Patent Application
20170064875
Not Applicable
This invention relates to the integration of a standard server cabinet, panel air-conditioning (“AC unit”), uninterruptable power supply (“UPS power unit”) and controls, into a mobile system for use in modern data centers and other facilities requiring rack mounted electronics requiring environmental control. The invention includes a method of channeling air to specific electronic devices in the cabinet, emergency back-up fans, air vents, etc; and, control logic to make all components work effectively and efficiently.
For many decades now telecommunications, cable television and large scale information services companies have constructed and operated “data” centers as central nodes for housing equipment, interconnecting voice and data circuits and storing information in large databases. These data centers have evolved from telephone switching centers and large scale computer rooms to modern day “server farms”.
With the proliferation of the internet, wireless broadband and mobility networks, capacity demands in the central nodes have significantly increased to the point where some of the largest companies find it best to build high capacity facilities near power plants, rivers, electrical power stations to obtain reliable and cost effective energy. In fact, the amount of energy consumed to operate these facilities is so great that building the server farm as close as possible to the energy source is more efficient than suffering the loss of power and efficiency introduced by transmission line loss.
Equipment miniaturization has increased the density of data traffic served by a single chip, computer processor and server array. Increases in fiber optic cable capacity, wireless network expansion and over-all density in deployment of broadband facilities which interconnect building, networks and people has enabled operators to push electronic infrastructure deeper into the market than ever before. Homes, hotels, businesses, retail coffee outlets and even street light poles are suitable for mounting and housing various electronics used for networking across the country.
Several standards for this equipment exist and one of the standards is the dimension of the mounting rack in which servers, radios and optical gear is mounted. Another standard is the operating parameters related to power (voltage and current) and operating temperature (surface and ambient) of the electronics. The present invention introduces a new configuration for integrating the cooling, power, and equipment mounting equipment into a single yet portable cabinet and distributing airflow within the equipment cabinent.
Traditionally, a standard size equipment cabinet was placed inside a “data” center specially designed to provide organized cable access, adequate ambient room temperature for cooling purposes and multiple power supply to ensure continuous operations.
As more equipment moves to the edge of the network, these traditional techniques for housing, cooling and powering equipment cabinet are being compromised. Therefore, a very real purpose is served by the present invention which integrates the equipment cooling and power control within the equipment cabinet without altering the standard shape and dimension of the cabinet as it is dimensioned today. By integrating these common systems into the actual equipment cabinet, the range of possibilities for use of an equipment cabinet greatly increases since the room or location for housing such a cabinet does not require any special modification or equipment to control ambient environmental conditions or power source.
The present invention simplifies the deployment of high density equipment cabinets nearer the edge of the network while also conforming to dimensions required when deploying cabinets in traditional “data” centers. In short, the present invention works equally well in either a central node or remote node location.
Although there are several apparatuses which may have various functions related to the Mobile Computer Cabinet with Integrated Cooling and UPS Power Assembly with Control System, none of these either separately or in combination with each other, teach or anticipate the current invention. Therefore, there remains an unmet need in the field of equipment cabinets with fully integrated mobility, cooling and power control systems. The current invention will fulfill this unmet need.
The following presents a simplified summary in order to provide a basic understanding of some aspects of the disclosed invention. This summary is not an extensive overview, and it is not intended to identify key/critical elements or to delineate the scope thereof. Its sole purpose is to present some concepts in a simplified form as a prelude to the more detailed description that is presented later.
The integration of a standard server cabinet, panel AC unit, UPS power unit and controls, into a mobile system provides operators greater flexibility in deploying electronics requiring rack mounts, temperature control and power reliability. To do so, a cabinet must be suitable in dimension to accept standardize equipment chassis and power supply. Venting, heat dissipation and temperature stability are necessary to ensure proper equipment performance and longevity.
A cabinet must be compatible with standard line-ups, cabling systems and clearances required when deploying cabinets in new or existing data centers, remote nodes or equipment closets. The present invention provides for an integrated cooling, power and control packages which remains compatible with traditional dimensions of equipment cabinet and is therefore compatible during new installations or as expansion to existing installations.
For applications not subject to standard line-ups or other limitations, the present embodiment is not constrained by such standard dimensions and may be deployed in cabinets or enclosures of different dimensions without compromising the functionality of the system described herein.
To provide for the new features of a self-contained, mobile equipment cabinet while also maintaining dimensions for compatibility with traditional cabinets, the present invention was designed to address the method of channeling air to specific electronic devices in the cabinet.
First, the Air Ducting inside the equipment server cabinet was shaped to form and fit within the free space clearances available within a traditional cabinet. This design form provides compatibility with equipment trays, shelves and chassis that are produced according to standards used within the industry.
Second, the Air Ducting was equipped with baffles, vents, and deflectors and other controllable orifices necessary to direct air to cool specific components within the cabinet and to vary the air flow as necessary using a controller system operating fans and the mechanical baffles, vents and deflectors.
Third, the control system and associated fans and variable positioning capabilities of the baffles, vents and deflectors provides for varying the velocity within a column of air to cool specific components in the cabinet more efficiently.
The present invention also provides additional control functionality through additional fans installed as Emergency Back-up Fans on the top panel of a server cabinet along with Integrated UPS power for the fans Pressure activated venting in the bottom panel of the server cabinet.
In the present invention a new integrated control system was required to collectively manage the combination of cooling, venting and power systems as presented herein. This control system must be capable of sensing and controlling system response to heat emissions, surface and ambient air temperatures throughout the cabinet and air flow volume and velocity at various baffles, vents, deflectors or other orifices. Additional control functionality is incorporated to activate and deactivate emergency backup fans when necessary.
The present invention accomplishes directing air to cool specific components in the cabinet through the use of control logic to vary fans and the velocity within a column of air to cool specific components in the cabinet and integrates this sub-system with emergency backup fans on the top panel of a server cabinet, integrated UPS power for the fans and pressure activated venting in the bottom panel of the server cabinet.
The method described herein presents a mechanism which is used in directing air to cool specific components in the cabinet. It's a function of the design of the duct/fan system in conjunction with the specific ducting which is designed to move the air from the back of the cabinet to the front, under the servers while containing it to prevent loss and then aim the air upward across the face of the servers.
When activated, the system varies the velocity within a column of air to cool specific components in the cabinet as a result of the ducting design which separates a single column of air into three columns each moving at a different velocity. The system is equipped with multiple fans that each operate with variable speed control. The integrated control logic controls each fan speed independently to create the three desired velocities within the respective columns of air.
The present embodiment is not constrained by the number of fans equipped into the cabinet. Additional fans, baffles and control logic can be added to function within larger cabinets or enclosures.
Additionally, the cabinet is equipped with back-up fans which are integrated as part of the system and which are powered by the on-board UPS. The quantity and capacity of the fans is matched to the volume of the cabinet and the pressure required to actuate the associated vent to open at predefined thresholds consistent with maintaining the operating temperature within the cabinet. The present invention introduces this venting functionality to the equipment cabinet as part of the system and this vent, which is separate from the cooling fans, is activated by negative pressure inside the cabinet produced by the emergency fans. When the vent is in the normal “closed” mode, gravity alone acting on the vent closes the vent.
The present invention integrates a series of sensors to provide response inputs to the control logic for system control. These sensors provide for monitoring, scaling and signaling to the control system incorporated into the system design.
Still other objects of the present invention will become readily apparent to those skilled in this art from the following description wherein there is shown and described the embodiments of this invention, simply by way of illustration of the best modes suited to carry out the invention. As it will be realized, the invention is capable of other different embodiments and its several details are capable of modifications in various obvious aspects all without departing from the scope of the invention. Accordingly, the drawing and descriptions will be regarded as illustrative in nature and not as restrictive.
Various exemplary embodiments of this invention will be described in detail, wherein like reference numerals refer to identical or similar components, with reference to the following figures, wherein:
The claimed subject matter is now described with reference to the drawings. In the following description, for purposes of explanation, numerous specific details are set forth in order to provide a thorough understanding of the claimed subject matter. It may be evident; however, that the claimed subject matter may be practiced with or without any combination of these specific details, without departing from the spirit and scope of this invention and the claims.
The equipment cabinet shown in
Traditional methods for providing air cooling for such equipment has been to co-locate centralized air cooling and handling systems within a data center to cool the entire volume of air within the room where equipment cabinets. In such deployments, ambient air external to the equipment cabinet is drawn into the equipment cabinet and circulated therein to cool various components mounted within the equipment cabinet eventually discharged back into the room or vented external to the room. In such deployments, the centralized air cooling and handling systems are dimensioned to maintain environmental stability for the entire room.
The present embodiment illustrates how to incorporate an air cooling system 210
The UPS system 120 shown in
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It may be advantageous to set forth definitions of certain words and phrases used in this patent document. The term “couple” and its derivatives refer to any direct or indirect communication between two or more elements, whether or not those elements are in physical contact with one another. The terms “include” and “comprise,” as well as derivatives thereof, mean inclusion without limitation. The term “or” is inclusive, meaning and/or. The phrases “associated with” and “associated therewith,” as well as derivatives thereof, may mean to include, be included within, interconnect with, contain, be contained within, connect to or with, couple to or with, be communicable with, cooperate with, interleave, juxtapose, be proximate to, be bound to or with, have, have a property of, or the like.
What has been described above includes examples of the claimed subject matter. It is, of course, not possible to describe every conceivable combination of components or methodologies for purposes of describing the claimed subject matter, but one of ordinary skill in the art can recognize that many further combinations and permutations of such matter are possible. Accordingly, the claimed subject matter is intended to embrace all such alterations, modifications and variations that fall within the spirit and scope of the appended claims. Furthermore, to the extent that the term “includes” is used in either the detailed description or the claims, such term is intended to be inclusive in a manner similar to the term “comprising” as “comprising” is interpreted when employed as a transitional word in a claim.
While this disclosure has described certain embodiments and generally associated methods, alterations and permutations of these embodiments and methods will be apparent to those skilled in the art. Accordingly, the above description of example embodiments does not define or constrain this disclosure. Other changes, substitutions, and alterations are also possible without departing from the spirit and scope of this disclosure, as defined by the following claims.
