overall, the cooling components, of a computer room, are
charged with creating, and moving air on the data center floor.
From there, the room itself must maintain separate climates in
relation to the cool air, which is required by the servers, and the
hot air which they exhaust. Without separate boundaries, the air
paths mix, resulting in both economic and ecological
consequences.
[0008] Air-grate floor panels are used to separate the computer
room into a lower-plenum and upper-plenum air handling boundary
configuration where the cooling air "originates" in the lower
plenum, flows upwardly through the openings in the air-grate
panels, and is made available to flow through the cold air intake
apertures in the server doors, for cooling the server cabinets
installed in the upper plenum on the raised floor, of the computer
room. In operation, the data processors heat the air, as it flows
through the server, and the heated air is returned to the computer
room air conditioning units ("CRAC") where the heated air is cooled
and recycled back into the lower, or under-floor, plenum.
[0009] A further refinement came when the industry generally
accepted the design concept of "hot aisle and cold aisle"
containment, as an additional means for thermal separation in the
computer room. This design uses a combination of the CRAC units,
duct work, and perforated air-grate floor panels to achieve hot
aisle/cold aisle air flow separation. The installation aligns data
center cabinets into alternating rows, endures in critical
facilities throughout the world, and is widely regarded as the
first major step in improving airflow management. In use, part of
the air flow enters the server racks, and part of the air flow
bypasses the server cabinets and returns to the CRAC air handling
units. That portion of the air which enters the servers, through
the server door intake, is heated, the heated air is then exhausted
through the server cabinet back panel, and the heated air is then
returned to the CRAC air handling units for recycle into the lower
plenum. Typically, some intermixing of the hot and cold air paths
is experienced due to improper sealing in the rack, or
recirculation above and around the sides of the rack rows, which
lowers the operational thermal efficiency of the system.
[0010] Other conditions might occur which interfere with achieving
optimum cooling efficiency in a "hot aisle/cold aisle"
construction, as well. For example, "bypass air" is an interfering
condition often observed when conditioned air escapes through cable
cut-outs, holes under cabinets, misplaced perforated tiles, or
through holes in the perimeter walls of the computer room. Bypass
air limits the precise delivery of cold air at the server door
intake.
[0011] "Hot air recirculation" is also an interfering condition
found under conditions where waste heat enters the cold aisle. In
order to combat this condition, operators ensure that the cooling
infrastructure must throw colder air at the equipment to offset
mixing. Hot air contamination is also a condition which prohibits
the CRAC units from receiving the warmest possible exhaust air
which renders their operation less efficient. Finally, hot spots
may still persist as a result of any, or all, of the above
conditions.
[0012] It is desirable to process even greater volumes of data at
higher velocities. However, a problem exists because such
advancements lead to proportional increases in the operational
energy of thermal dissipation for any given system. Indeed, those
observed increases, in the thermal dissipation energy, are now
exceeding even the most advanced operational design limitations.
Thus, certain operators are now working on different ways to lower
the temperature set-point of the entire data center in order to
enhance cooling of those computer servers which are positioned in
the upper reaches of the server racks installed in the upper
plenum.
[0013] One such solution to the problem is directed toward an
effort in continuing to redesign the air flow characteristics of
the air-grate panels themselves. For example, in U.S. Pat. Ser. No.
D567,398, Meyer teaches the design of air-grate floor panels having
air scoops projecting downwardly as part of the superstructure of
the air-grate sub-frame. It is readily apparent that this scoop
design would act to capture conditioned air, as it flows in a
generally horizontal direction through the lower plenum of a raised
floor, and redirect it upwardly into the upper plenum through the
slotted perforations in the air-grate raised floor panel plate.
[0014] As above, the concept of "hot aisle/cold aisle" employs
improvements in the design and location of the CRAC units, duct
work, blowers, and the raised floor panels themselves, as a cooling
infrastructure which focuses on a separation of the make-up cold
air and the exhaust hot air throughout the system. However, some
additional design improvements have yet to be fully realized. One
such improvement, would take into consideration certain
modifications to the server door air intake configuration.
[0015] Early versions of server enclosures, often with "smoked" or
glass front doors became obsolete with the adoption of "hot
aisle/cold aisle" technologies. As a result, the use of ventilated
doors became necessary for use with the "hot aisle/cold aisle"
passive cooling approach. For this reason, perforated doors have
gained wide acceptance in the industry for most off-the-shelf
server enclosures. One improvement in the overall design of the
computer server doors and back panel enclosures has been published
in U.S. Pat. Publ. No. US-2012-009862-A1, to Meyer. There, Meyer
teaches the use of either one of a louvered server door and cabinet
back panel which opens and closes to variably restrict or direct a
cooling airflow and hot air exhaust through the server cabinet. The
louvered doors and back panels enhance a new concept using a hot
aisle and cold aisle passive "stack effect" cooling dynamic which
is based on a thermal buoyancy differential between the cold air
and hot air streams in a system.
[0016] While the foregoing louvered server doors and cabinet back
panels illustrate useful improvements for enhancing hot aisle and
cold aisle passive stack effect cooling technology, these
assemblies often require custom fabrication and are thus often
unsuitable for inventory, immediate shipment, and use. Thus, what
is needed is an improved louvered panel attachment which is
mountable for retrofit installation on an existing server door and
cabinet panel, together with an improved system for hot aisle and
cold aisle passive stack effect cooling efficiency in a data
center. The present invention satisfies these needs.
BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
[0017] It is therefore an object of the present invention to
provide an improved louvered panel attachment which is mountable
for retrofit installation on an existing server door and cabinet
panel.
[0018] It is yet another object of the present invention to provide
an improved system for hot aisle and cold aisle passive stack
effect cooling efficiency in a data center.
[0019] To overcome the problems of the prior art, and in accordance
with the purpose of the present invention, as embodied and broadly
described herein, briefly, a universal telescopic louvered panel
attachment is provided for enhancing cold aisle and hot aisle
passive stack effect cooling efficiency in a data center. The
attachment has a panel frame. The frame has a pair of vertical side
walls. Each of the side walls, have a front edge, a back edge, and
a flange portion. The flange is positioned adjacent to the back
edge. Each of the flanges have mounting apertures. The mounting
apertures are adapted for receiving a fastener for mounting the
panel frame to either one of a computer cabinet or server door. A
series of horizontally telescoping blade members are constructed of
first and second sheets. Each of the sheets have corresponding
parallel laces that slide-by adjacent each other in a horizontal
direction. The telescoping blade members have opposite ends which
are pivotally connecting the side walls. The blade members are
capable of slidably adjusting a width dimension of the frame, and
pivoting on a horizontal plane. A vertical tilt bar is pivotally
connected to each of the blades. The tilt bar links the blades
together so that the blades push to open and close in unison.
[0020] Additional advantages of the present invention will be set
forth in part in the description that follows and in part will be
obvious from that description or can be learned from practice of
the invention. The advantages of the invention can be realized and
obtained by the invention particularly pointed out in the appended
claims.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE SEVERAL VIEWS OF THE DRAWINGS
[0021] The accompanying drawings, which are incorporated in and
which constitute a part of the specification, illustrate at least
one embodiment of the invention and, together with the description,
explain the principles of the invention.
[0022] FIG. 1 is a front view of the louvered panel in accordance
with the present invention.
[0023] FIG. 2 is a back view of the louvered panel in accordance
with the present invention.
[0024] FIG. 3 is a front view of the preferred embodiment of the
telescopic blade member assembly.
[0025] FIG. 4 is a back view of the telescopic blade member
assembly shown in FIG. 3 showing the sheet members slidably
extended outwardly to increase the width dimension of the blade
assembly to retrofit existing applications.
[0026] FIG. 5 is a side view of a panel frame sidewall showing a
preferred embodiment of the telescoping blade members, vertical
tilt bar, and stop pin receiving holes.
[0027] FIG. 6 is an enlarged portion of that view shown in FIG.
3.
[0028] FIG. 7 is an isometric view of the preferred embodiment of
the present invention when mounted on an anterior portion of a
computer server door over a meshed air intake portion of the server
door.
[0029] FIG. 8 is an isometric view of the preferred embodiment of
the system, of the present invention, showing the louvered panel
attachment mounted on a row of server doors for directional cooling
of those computer servers, when aligned facing a cold aisle raised
floor air-grate construction.
[0030] FIG. 9 is an isometric view of the preferred embodiment of
the system, of the present invention, showing the cold aisle and
hot aisle construction of the raised floor assembly, with the
louvered panel attachments mounted on the server doors and one the
back panels to enhance passive stack effect cooling efficiency in a
data center.
[0031] FIG. 10 is an isometric view of yet another preferred
embodiment of the system, of the present invention, showing use of
the louvered panel, duct work and CRAC units to generate the cold
aisle and hot aisle barriers in a solid floor assembly.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0032] Unless specifically defined otherwise, all scientific and
technical terms, used herein, have the same ordinary meaning as
would be commonly understood by one of ordinary skill in the art to
which this invention belongs. In practice, the present invention
improves "cold aisle and hot aisle passive stack effect" by
generally ensuring that the cold air stays at the server intake,
while the computer room air conditioners, or air handlers, receive
the warmer exhaust air, improving their stack effect efficiency.
Moreover, the invention enhances the "capture of exhaust air" via
in-row air conditioners which condition it and return it via the
lower plenum and air-grate cold aisle formed with the present
invention. The term "lower plenum" means that portion of the
computer room below the air-grate floor panels when installed on a
pedestal support system. The term "upper plenum" means that portion
of the computer room existing above the air-grate floor panels,
including the data processing server equipment and in-row air
conditioners, or air handling units. Thus, the term "computer room"
means the overall air handling environment including the upper and
lower plenums from the subfloor to ceiling. Finally, "CRAC units"
means those computer room air conditioning units typically located
at the perimeter of the data center floor surrounding the (server)
racks, or in-rows, to circulate air in the data center space to
create a cooling loop. The phrase "stack effect" means the
differential in the buoyant density of cooling air relative to the
heated exhaust air which drives the passive cooling improvement
efficiency in accordance with the present invention.
[0033] Although any methods and materials similar or equivalent to
those described herein, can be used in the practice or testing of
the present invention, the preferred methods and materials are now
described. Reference will now be made in detail, to the presently
preferred embodiments of the invention, including the examples of
which are illustrated in the accompanying drawings. In the
drawings, like numerals will be used in order to represent like
features of the present invention.
[0034] The present invention provides an improved universal
telescopic louvered panel attachment 10 for enhancing cold aisle 36
and hot aisle 38 passive stack effect cooling efficiency in a data
center. In the presently preferred embodiment, the attachment 10
has a panel frame. The panel frame includes a pair of vertical side
walls 4. Each of the side walls 4, have a front edge 5, a back
edge, and a flange portion 6. The flange portion 6 is positioned
adjacent to the back edges. Each of the 6 have mounting apertures
8. The mounting apertures 8 are adapted for receiving a fastener,
such as a rivet, pin, screw or bolt, for mounting the panel frame
sidewalk 4 to either one of a computer cabinet 24 or server door
20.
[0035] FIGS. 3 and 4 illustrate a preferred embodiment of the blade
members 11. There, the panel attachment 10 includes a series of
horizontally telescoping blade members 11 constructed of first 1
and second 2 sheets. The first sheet 1 includes top and bottom
u-shaped channels, preferably being bend formations, for slidably
receiving the smooth outer edges of the second 2 sheet. Each of the
sheets 1, 2, have corresponding parallel faces that slide-by
adjacent each other in a horizontal direction. The telescoping
blade members have opposite ends which are pivotally connecting the
side walls 4. The blade members are thus capable of slidably
adjusting a width dimension of the frame, and pivoting on a
horizontal plane. The width adjustment is predetermined so that the
frame fits either within the server door frame 22 or on the back
cabinet panel 26. The sidewalls 4 and blade members 11, including
first sheet 1 and second sheet 2 are desirably constructed of steel
being 1-2 mm in thickness. In this manner, the flange 6 and
U-shaped channel of sheet 1 are easily formed by bending.
[0036] The panel attachment 10 retrofit solution is a result of the
novel feature being the telescopic blade members 11 being the
connecting members to the sidewalls 4. In this manner, the overall
width installation dimension of the panel frame 10 is adjustable
for mounting on either server doors or back panels, within a
predetermined range. For example, it Would be desirable to
inventory the telescoping panel 10 attachment in sizes having a
contraction and expansion capability within ranges of: 20.3-30.5;
27.9-45.7; and 50.8-91.4 centimeters. These ranges are not merely
elements of design, but are functionally related to those server
door frames 22 sizes which have gained wide acceptance for use in
the industry.
[0037] A vertical tilt bar 12 is pivotally connected to each of the
blades. The tilt bar 12 links the blade member 11 together so that
the blade members 11 push to open and close in unison. In this
manner, and specifically contemplated herein, the blade members 11
may include manually, or electrically, driven drive linkages (not
shown) connected to the tilt bar 12 for operating the blades in a
range of positions, between open and closed, depending on the
desired setting for the desired air flow rate through the servers,
to be cooled. It is also desirably to include either manual or
electronic control systems for the thermostatic control of the
blade members 11 during operation.
[0038] Referring to FIGS. 3 and 4, in the presently preferred
embodiment, the blade members 11 may, but need not, include a
valley 3, being a bend along their chord axis, which forms a first
plane 16 and a second plane 18 being inclined relative to the first
plane 16. Moreover, at least one of the side walls 4 includes a
series of clear holes drilled in an elliptical array which are
adapted to receive at least one stop pin (not shown). When located,
the stop pin is capable of retaining the telescoping blade members
in a predetermined open and close position. The blade members 11
are preferably constructed of a 1-2 mm thick steel sheet material,
whereby the valley between the first face 16 and inclined face 18
is formed as a bend in the sheets 1, and 2.
[0039] In use, the foregoing telescopic panel attachment is a
component of the system, of the present invention, for improving
cold aisle/hot aisle passive stack effect cooling efficiency in a
data center. As such, the air-grate floor panels 30 are elements of
the system. The air-grate panels 30 include a perforated top plate,
having upper and lower surfaces. The top plate is attached to a
load bearing sub-frame. The sub-frame typically includes four
vertical girders, connected in a ninety-degree alignment, to one
another, so that four corners of the frame are capable of
supporting the air-grate 30 as an air handling separation barrier
on a raised floor pedestal 34 support system. The air-grate 30 is
preferably fabricated of a steel plate which is cut, welded,
drilled, die-cast, and/or pressed in to subassemblies, or completed
panels, in the shop for final finishing, such as powder coating,
warehousing, order, and rapid shipment. The top plate includes a
plurality of openings which may be circular, but are desirably
slotted with a long axis installed to extend perpendicular to the
frontal plane of the server cabinet doors when aligned facing the
cold aisle.
[0040] FIG. 9 illustrates the presently preferred embodiment of the
system of the present invention. Here, the system is designed for
use on any raised floor pedestal support system which is well known
in the art. Such systems typically include a plurality of
vertically extending pedestal support members 34. The pedestal
support members 34 are typically provided with an upper externally
threaded rod, connected to a pedestal support head, and a lower
internally threaded tube, connected to a pedestal support base. The
pedestal support bases are connected to the subfloor of a raised
floor data center building construction. The pedestal supports 34
are each connected in a square, or rectangular, matrix orientation
with a plurality of horizontal stringers. The matrix is configured
in a predetermined dimension which is consistent with the dimension
of the air-grates 30 and solid top panels 33, to be installed on
pedestal support heads and stringers. The air-grate floor panels 30
are mounted in a course, or row, on the pedestal heads and
stringers so that a cold aisle 36 is formed facing the server doors
20 in a row of data processing servers 24.
[0041] The CRAC units 28 are used to remove and return heated air
32, separated in the upper plenum, cool that air, and pressurize
the lower plenum with a predetermined volume of the cooling air 31.
Heated return air (27.degree. C.) 32, is generated during the
operation of the data servers 24 when it is exhausted through the
servers 24 and into the hot aisles 38 behind the servers 24. The
heated air 32, or return air, flows into the CRAC units 28 which
are located in the computer room on top of the raised floor. In
this example, the return air 32 is conditioned to 18.degree. C., by
the CRAC units 28, and is ducted downwardly into the lower, or
under-floor, plenum where it acts to pressurize the lower plenum,
causing a positive pressure differential, in relation to the upper
plenum portion of the computer room. This pressure differential
causes the conditioned cooling air 31 to be forced through the
lower plenum, upwards through the slots in the air-grates 30
forming the cold aisle 36 in a direction which impacts the panel
attachment 10 blade members 11. The blade members 11 direct or
restrict the conditioned cooling air relative to the cold air
intake 21. Impact and stratification dynamics, inherent in the use
of the novel system disclosed herein, act to cause the cooling air
31 to flow in a direction which continually passes the blade
members 11 and frontal intake portions 21 of the server doors 20.
As this cooling air 31 passes the front air intake 21 of the server
cabinets, the server fans operate to evacuate the conditioned air
through the server cabinet 24 where it is heated and exhausted
(32.degree. C.) out of the back 28 of the server cabinets 24, and
into the hot aisle 38. The hot air 32 exhaust then becomes the
make-up return air for recycle through the system.
[0042] A computer rack, contains the computer servers 24 within the
upper plenum defined by the raised floor. The server cabinets 24
are generally aligned side-to-side in rows with the server doors 20
facing on opposite sides of the air-grate 30 panels which establish
a component of the cold aisle 36. Each row may include any stack of
servers 24, in racks, as are well known in the art. The computer
server cabinets 24 are generally 0.9-3.0 meters tall being a box
shaped cabinet. At least one server door 20 is attached to the
server cabinet 24 with by hinged positioned along one edge. The
server doors 20 include a door frame 22 and a cold air intake 21.
The server cabinets 24 also include a ventilated back panel 26, or
door. As shown in the drawing figures, the back panels 26, of the
server cabinets 23, are oppositely aligned side-to-side in rows
facing the solid surface panels 33 to establish hot aisle 38.
[0043] In use, the panel attachment 10 is spread to for
press-fitment with an inside portion of an existing door 20 frame
22. The blade members 11 are adjusted with tilt bar 12 to a fully
open position which reveals mounting apertures 8 in flanges 6 of
sidewalls 4. The sidewalls 4 are fastened to the door frame 22
using fasteners, such as a rivet, screw, bolt, or pin, so that the
panel attachment overlays to door cooling air intake 21. The blade
members 11 are then adjusted to a predetermined position either
manually or with direct digital control of the tilt bar 12
assemblies.
[0044] Turning now to FIG. 10, where it is shown yet another
preferred embodiment of the system, of the present invention, the
computer room in constructed with a solid floor and the CRAC units
28 and a ducting system generate an air handling loop relative to
the cold aisles 36 and hot aisles 38. The solid floor may, but need
not, be constructed as a matrix of substantially solid top raised
access floor panels 33 carried on a raised floor pedestal support
assembly. Here, the CRAC units 28 are used to evacuate and remove
the heated air 32, dissipated through operation of the servers 24
from the hot aisles 38, through a ducting system and recycle the
heated air 31 back into the CRAC units 28. The heated air 32 is
desirably conditioned by the CRAC units 28 to approximately
18.degree. C., and the conditioned cooling air 31 is then forcibly
directed through the ducting system for contained supply into the
cold aisle 36. Again, the pressure differentials, established
thereby, causes the conditioned cooling air 31 to be forced in a
downward direction from the ducting system into the cold aisle 36
where it impacts the panel attachment 10 blade members 11. With
this embodiment, the panel attachment is mounted on the server door
20 so that the blade members 11 are operable upwardly to supply
conditioned cooling air 11 into the cold air intake portions 21, of
the server doors 20. As the cooling air 31 passes the frontal air
intake 21 portions of the server doors 20, the server exhaust fans
operate to evacuate the conditioned air 21 through the server
cabinet 24 where it is thermally dissipated and exhausted our of a
ventilated portion in the back panel 26 of the server cabinet 24
into the hot aisle 38.
[0045] While the present invention has been described in connection
with the illustrated embodiments, it will be appreciated and
understood that modifications may be made without departing, from
the true spirit and scope of the invention.
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