Method for Improving the Ventilation Effectiveness of Large Conditioned Air Plenum Environments Including Such Environments in Multilevel Raised Floor Electro-Mechanical Distribution Systems

STATEMENT REGARDING FEDERALLY SPONSORED RESEARCH OR DEVELOPMENT

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REFERENCE TO A SEQUENCE LISTING, A TABLE, OR A COMPUTER PROGRAM LISTING COMPONENT DISK APPENDIX

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BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
1. Field of the Invention

The present invention is directed to a method for enhancing the air distribution and air delivery effectiveness, aka, “ventilation effectiveness,” of large conditioned air plenum environments and, as discussed herein, particularly of the large plenum environment included in multilevel raised floor electro-mechanical distribution systems (sometimes herein “systems” or “system”), which plenum environment is an integrated and integral element of such systems.

2. Description of the Related Art

Discussion in the specification of prior art products and designs is included to afford a better understanding of the long persisting problems addressed and solved by the subject invention. Providing this context should in no way be considered as an admission that such prior art creates any limitation on the scope of the invention or on its new and nonobvious character.

a. Conventional Raised Access Floors

In the conventional raised floor design used for decades, conditioned air and electrical conductors are routed through the volume that exists between the underside of the walking-floor panels of the raised floor and the surface of the building slab. Removing any floor panel, for example to reach the electrical services housed beneath, causes conditioned air to escape downstream from where it is needed to cool equipment, and removing more than just a few panels at once, for example to lay, reroute, or remove electrical conductors, compromises the structural integrity of the raised floor itself.

For this reason, disconnected cables are often simply abandoned in place where they pile up to block airflow and make the installation of new cables difficult and time consuming. To accommodate the underfloor congestion, a higher raised floor than would otherwise be necessary or optimum must be installed, which further decreases ventilation effectiveness and often limits room location options due to the higher ceilings required because of the higher floor. Even when all panels are in place, air that is supposed to travel to where it will cool equipment instead leaks from panel joints and cable cutouts.

Air distribution in the conventional raised floor scheme relies on the throw distance of a package air-handling unit's (AHU) fan. If ideal conditions are provided and maintained, which never happens in practical application, an AHU fan's maximum throw distance under the floor is approximately 30 feet in a pie-slice shaped pattern. This means that in order to supply some degree of area coverage for the conditioned air it is necessary to install AHUs throughout a room's white space . . . space that could otherwise be used for additional computer equipment. Hot spots and cold spots are common in such installations, requiring in-line coolers, pedestal fans, and the like, which create their own undesirable heat and take up space. It is impossible to provide N+1 redundancy in such designs because redundancy actually requires that every AHU have another AHU installed right next to it.

Under the conditions encountered in actual computer room environments, effective redundancy is an illusion anyway because of all the impediments to air distribution described above. In recent years, out of desperation to provide enough air where it is needed, designs using conventional floors have begun to incorporate extremely expensive and inflexible hot aisle/cold aisle “containment” schemes, which are extremely expensive and severally restrict the flexibility of the rooms into which they are installed.

b) “Flooded Room” Air Delivery Designs

Room designs that eschew raised floors altogether in favor of placing equipment directly on the building slab have become more common, but do not fare much better than the conventional raised floor approach. In these designs the room containing equipment needing cooling is flooded with conditioned air. Hot aisle containment schemes are installed at great expense both in terms of money and of ongoing room flexibility. In many instances wires and cables are strung overhead in ladder trays, which is also very costly. Both supply air and return air flow are negatively affected by the electrical conductors descending from the ceiling to the equipment.

In a variation of this design, a conventional raised access floor is used to house and route electrical conductors underneath the walking surface, which adds additional expense and logistical challenges. Although these options may avoid some of the difficulties associated with the conventional raised floor scheme, they are plagued by its own host of problems and limitations.

c) Multi-Level Raised Floor Electro-Mechanical Distribution Systems

The inventor of the present invention is also the inventor of the multilevel raised floor electro-mechanical distribution system in association with which the present invention is intended to be used. These systems are the subject of the inventor's U.S. Pat. Re 33220 as well as the more recent U.S. Pat. No. 8,295,035.

For the most part, multilevel raised floor electro-mechanical distribution systems serve data centers and similar rooms having significant heat loads, substantial cooling requirements, and extensive runs of cables and power wiring. In these environments, the multilevel electro-mechanical distribution system provides myriad benefits, including remarkable ventilation effectiveness, which can be even further improved by the subject invention.

The inventor's '035 patent recounts the facts that data center heat loads have greatly increased over the decades, while at the same time the cost of electricity used for cooling has skyrocketed and the increasing demand for electricity has actually outstripped supply in many regions. Adequate cooling in the data center environment is vital, however, and cannot be compromised because overheated computer and auxiliary equipment can result in system-wide failure, permanent data losses, extensive hardware damage, and even fires.

The ventilation effectiveness provided by the multilevel electro-mechanical distribution system eliminates the air distribution headaches that plague data centers using conventional raised floors and other designs that rely on expensive and inflexible containment. It also solves all the wire distribution problems of the conventional floor and on-slab “flooded room” configurations.

The system comprises at least two dedicated levels under its walking and computer equipment support surface, which surface is typically supplied by modular raised access floor panels such as those used with conventional raised floors. In a two-level system, the division into the respective upper and lower levels is created by a horizontally extending plane that is substantially coextensive in area with the walking and equipment support surface above it and vertically spaced apart from it.

This horizontal plane intermediate between the upper surface of the building floor, from which it is spaced apart vertically, and the underside of the raised floor panels, is substantially parallel with each, and has traditionally been referred to as the “conductor support floor.” In the inventor's current commercial product it comprises gasketed modular metal panels or “pans” installed adjacent each other with their respective edges in compressive abutment with one another, thus providing a continuous and virtually airtight expanse. Electrical conductors, often laid directly on the conductor support floor, are housed and routed through the upper level dead air volume this configuration creates. The conductors so housed are completely separated from conditioned air.

The lower level, between the building slab surface and the underside of the conductor support floor, serves as a dedicated, obstruction-free and virtually leak-free air plenum. Conditioned air is introduced into the dedicated plenum where desired and adequate, consistent air pressure is maintained throughout it. The pressurized cool air is released from the plenum and into the workspace to cool equipment through easy-to-move adjustable vertical air-flow passage units, or “chimneys,” extending from the conditioned air plenum and through the upper level. In this way, the wire way level remains free of conditioned air flow.

Because of the significant and consistent static pressure achieved in the dedicated air plenum, it is unnecessary to scatter Air Handling Units (AHUs) throughout the room, which can save a substantial amount of valuable interior space. Instead, air conditioners can be disposed along a room's perimeter, or in a separate mechanical room, even in larger area installations.

The number of air handlers needed can often be reduced by using larger units, and true N+1 redundancy, i.e., emergency backup for the entire space, can be supplied by a single unit. The system makes it possible to match the air conditioning capacity to the actual head load of the room more accurately because, in contrast to designs using conventional floors, it is unnecessary to install AHUs merely to provide area coverage based on theoretical AHU fan throw distance. This can lead to remarkable energy savings. Also, unlike conventional installations, the air conditioners used with the multilevel system do not have to be relocated when computer equipment is moved or added.

BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The present invention is intended for use in large conditioned air plenum environments and as described and discussed herein, particularly in the plenum environment of multilevel raised floor electro-mechanical distribution systems discussed above. The invention described and claimed herein comprises the step of providing at least one height change of the dedicated conditioned air plenum, which alters the plenum's volume. This makes it possible to maintain the preferred static pressure and velocity for conditioned air throughout the entire plenum even as the amount of air in the plenum decreases as conditioned air discharges into the intended space outside of the plenum. The invention provides this very significant benefit even at great distances from the air conditioning units serving the room. The claimed method contributes to the superior ventilation effectiveness of multilevel electro-mechanical distribution systems in even the largest installations, which can reach tens of thousands or sometimes hundreds of thousands of square feet. It can also be used to advantage in smaller area rooms, particularly where such rooms have high heat loads for which large volumes of conditioned air are required.

Where a change or changes in plenum height is/are provided is determined by mechanical engineering calculations that take into consideration a room's heat load, the area of the room, supply air volume, and other pertinent data.

There has been outlined the important features of the present inventive method in order that the detailed description of it can be better understood, and in order that the present contribution to the art may be better appreciated. Before explaining one or more embodiment of the invention in greater detail, it is to be understood that the invention is not limited in its application to the details of construction and to the arrangements of the components set forth in the following description or illustrated in the drawings. The invention is capable of other embodiments and of being practiced and carried out in various ways. Also, it is to be understood that the phraseology and terminology employed herein are for purposes of the description and should not be regarded as limiting.

A primary objective of the present invention is to provide a method for improving the ventilation effectiveness of the dedicated, isolated conditioned air plenum of multilevel raised floor electro-mechanical distribution systems.

A second object is to provide a method that is simple to accomplish and can be undertaken at the time such systems are installed.

Another object of the invention is to provide a method that requires the use of relatively inexpensive and simple to fabricate parts, which can be modular, to provide a plenum transition barrier that confines air to a conditioned air plenum where said plenum transitions from a higher to a lower plenum portion.

An additional object of the invention is to provide a method for improving the ventilation effectiveness of large plenum environments such as in plenum ceilings and raised floor plenum applications.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

Various other objects, features, and attendant advantages of the present invention will become fully appreciated as it becomes better understood when considered in the light of the accompanying drawings, in which like characters designate the same or similar parts in each, and wherein:

FIG. 1 is a side view, in part diagrammatic in character, of the present invention being utilized in a two-level multilevel raised floor electro-mechanical distribution system. Portions of the system have been cut-away and certain parts removed for illustrative purposes, such as the closure extending around the outer perimeter of the wire way level of the system, and the vertical members supporting the system. Depictions and descriptions of those structures can be found in the inventor's '035 patent mentioned above. The drawing depicts application of the invention in an air plenum configuration having two heights, which differing heights are created by the respective vertical distances from the building floor of a greater height section and a lesser height section of the conductor support floor.

FIG. 2 is a side view similar to that of FIG. 1, but illustrating the system's air plenum having two different heights wherein the lower height plenum portion is positioned in-between two higher plenum portions. This configuration would be used primarily in a very large room where conditioned air is introduced into the system from two opposite sides of the room.

FIG. 3 presents a side view of the system similar to what is shown in FIG. 1 and FIG. 2, except that in this drawing there are three (3) conductor support floor heights creating a highest plenum portion, and intermediate height plenum portion, and a lowest height plenum portion.

FIG. 4 is a side view detail showing a version of a plenum transition barrier adapted to be mechanically attached to portions of a higher conductor support floor section and a lower conductor support floor section.

FIG. 5 is an isometric view showing a version of a plenum transition barrier adapted to be received by and attached to a higher conductor support floor section and a lower conductor support floor section.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

While it will be understood that the concept of the invention is applicable to a number of installations, and that constructional details of it may be varied, a description of the preferred form of the inventive method will be given.

Referring now to the drawings in greater detail, there is shown in FIG. 1 a portion of a two-level multilevel raised floor electro-mechanical distribution system generally designated 101 installed on building slab 100. Below the system's walking surface 102 and vertically spaced apart from it is the system's conductor support floor, generally designated 103. In FIG. 1, conductor support floor 103 comprises a higher conductor support floor section 104 and a lower conductor support floor section 106, which together are substantially co-extensive in area with the walking surface. The volume between the underside of walking surface 102 and the upper surface of the conductor support floor 103 comprises the system's wire way level 110. Electrical conductors 120 are shown housed in the wire way level and lying on the conductor support floor. Beneath the conductor support floor 103 is the system's dedicated, isolated conditioned air plenum, generally designated 105. The air plenum is substantially co-extensive in area with walking surface 102 and conductor support floor 103. The air plenum has a higher portion 112 and a lower portion 114 created by the higher conductor support floor section 104 and the lower conductor support floor section 106, respectively. At the point where higher conductor support floor section 104 and lower conductor support floor section 106 meet, which is also the transition between higher plenum height portion 112 and lower plenum height portion 114, there is positioned a plenum transition barrier 108 extending substantially vertically from the edge of the higher conductor support floor section to the edge of the lower conductor support floor section to close off the vertical gap between them as shown. Plenum transition barrier 108 stops conditioned air 116 in air plenum 105 from entering the wire way level 110, and also stops electrical conductors 120 housed in the wire way level from entering the air plenum, through said vertical gap. Conditioned air 116 travels through the plenum and above walking surface 102 through air passages 118 extending vertically from conditioned air plenum 105 and through wire way level 110. Conditioned air 116 is introduced from air conditioning units, not shown, into higher plenum portion 112. As conditioned travels through conditioned air plenum 105 some of it leaves the plenum through vertical air passages 118 and so the amount of air in the plenum decreases, losing velocity and related favorable pressure characteristics. When the remaining air reaches lower height plenum portion 114 the decrease plenum volume created by the decreased plenum height restores the desired air movement and pressure, making it possible to distribute conditioned over a far greater distance than would otherwise be possible.

FIG. 2 illustrates a variation of the two plenum height configuration depicted in FIG. 1. Once again there is shown a two-level multilevel raised floor electro-mechanical distribution system 101 disposed on building slab 100. There is a conductor support floor 103 having a higher section 104 and a lower section 106. There is a conditioned air plenum 105 through which conditioned air 116 flows until it is discharged above walking surface 102 through vertical air passages 118 that extend upward through the system's wire way level 110. As in FIG. 1 conditioned air plenum 105 comprises a higher plenum portion 112 and a lower plenum portion 114. The difference between FIG. 1 and FIG. 2, is that in the latter drawing the lower height plenum portion 114 divides the higher plenum portions 112 in two. In other words, it is disposed between two parts of the higher plenum portion. This means that there are two places where conductor support floor 103 transitions from a higher conductor support floor section 104 to a lower conductor support floor section 106, which in turn necessitates the placement of two plenum transition barriers 108. The configuration shown in FIG. 2 would be used primarily in a very large room where conditioned air is introduced into the system from two opposite sides of the room. At each end of the room conditioned air 116 would be introduced into the respective parts of divided higher plenum portion 112 through which it would be distributed with some air leaving the plenum through vertical air passages 118. By the time conditioned air 116 reaches the approximate midpoint of the room its volume will have substantially lessoned and its static pressure become unfavorable thereby decreasing its velocity. When the remaining air “squeezes” into the smaller volume of the lower height plenum portion desired pressure and velocity will be restored, thereby improving the already remarkable ventilation effectiveness of the system.

FIG. 3 illustrates a two-level multilevel raised floor electro-mechanical distribution system 101 supported on the building slab 100. In this configuration the system's conditioned air plenum 105 has three height variations, namely a higher plenum portion 112 a lower height plenum portion 114, both of which are illustrated and discussed in FIG. 1 and FIG. 2, and an intermediate height plenum portion 113. The variations in plenum height are created by the varied heights of the conductor support floor 103 comprising in this configuration a higher conductor support floor section 104 a lower conductor support floor section 106 and an intermediate height conductor support floor section 107. The intermediate conductor support floor section 107 is disposed between the higher conductor support floor section and the lower conductor support floor section such that there is a conductor support floor height transition at each end of the intermediate height section. This creates the three plenum height portions, 112, 113, and 114 identified above and necessitates the positioning and installation of a plenum transition barrier 108 at each of the two conductor support floor height transitions as shown. Conditioned air 116 is shown flowing through the plenum 105, into and through vertical air passages 118 extending through the wire way level 110, and being confined to the plenum by lower conductor support floor section 106.

FIG. 4 is another cut-away side view of a portion of a two-level multilevel raised floor electro-mechanical distribution system 101 showing a detail of a version of a plenum transition barrier generally designated 108 in position for attachment to higher plenum conductor support floor section 104 on its one end and to lower conductor support floor section 106 on its other end. In this particular version the plenum barrier comprises two outwardly, horizontally positioned flanges, 109 and 111, that extend in opposite directions from one another and which are substantially perpendicular to a portion 115 that extends between and connects them. Flange 109 and flange 111 are adapted to be received on the respective higher conductor support floor section and lower conductor support floor section and to be attached thereto using mechanical fasteners 33. Conditioned air 116 flowing in the conditioned air plenum 105 formed by the upper surface of building slab 100 and the under surface of conductor support floor 103 is confined to the plenum at the height transition between higher conductor support floor section 104 and lower conductor support floor section 106 by plenum transition barrier 108 when installed as described. Conditioned air is thus prohibited from entering wire way level 110, which comprises the volume between the upper surface conductor support floor 103 and the underside of walking surface 102, and electrical conductors 120 housed in the wire way level 110 cannot enter the conditioned air plenum 105.

FIG. 5 is an isometric view of a portion of a particular version of a plenum transition barrier generally designated 108 as shown and discussed in connection with FIG. 4 and other Figures. The FIG. 5 the barrier's two flanges, 109 and 111 are provided with preinstalled holes 35 to facilitate the use of mechanical fasteners for the mechanical attachment of the plenum transition barrier 108 to portions of a higher conductor support floor section 104 and a portion of a lower conductor support floor section 106, respectively.

What has been described and illustrated herein is a preferred embodiment of the invention along with some of its variations. The terms, descriptions, and figures used are set forth for purposes of illustration only and are not meant as limitations. Those skilled in the art will recognize that many variations are possible within the spirit and scope of the invention, which is intended to be defined by the by the following claims and their equivalents, in which all terms are meant in their broadest reasonable sense unless otherwise indicated. Any headings utilized within the description are for convenience only and have no legal or limiting effect.

Method for Improving the Ventilation Effectiveness of Large Conditioned Air Plenum Environments Including Such Environments in Multilevel Raised Floor Electro-Mechanical Distribution Systems

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