Patent Application
20100248609
This invention relates to an assembly for adapting in-row air conditioning units, such as those used in a data center, to draw heated air from a plenum or duct and provide cooled air to electronic equipment.
Electronic equipment is often located within a housing, such as an equipment rack used to hold computer servers and the like in assemblies that are located within the rack. The electronic equipment generates substantial heat that must be dissipated. Cool air typically passes through the housings to help dissipate heat. In many cases, fans located in the front door and/or back door and/or within the rack and/or in the top of the rack are used to circulate the cold air and expel the warmed air.
One solution proposes a front or back rack panel that is several inches thick, and carries ducting and fans to route air through the rack. Cool air enters the bottom of the front, and exits the top of the back. However, such thickened panels increase the depth of the racks, which inherently limits the number of racks that can be fit into a data center.
As with individual equipment racks, there are heat dissipation and energy consumption issues associate with data centers. Resource demands and constraints, including those related to power, represent a critical concern in the United States today. The increasing demand, and strain, placed upon electrical grids across the United States by data centers of all sizes is a material contributor to this issue.
The United States Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) addressed this issue in August 2007 and submitted a report to the United States Congress as part of public law to help define a vision for achieving energy efficiencies in data centers. The EPA predicts that by 2011, 2% of the United State's entire energy supply will be consumed by data centers.
Currently, data center managers are focused on the delivery of service and dependability. There has been little incentive, however, for data center managers to optimize the energy efficiency of their data center. In addition, the industry has not set any proper benchmarks for attainable energy efficiency targets, which further complicates the situation. Data center managers are primarily concerned about capital costs related to their data center's capacity and reliability. In most cases the energy costs are either hidden among other operating costs or simply absorbed as a cost of doing business. A study by the company IDC Global shows that for every $1.00 US of new server spend in 2005, $0.48 US was spent on power and cooling. This is a sharp increase from the year 2000, when the ratio was $0.21 US per $1.00 US of server spend. This ratio is anticipated to increase even further. It is expected, then, that the immediate demand to create more efficient data centers will be at the forefront of most company's cost saving initiatives.
Prior art legacy data centers typically have the following characteristics:
(1) An open air system that delivers cold air at approximately 55 degrees Fahrenheit (approximately 13 degrees Celsius) via overhead ducting, flooded room supply air, or a raised floor plenum;
(2) Perforated tiles (in a raised floor environment) that are used to channel the cold air from beneath the raised floor plenum into the data center;
(3) Computer racks, server enclosures and free-standing equipment orientated 180 degrees from alternate rows to create hot and cold aisles, which is an accepted best practice. Historically, however, information technology (IT) architecture has been the driving force in deciding the location of the racks and other equipment, leading to a disorganized and inefficient approach to air distribution;
(4) A minimum separation of 4 feet (approximately 1.22 meters) between cold aisles and 3 feet (approximately 0.91 meters) between hot aisles, based on recommendations from the American National Standards Institute (ANSI/TIA/EIA—942 April 2005), National Fire Protection Association (NFPA), National Electric Code (NEC), and local Authority Having Jurisdiction (AHJ);
(5) Dedicated precision air conditioning units located at the nearest perimeter wall and generally in close proximity to IT racks. However, optimal placement of the computer room air conditioner (CRAC) for free air movement is biased by structural columns, and often requires service clearances or other infrastructure accommodations;
(6) Traditional air conditioning systems are “turned on” on day one, and remain at full capability for cooling, even if only a small percentage of the design load is required; and
(7) Existing air conditioning systems have limitations and are sensitive to the location of heat loads in and around the data center, and therefore are not resilient to changing configurations and requirements.
In practice, the airflow in the legacy data center is very unpredictable, and has numerous inefficiencies, which are proliferated as power densities increase. Problems encountered in a data center include: bypass airflow, recirculation, hot and cold air remixing, air stratification, air stagnation, and uncomfortable data center ambient room temperature.
Bypass airflow is defined as conditioned air that does not reach computer equipment. The most common form of bypass airflow occurs when air supplied from the precision air conditioning units is returned directly back to the air conditioner's intake. Examples of this form of bypass airflow may include leakage areas such as air penetrating through cable cut-outs, holes under cabinets, or misplaced perforated tiles that blow air directly back to the air conditioner's intake. Other examples of bypass airflow include air that escapes through holes in the computer room perimeter walls and non-sealed doors.
A recent study completed by engineers from UpSite Technologies, Inc.™ and Uptime Institute, Inc.® concluded that in conventional legacy data centers only 40% of the air delivered from precision air conditioning units makes its way to cool the existing information technology (IT) equipment. This amounts to a tremendous waste in energy, as well as an excessive and unnecessary operational expense.
Recirculation occurs when the hot air exhausted from a computing device, typically mounted in a rack or cabinet, is fed back into its own intake or the intake of a different computing device. Recirculation principally occurs in servers located at the highest points of a high-density rack enclosure. Recirculation can result in potential overheating and damage to computing equipment, which may cause disruption to mission-critical services in the data center.
Air stratification in a data center is defined as the layering effect of temperature gradients from the bottom to the top of the rack or cabinet enclosure.
In general, in a raised floor environment, air is delivered at approximately 55 degrees Fahrenheit (approximately 13 degrees Celsius) from under the raised floor through perforated tiles. The temperature of the air as it penetrates the perforated tile remains the same as the supply temperature. As the air moves vertically up the rack however, the air temperatures gradually increase. In high-density rack enclosures it is not uncommon for temperatures to exceed 90 degrees Fahrenheit (approximately 32 degrees Celsius) at the server intakes mounted at the highest point of the rack enclosure. The recommended temperature range however, for server intakes, as stated by ASHRAE Technical Committee 9.9 Mission Critical Facilities, is between 68 and 77 degrees Fahrenheit (approximately 20 to 25 degrees Celsius).
Thus, in a legacy data center design, the computer room is overcooled by sending extremely cold air under the raised floor, simply because there is a lack of temperature control as the air moves upward through the rack or cabinet enclosure.
In addition, because the hot air and the cold air are not isolated, and tend to mix, dedicated air conditioning units are typically located close to the rack enclosures, which may not be the most efficient or economical placement. In some situations, the most efficient or economical solution may be to use the building's air conditioning system, rather than having air conditioning units that are dedicated to the data center, or a combination of dedicated air conditioning units and the building's air conditioning system.
Large data centers typically have areas where the air does not flow naturally. As a result, the available cooling cannot be delivered to the computing equipment. In practice, data centers may take measures to generate air flow in these areas by utilizing air scoops, directional vanes, oscillating floor fans, and active fan-based floor tiles.
Data center ambient room temperature is not conditioned to comfortable working conditions. The ambient air temperature in a data center is typically determined by inefficiencies between providing cool air and removing heated air.
To address some of these concerns, data centers may be equipped with in-row air conditioning units, either in place of, or to supplement, larger computer-room air conditioners. These in-row cooling units extract hot air from the room or the hot aisle and return cooled air to the cold aisle. A particular in-row air conditioning unit, however, is constrained by its location, in that it may only be used to cool the equipment in the row in which it is located. An in-row air conditioning unit's excess cooling capacity cannot be used to cool equipment racks in a different row. In addition, an in-row air conditioning unit does nothing to reduce the temperature in the hot aisle, and in some cases, may actually increase the temperature in the hot aisle beyond recommended safety limits.
There is a need in the art, then, for improved methods for heat dissipation in equipment racks, and improved systems and methods for heat containment and cold air isolation in data centers. In particular, there is a need to remedy the typical problems encountered in a data center, including bypass airflow, recirculation, hot and cold air remixing, air stagnation, air stratification, and uncomfortable data center ambient room temperature. Improved systems and method are needed to eliminate wasted conditioned air and increase air conditioner efficiency. In addition, there is a need in the art for assemblies and systems for retrofitting existing data centers, equipment racks and in-row air-conditioning units, to provide the benefits of improved heat dissipation and air flow without wholesale replacement of equipment.
It is therefore an object of this invention to provide an assembly for adapting in-row air conditioning units, such as those used in a data center, to draw heated air from a plenum or duct and provide cooled air to electronic equipment housings.
In an embodiment, the invention provides an assembly for supplying heated air to a housing with an interior that is adapted to hold air conditioning equipment, where the housing comprises a top portion and a back portion, where the top portion defines a first opening that leads to the housing interior, the first opening located proximate the back of the top portion, where the back portion defines a second opening that leads to the housing interior, the second opening located proximate the top of the back portion, and where the first opening is contiguous with the second opening, and the assembly comprises a flue external to the housing and adapted to be coupled to the housing such that the flue encompasses and is fluid communication with the first and second openings, where the flue defines an inlet for conducting air into the flue and an outlet for conducting air out of the flue and into the housing through the first and second openings.
In an aspect, the housing further comprises a support assembly that supports the housing's top and back portions, and the assembly for supplying heated air further comprises an intermediate assembly adapted to be coupled to the support assembly, where the intermediate assembly defines at least part of the back portion of the housing, and where the flue is coupled to the intermediate assembly.
In another aspect, the intermediate assembly comprises an intermediate assembly frame member defining at least two sides of the back portion of the housing.
In an aspect, the intermediate assembly further comprises a door assembly hingedly coupled to the intermediate assembly frame member, to allow user access to the interior of the housing. In another aspect, the door assembly comprises two doors, one hinged to each side of the intermediate assembly frame member. In yet another aspect, the door assembly and the intermediate assembly frame member together define the back portion of the housing. In an additional aspect, the intermediate assembly defines the entire back portion and at least some of the top portion of the housing.
In an aspect, the flue comprises a first section that is coupled to the intermediate assembly, and the first section extends out from the back portion of the housing at an angle of less than 90 degrees. In another aspect, the back portion of the housing is essentially vertical and the top portion of the housing is essentially horizontal such that the top portion and the back portion are essentially perpendicular and meet to define the top back corner of the housing, and wherein the first section of the flue comprises essentially perpendicular members that define a coupling portion such that when the flue is coupled to the housing the coupling portion fits tightly over the top back corner of the housing.
In an aspect, the flue further comprises a second section that extends essentially vertically from the first section. In another aspect, the second section of the flue is an essentially rectangular duct.
In an aspect, one or more fan trays are located within the flue. In another aspect, the fan trays are hot-swappable. In yet another aspect, the second section of the flue defines a hinged access door to allow access to the fan trays.
In another embodiment, the invention provides an assembly for supplying heated air to a housing with an interior that is adapted to hold air conditioning equipment, the housing comprising a top portion and a back portion, where the top portion defines a first opening that leads to the housing interior, the first opening located proximate the back of the top portion, where the back portion defines a second opening that leads to the housing interior, the second opening located proximate the top of the back portion, and where the first opening is contiguous with the second opening, the assembly comprising: a) an intermediate assembly adapted to be coupled to the support assembly, the intermediate assembly defining at least part of the back portion of the housing and at least part of the top portion of the housing, the intermediate assembly further defining: i) a first opening extending across substantially all of the width of the top portion of the housing and leading to the housing interior, the first opening located at the back of the top portion, proximate the back portion of the housing; and ii) a second opening extending across substantially all of the width of the back portion of the housing and leading to the housing interior, the second opening located at the top of the back portion, proximate the top portion of the housing; and b) a flue external to the housing and adapted to be coupled to the intermediate assembly below the second opening and in front of the first opening such that the flue encompasses and is in fluid communication with the first and second openings, the flue defining an inlet for conducting air into the flue and an outlet for conducting air out of the flue and into the housing through the first and second openings.
In an aspect, the flue comprises essentially perpendicular members that define a coupling portion, such that when the flue is coupled to the housing the coupling portion fits tightly over and follows the contour of the top back corner of the housing.
In an additional embodiment, the invention provides an assembly for supplying heated air to a housing with an interior that is adapted to hold air conditioning equipment, the housing comprising a top portion and a back portion, where the top portion defines a first opening that leads to the housing interior, the first opening located proximate the back of the top portion, where the back portion defines a second opening that leads to the housing interior, the second opening located proximate the top of the back portion, and where the first opening is contiguous with the second opening, the assembly comprising: a) an intermediate assembly adapted to be coupled to the support assembly, the intermediate assembly defining at least part of the back portion of the housing and at least part of the top portion of the housing, the intermediate assembly further defining: i) a first opening extending across substantially all of the width of the top portion of the housing and leading to the housing interior, the first opening located at the back of the top portion, proximate the back portion of the housing; and ii) a second opening extending across substantially all of the width of the back portion of the housing and leading to the housing interior, the second opening located at the top of the back portion, proximate the top portion of the housing; and b) a flue external to the housing and adapted to be coupled to the intermediate assembly below the second opening and in front of the first opening, where the flue defines an air passageway encompasses and is in fluid communication with the first and second openings, the air passageway defining an inlet for conducting air into the air passageway and an outlet for conducting air out of the passageway and into the housing through the first and second openings.
In an aspect, the flue comprises essentially perpendicular members that define a coupling portion, such that when the flue is coupled to the housing the coupling portion fits tightly over and follows the contour of the top back corner of the housing. In another aspect, the flue extends out an angle of no more than about ninety degrees from the back portion of the housing. In an additional aspect, the flue extends out from the back portion of the housing, and the flue extends up after extending out from the back portion of the housing.
In yet another embodiment, the invention provides a system for use in a data center, the system comprising: a plurality of cabinets, each cabinet comprising a generally rectangular vertical front face, two generally rectangular vertical side faces coupled to the front face, a generally rectangular top face coupled to the side faces and to the front face, a generally rectangular back face coupled to the side faces, wherein the plurality of cabinets are arranged in a first row and a second row horizontally displaced from each other such that the front faces of the cabinets in the first row are facing the front faces of the cabinets in the second row to define a cold aisle between the front faces; where at least one of the cabinets is an equipment cabinet adapted to house one or more heat-generating components, and at least one of the cabinets is an air-conditioning cabinet adapted to house one or more air-cooling components; a first baffle proximate the front face of a first cabinet in the first row and the front face of a first cabinet in the second row, the first baffle being configured to inhibit horizontal airflow into and out of the cold aisle; a second baffle proximate the front face of a last cabinet in the first row and the front face of a last cabinet in the second row, the second baffle being configured to inhibit horizontal airflow into and out of the cold aisle; a chimney in communication with the equipment cabinet, for conducting air warmed by the heat-generating components from the interior of the equipment cabinet to a location above the cabinets; and a flue in communication with the air-conditioning cabinet, for conducting warmed air from a location above the cabinets to the interior of the air-conditioning cabinet.
In an aspect the chimney defines an air passageway that is in fluid communication with the interior of the equipment cabinet, the air passageway comprising an inlet for taking in air leaving the equipment cabinet and an outlet for conducting the air out of the air passageway to the location above the cabinets. In another aspect, the flue defines an air passageway that is in fluid communication with the interior of the air-conditioning cabinet, the air passageway comprising an inlet for conducting air from the location above the cabinets into the air passageway and an outlet for conducting air out of the air passageway into the air-conditioning cabinet.
It is a further object of this invention to provide a rack cooling system that maintains the depth of the rack to a minimum, thus maximizing data center rack capacity.
This invention features an assembly for extracting heat from a housing for electronic equipment, the housing having a front, a back, two sides and a top, the assembly comprising a back for the housing that defines an open area proximate the top, and an air passageway in fluid communication with the open area in the back, to conduct heated air exiting the housing through the open area away from the housing. The open area preferably extends across at least the majority of the width of the back, and may extend across substantially all of the width of the back. The open area may also encompass a portion of the top adjacent to the back. The open area could alternatively be located in the top proximate the back. The front of the housing may be perforated. The housing may comprise an electronic equipment rack.
The assembly may further comprise an air-moving device in fluid communication with the air passageway. The air-moving device may be located in the air passageway, or located at the intersection of the back of the housing and the air passageway.
The air passageway may be directly coupled to the back of the housing. The air passageway may extend out from the back of the housing. The air passageway may further extend up after extending out from the back of the housing. In one particular embodiment, the air passageway may extend out at an angle of no more than about ninety degrees from the back of the housing; in a more particular embodiment, the air passageway may extend out at an angle of about forty-five degrees.
The air passageway may comprise a duct. The duct may be flexible or not. The assembly may comprise at least two ducts which are essentially parallel to one another. The assembly may further comprise an air-moving device in each duct. The air passageway may be located a sufficient height off the floor so as to meet relevant height safety regulations. There may be essentially no openings in the housing top, so that the entire top area is available for routing of additional equipment.
The invention also features an assembly for extracting heat from a housing with an interior that is adapted to hold heat-generating electronic equipment, the housing comprising a top portion and a back portion, and defining a first opening in the top portion of the housing that leads to the housing interior, the first opening located at the back of the top portion, proximate the back portion of the housing, and structure defining a second opening in the back portion of the housing that leads to the housing interior, the second opening located at the top of the back portion, proximate the top portion of the housing. A chimney external to the housing is adapted to be coupled to the housing such that the chimney encompasses and is in fluid communication with the first and second openings, the chimney defining an inlet for taking in air leaving the housing through the first and second openings and an outlet for conducting the air out of the chimney.
The chimney may be coupled to the back portion of the housing below the second opening, and coupled to the top portion of the housing in front of the first opening. The back portion of the housing may be essentially vertical, and the chimney may extend out from the back portion of the housing. The chimney may extend up after extending out from the back portion of the housing. The chimney may extend out at an angle of less than ninety degrees from the back portion of the housing; the angle may be about forty-five degrees.
The first opening may extend across at least a majority of the width of the top portion of the housing, or across substantially all of the width of the top portion of the housing. The second opening may extend across at least a majority of the width of the back portion of the housing, or across substantially all of the width of the back portion of the housing. The assembly may further comprise at least one air-moving device in fluid communication with the chimney, which may be located in the chimney. The back portion of the housing may comprise one or more doors, to provide access to the housing through the back.
The housing may further comprise a support assembly that supports the housing's top and back portions, and the assembly for extracting heat may further comprise an intermediate assembly coupled to the support assembly, the intermediate assembly defining at least part of the back portion of the housing, wherein the chimney is coupled to the intermediate assembly. The intermediate assembly may comprise an intermediate assembly frame member defining two sides and the bottom of the back portion of the housing. The intermediate assembly may further comprise a door assembly hingedly coupled to the intermediate assembly frame member, to allow user access to the interior of the housing. The door assembly may comprise two doors, one hinged to each side of the intermediate assembly frame member. The doors and the intermediate assembly frame member may together define the back portion of the housing. The intermediate assembly may define the entire back portion and at least some of the top portion of the housing.
The chimney may comprise a first section that is coupled to the intermediate assembly, the first section extending out from the back portion of the housing at an angle of less than 90 degrees. The chimney may further comprise a second section that extends essentially vertically from the first section. The second section of the chimney may be an essentially rectangular duct. The assembly may further comprise one or more fan trays located within the chimney. The fan trays may be hot-swappable. The second section of the chimney may define an access door to allow access to the fan trays.
Also featured is an assembly for extracting heat from a housing with an interior that is adapted to hold heat-generating electronic equipment, the housing comprising an essentially solid top portion, an essentially solid back portion, and a support assembly that supports the housing's top and back portions, the assembly for extracting heat comprising a first opening extending across substantially all of the width of the top portion of the housing and leading to the housing interior, the first opening located at the back of the top portion, proximate the back portion of the housing, a second opening extending across substantially all of the width of the back portion of the housing and leading to the housing interior, the second opening located at the top of the back portion, proximate the top portion of the housing, an intermediate assembly coupled to the support assembly, the intermediate assembly defining at least part of the back portion of the housing and at least part of the top portion of the housing, and a chimney external to the housing and coupled to the intermediate assembly below the second opening and in front of the first opening such that the chimney encompasses and is in fluid communication with the first and second openings, the chimney defining an inlet for taking in air leaving the housing through the first and second openings and an outlet for conducting the air out of the chimney.
The invention also features a data center arrangement comprising at least two electronic equipment racks, each rack having a front, a back, two sides and a top, the arrangement comprising two electronic equipment racks spaced apart by about thirty-six inches, the back of each rack being essentially solid except for an open area proximate the top, and at least one air passageway in fluid communication with the open area in the back of each rack, to conduct heated air exiting the rack through the open area away from the rack. The data center may further comprise an enclosed ceiling. The air passageways may be in fluid communication with the enclosed ceiling. The data center may further comprise an air-cooling apparatus in fluid communication with the enclosed ceiling. The data center may further comprise means for providing cooled air from the air-cooling apparatus to the front of the racks.
The invention also provides improved systems and methods for heat containment and cold air isolation in data centers. The combination of elements in the invention, including the use of chimneys, ducts, plenums, baffles, and fans, provides a unique and effective solution to the typical problems encountered in a data center, including bypass airflow, recirculation, hot and cold air remixing and air stratification, air stagnation, and uncomfortable data center ambient room temperature. The invention also reduces or eliminates wasted conditioned air and increases air conditioner efficiency. Advantages of the invention include:
(1) Preventing the mixing of the hot air and cold air in a data center through ducting, plenums, and physical separation;
(2) Returning higher temperature air directly to the air conditioner to allow the air conditioner to operate more efficiently, as well as allowing the same cooling device to remove more heat, as typically measured in BTUs (British Thermal Units) per unit, thus increasing the cooling capacity of the air conditioner;
(3) Providing an opportunity to use dedicated data center air conditioning units, the building air conditioning system, or a combination of both to make the most efficient use of the air conditioning equipment;
(4) Providing an opportunity to run the data center (outside of the isolated cold isle) at near standard office temperatures, thus reducing significantly the amount of cold air that needs to be generated and treated and the energy required to power the air conditioners, and providing a more comfortable working environment;
(5) Allowing for both scalability of solution as well as integration into many different types of data center rooms and environments varying in both size as well as density of equipment;
(6) Allowing the data center to use air-side economizers to exchange heated air with cooler outside air through the aggregation of the hot air to a plenum, thus reducing the cooling system power consumption; and
(7) Permitting non-standard floor rack layouts, where the cabinets and enclosures are not arranged in a hot/cold aisle arrangement, which is often required to support the IT function or network demands, thus increasing performance by containing the hot and cool air
The invention combines server cabinets or enclosures with a number of elements, including chimneys that attach to the top, rear, or top and rear of the cabinets or enclosures to facilitate the removal of the hot air; top and air seal kits; solid rear and/or front doors or panels on the enclosures; perforated front doors or panels on the enclosures; and special divider baffles, such as doors and panels, for heat containment and cold air isolation. The chimneys, ducts and/or plenums may also include fans and/or baffles, which may also be redundant. Ducts attached to the tops of the chimneys return hot air from the cabinets or enclosures to one of the following:
(1) A below-ceiling duct that returns the hot air to a computer room air conditioner and/or the building's air conditioning system;
(2) A vertical duct that exhausts air high into a room, such that a computer room air conditioner and/or building air conditioning system will intake that exhausted hot air.
(3) A pressurized ceiling plenum or suspended ceiling that returns the hot air to a computer room air conditioner and/or the building's air conditioning system;
The invention may also include air conditioning units to supply cool air to the cabinets. The air conditioning units may be redundant. In other embodiments the building's air conditioning system may be used instead of, or in combination with, dedicated data center precision air conditioning units. In addition, the ducts to and from the air conditioning units may be configured to allow any one air conditioning unit to selectively service one or more rows of cabinets through the use of baffles and/or fans. The baffles and/or fans may also be used to control the air pressure within the chimneys, ducts, and/or plenums. The invention thus effectively contains the hot air exhausted by the computer equipment and IT hardware located in the cabinets or enclosures. In addition, by adding baffles, such as doors or panels, that join the rows of enclosures on each end, and face each other across a row (typically called the cold aisle), and by optionally attaching a roof or cover comprised typically of clear material such as, but not exclusively, Plexiglas®, the invention isolates the cold air that is piped from the air conditioning units typically under floor, in-row, or overhead, into the cold aisle. The invention thus combines elements to provide both heat containment and cold air isolation.
The invention further contemplates instrumenting various locations and equipment in the data center to monitor and control temperature, air pressure, power consumption, efficiency, and overall availability.
In preferred embodiments, the invention provides a system for use in a data center having a source of cool air, the system comprising a plurality of cabinets, each cabinet comprising a generally rectangular vertical front face, two generally rectangular vertical side faces coupled to the front face, a generally rectangular top face coupled to the side faces and to the front face, a generally rectangular back face coupled to the side faces, and an interior that is adapted to house one or more heat-generating components, each of the cabinets adapted to intake the cool air, wherein the plurality of cabinets are arranged in a first row and a second row horizontally displaced from each other such that the front faces of the cabinets in the first row are facing the front faces of the cabinets in the second row to define a cold aisle between the front faces; a first baffle proximate the front face of a first cabinet in the first row and the front face of a first cabinet in the second row, the first baffle being configured to inhibit horizontal airflow into and out of the cold aisle; a second baffle proximate the front face of a last cabinet in the first row and the front face of a last cabinet in the second row, the second baffle being configured to inhibit horizontal airflow into and out of the cold aisle; and at least one chimney in communication with at least one cabinet, for conducting air warmed by the heat-generating components to a location above the cabinets.
In an aspect, the chimney defines an air passageway that is in fluid communication with the interior of the cabinet, the air passageway comprising an inlet for taking in air leaving the cabinet and an outlet for conducting the air out of the air passageway to the location above the cabinets.
In another aspect, the top face of each cabinet defines a first opening leading to the rack interior, with the first opening located at the back of the top face, proximate the back face; the back face of each cabinet defines a second opening leading to the cabinet interior, with the second opening located at the top of the back face, proximate the top face; the first opening is contiguous with the second opening; and the chimney defines an air passageway that encompasses and is in fluid communication with the first and second openings, with the air passageway comprising an inlet for taking in air leaving the cabinet, and an outlet for conducting the air out of the air passageway to the location above the cabinets.
In an aspect, the chimney includes a fan. In another aspect, the chimney is in communication with the top face of the cabinet. In a further aspect, the chimney is in communication with the rear face of the cabinet. In yet another aspect, the chimney is in communication with the top and rear faces of the cabinet.
In an aspect, one or more air conditioning units are configured to source the cool air to the data center. In another aspect, the cool air is delivered to the cold aisle through a plurality of perforations in a floor of the data center. In a further aspect, the cool air is delivered to the cold aisle through the bottoms of the cabinets. In another aspect, the cool air is delivered directly into the cold aisle through one or more ducts. In yet another aspect, at least one duct is in communication with the chimney, to conduct air warmed by the heat-generating components to a suspended ceiling.
In an aspect, the duct comprises a fan or baffle. In another aspect, at least one duct is in communication with the chimney, to conduct air warmed by the heat-generating components directly to an intake of at least one of the air conditioning units. In a further aspect, at least one of the first baffle or the second baffle comprises a door. In yet a further aspect, at least one of the baffles comprises a window.
In an aspect, a cover joins the first row of cabinets and the second row of cabinets, with the cover being configured to inhibit vertical airflow into and out of the cold aisle. In another aspect, the cover includes a translucent panel.
In an additional preferred embodiment, the invention provides a method of cooling heat-generating components housed in cabinets in a data center, the method comprising providing cool air to a first region between two rows of cabinets, including a first row and a second row that is substantially parallel to the first row, with a front face of at least one of the cabinets in the first row facing towards a front face of at least one of the cabinets in the second row; inhibiting the cool air from exiting the first region through the location between a first cabinet of the first row and a first cabinet of the second row; inhibiting the cool air from exiting the first region through the location between a last cabinet of the first row and a last cabinet of the second row; exhausting warm air from the heat-generating equipment through a chimney in communication with at least one of the cabinets to a second region above the first and second row; and inhibiting the warm air from entering the first region.
These and other aspects of the invention will become apparent from the following description. In the description, reference is made to the accompanying drawings, which form a part hereof, and in which there are shown preferred embodiments of the invention. Such embodiments do not necessarily represent the full scope of the invention, and reference is therefore made to the claims for understanding the true scope of the invention.
The foregoing and other objects, features and advantages of the invention will be apparent from the following more particular description of preferred embodiments of the invention, as illustrated in the accompanying drawings in which like reference characters refer to the same parts throughout the different views. The drawings are not necessarily to scale, emphasis instead being placed upon illustrating the principles of the invention.
This invention may be accomplished in an assembly for extracting heat from a housing for electronic equipment, the housing having a front, a back, two sides and a top, the assembly comprising a back for the housing that defines an open area proximate the top, and an air passageway in fluid communication with the open area in the back, to conduct heated air exiting the housing through the open area away from the housing. Typically, the front is perforated and the sides are solid, so that air flows into the housing through the front, through the electronic equipment located in the housing, and out of the housing through the open area, into the passageway.
One preferred embodiment of an assembly for extracting heat from a housing for electronic equipment is shown in
The invention contemplates any reasonable arrangement of an air passageway that is in fluid communication with an open area at the top of the back and/or the back of the top. The open area preferably extends across at least a majority of the width of the back of the housing, and may also encompass a portion of the top of the housing adjacent to the back, as shown in
The open area can be any shape or arrangement. The assembly of this invention can be installed in a new equipment rack or offered as an after-market product with a back having a particular size, shape and location of an open area, and an air passageway that may be accomplished with one or more flexible or inflexible ducts or conduits, depending upon the particular arrangement.
Once such particular arrangement is shown in
Overall airflow is depicted in the drawings by the solid arrows. Preferably, the solid front door of the rack is replaced with a perforated front that has a series of openings, somewhat like a screen door. This allows cooled room air to enter the front of the rack and pass through equipment modules 912, 914 . . . 920. Heated air flows out through the back of these modules, typically assisted by fans located in the modules themselves. The heated air is naturally buoyant and rises along back 934c and out through open area 936c. The inventive assembly thus acts somewhat like a chimney in that it is a passageway to allow heated air to escape from the inside of a housing for electronic equipment.
The invention accomplishes efficient cooling of electronic equipment in the housing without the need for deep rear doors having internal fans and ducting that withdraws heated air out of the housing and blows it out of the top of the door, of the type known in the art. The invention thus accomplishes efficient cooling without increasing the depth of the equipment rack up to the height B off of the floor at which the air passageway projects from the housing. This allows racks to be separated by a minimum width A. Dimensions A and B may be dictated by local, state and/or federal regulations, such as the Americans with Disability Act (ADA) and/or the National Fire Protection Association (NFPA) codes. In one example, regulations require an 80″ unobstructed headroom height (which can establish the minimum height “B”), and a minimum aisle width of 36″ (which can establish the minimum inter-rack spacing “A”). Regardless of the minimum dimensional needs, the invention accomplishes a maximum density of equipment housings in a data center area, as it does away with the need for thickened front and/or rear doors that have been necessary to accommodate air-handling equipment.
The invention also provides improved systems and methods for heat containment and cold air isolation in data centers.
With reference to
With reference to
In alternate embodiments, as shown in
With further reference to
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In a preferred embodiment, and with further reference to
The air heated by the computer equipment, such as computer equipment 200-1, 200-2 . . . 200-n in cabinet 20-1, exits the cabinet through the back and/or top of the cabinet. In a preferred embodiment, and as shown in
In a preferred embodiment, heated air may be returned to the air conditioning units 40 and 42 through ducts 60 and 62, respectively, which are located below the ceiling 800 and are coupled to the chimneys, as shown in
With further reference to
As shown in
In addition, in a preferred embodiment, the cold aisle 34 may be further isolated from the rest of the data center 100 by adding an optional roof or cover 74. Roof 74 is preferably made of a translucent material, such as Plexiglas®, but other materials, including but not limited to glass and Lucite®, are contemplated and within the scope of the invention.
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With reference to
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In an alternate embodiment, and as shown in
In yet another embodiment, and as shown in
In a preferred embodiment, and as shown in
In alternate embodiments, and as shown in
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In alternate embodiments, locations and equipment in the data center may be instrumented to monitor and control temperature, air pressure, power consumption, efficiency, and overall availability, using systems and methods known in the art.
Alternative embodiments of an assembly for extracting heat from a housing are shown in
First section 3210 at its lower end forms a coupling portion 3203 that is generally L-shaped as defined by horizontal and vertical members, so that it closely conforms to the top back corner of the rectangular prism-shaped housing, which for example may be a server rack as described above. Thus, chimney 3210 fits tightly over and follows the contour of the top back corner of the housing. This allows hot air exiting the housing through its top back corner to move up into the chimney rather than leaking into the room. In this embodiment, sidewalls 3212 and 3213 also define this “L-shape.” Rear wall 3211 is angled upward and outward with respect to the back of the enclosure (i.e., with respect to the vertical) at an angle of less than 90 degrees, preferably about 45 degrees.
Second section 3220 generally has the shape of a rectangular duct. This embodiment of the chimney is active, carrying one or more fan trays 3230 within second section 3220. Access to the fan trays is provided through hinged door 3221. Panel 3222 is a fixed panel. Section 3220 is completed by sides 3223 and 3224, and front wall 3225. Section 3220 defines chimney exit 3226 that is typically coupled to another structure such as a suspended ceiling or another duct that leads to an air conditioning unit that cools the air and returns it either to the room or directly to the housings/enclosures, as is known in the art. The angled and rectangular shapes are not limitations, as other shapes and arrangements are possible depending on the enclosure and the room layout.
More details of the construction of slightly different chimney 3200a are shown in
An embodiment of inventive assembly 3600 further comprises intermediate assembly 3300,
In this embodiment, the back portion of the inventive assembly also comprises one or more doors to provide access to the housing interior through the back, although doors are not necessary and the back could be essentially closed, for example by a solid panel rather than doors.
In an additional preferred embodiment, one or more in-line air conditioning units may be co-located with the equipment cabinets or enclosures. While not a limitation of the invention, these in-line air conditioning units are typically one-half the width of an equipment cabinet, such that two in-line air conditioning units may occupy the space of one equipment cabinet. For example, cabinet 22-1 of data center 100, shown in
The equipment cabinet chimneys, such as chimney 22-1, and the in-line air conditioning unit flues or ducts, such as flues or ducts 752-1a and 752-1b, may be of the type shown in
In additional embodiments, assembly 3600, as shown in
It should be understood that the embodiments described herein are exemplary and do not limit the scope of the invention, and that various modifications could be made by those skilled in the art that would fall under the scope of the invention. The scope of the invention is set forth in the claims.
This application is a continuation-in-part of, and claims priority from, co-pending U.S. patent application Ser. No. 12/409,647, entitled “Assembly for Extracting Heat from a Housing for Electronic Equipment,” filed Mar. 24, 2009, and U.S. patent application Ser. No. 12/432,154, filed Apr. 29, 2009, entitled “Systems and Methods for Closed Loop Heat Containment with Cold Aisle Isolation for Data Center Cooling.” The entire contents of both applications are expressly incorporated herein.
| Number | Date | Country | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Parent | 12409647 | Mar 2009 | US |
| Child | 12551657 | US | |
| Parent | 12432154 | Apr 2009 | US |
| Child | 12409647 | US |
