DROPPED CEILING SYSTEM COOLING PREDICTION

• US 20140330447A1
• Filed: 12/23/2011
• Published: 11/06/2014
• Est. Priority Date: 12/23/2011
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Schneider Electric IT Corporation (Schneider Electric SE)
• Original Assignee: Schneider Electric IT Corporation (Schneider Electric SE)
• Inventors: VanGilder, James William, Zhang, Xuanhang
• Granted Patent: US 9,727,064 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 700/300
• CPC Class Codes: G05D 23/1917 using digital means
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 1/206 comprising thermal management
• CPC Class Codes: H05K 7/20745 within rooms for removing heat from cabinets, e.g. by air conditioning device
• CPC Class Codes: H05K 7/20836 Thermal management, e.g. server temperature control
• CPC Class Codes: Y02D 10/00 Energy efficient computing, e.g. low power processors, power management or thermal management

Abstract

In one embodiment, there is provided a computer-implemented method for evaluating ceiling plenum airflow patterns and cooling performance of equipment in a data center. The method includes receiving data related to equipment in the data center, receiving data related to the ceiling plenum, determining first parameters related to airflow and to pressure in the ceiling plenum using a first airflow model, determining second parameters related to airflow through a plurality of equipment racks and to pressure across the plurality of equipment racks using a second airflow model distinct from the first airflow model, determining a coupling relationship between airflow through the equipment racks and airflow into the ceiling plenum, adjusting the first parameters based on at least the second parameters and the coupling relationship, determining a sufficiency of airflow through the equipment racks, and storing, on a storage device, an indication of the sufficiency of airflow through the equipment racks.

Claims

1. A computer-implemented method for evaluating ceiling plenum airflow patterns and cooling performance of equipment in a data center, the equipment including a plurality of equipment racks and at least one cooling provider, the method comprising:

receiving data related to types of equipment and an arrangement of equipment in the data center;

receiving data related to a configuration of the ceiling plenum;

determining first parameters related to airflow and first parameters related to pressure in the ceiling plenum using a first airflow model;

determining second parameters related to airflow through the plurality of equipment racks and second parameters related to pressure across the plurality of equipment racks using a second airflow model distinct from the first airflow model;

determining a coupling relationship between airflow through the plurality of equipment racks and airflow into the ceiling plenum;

adjusting the first parameters based on at least the second parameters and the coupling relationship;

determining a sufficiency of airflow through the plurality of equipment racks; and

storing, on a storage device, an indication of the sufficiency of airflow through the plurality of equipment racks.

2. The computer implemented method of claim 1, further comprising determining airflows through one or more perforated tiles in the ceiling plenum.

3. The computer implemented method of claim 1, further comprising determining airflow through one or more ducts carrying air to the ceiling plenum from one or more of the plurality of equipment racks.

4. The computer implemented method of claim 1, further comprising incorporating leakage airflow through one or more pieces of equipment in the determination of the first parameters related to airflow.

5. The computer implemented method of claim 1, further comprising determining an absolute value of pressure in one of the ceiling plenum and an inlet of one of the plurality of equipment racks.

6. The computer implemented method of claim 1, further comprising determining a ratio of airflow through a duct of at least one of the plurality of equipment racks to airflow introduced into the at least one of the plurality of equipment racks and displaying the ratio on an output device.

7. The computer implemented method of claim 1, further comprising determining a room air temperature in the data center, exhaust air temperatures of the plurality of equipment racks, and air temperatures within the ceiling plenum.

8. The computer implemented method of claim 8, further comprising displaying the determined air temperatures within the ceiling plenum on an output device.

9. A system for evaluating ceiling plenum airflow patterns and cooling performance of equipment in a data center, the equipment including a plurality of equipment racks and at least one cooling provider, the system comprising:

an interface; and

a controller coupled to the interface and configured to;

receive data related to types of equipment and an arrangement of equipment in the data center;

receive data related to a configuration of the ceiling plenum;

determine first parameters related to airflow and first parameters related to pressure in the ceiling plenum using a first airflow model;

determine second parameters related to airflow through the plurality of equipment racks and second parameters related to pressure across the plurality of equipment racks using a second airflow model distinct from the first airflow model;

determine a coupling relationship between airflow through the plurality of equipment racks and airflow into the ceiling plenum;

adjust the first parameters based on at least the second parameters and the coupling relationship;

determine a sufficiency of airflow through the plurality of equipment racks; and

store, on a storage device, an indication of the sufficiency or airflow through the plurality of equipment racks.

10. The system of claim 9, wherein the controller is further configured to determine airflows through one or more perforated tiles in the ceiling plenum.

11. The computer implemented method of claim 9, wherein the controller is further configured to determine airflow through one or more ducts carrying air to the ceiling plenum from one or more of the plurality of equipment racks.

12. The computer implemented method of claim 9, wherein the controller is further configured to incorporate leakage airflow through one or more pieces of equipment in the determination of the first parameters related to airflow.

13. The computer implemented method of claim 9, wherein the controller is further configured to an absolute value of pressure in one of the ceiling plenum and an inlet of one of the plurality of equipment racks.

14. The computer implemented method of claim 9, wherein the controller is further configured to a ratio of airflow through a duct of at least one of the plurality of equipment racks to airflow introduced into the at least one of the plurality of equipment racks and to display the ratio on an output device.

15. The computer implemented method of claim 9, wherein the controller is further configured to a room air temperature in the data center, exhaust air temperatures of the plurality of equipment racks, and air temperatures within the ceiling plenum.

16. The computer implemented method of claim 15, wherein the controller is further configured to display the determined air temperatures within the ceiling plenum on an output device.

18. The computer readable medium claim 16, wherein the sequences of instructions further include instructions that will cause the processor to determine a ratio of airflow through a duct of at least one of the plurality of equipment racks to airflow introduced into the at least one of the plurality of equipment racks and displaying the ratio on an output device.

20. The computer readable medium claim 16, wherein the sequences of instructions further include instructions that will cause the processor to determine a room air temperature in the data center, exhaust air temperatures of the plurality of equipment racks, and air temperatures within the ceiling plenum and to display the determined air temperatures within the ceiling plenum on an output device.

17. A computer readable medium having stored thereon sequences of instructions including instructions that will cause a processor to:

receive data related to types of equipment and an arrangement or equipment in a data center;

receive data related to a configuration of a ceiling plenum in the data center;

determine first parameters related to airflow and first parameters related to pressure in the ceiling plenum using a first airflow model;

determine second parameters related to airflow through a plurality of equipment racks in the data center and second parameters related to pressure across the plurality of equipment racks using a second airflow model distinct from the first airflow model;

determine a coupling relationship between airflow through the plurality of equipment racks and airflow into the ceiling plenum;

adjust the first parameters based on at least the second parameters and the coupling relationship;

determine a sufficiency of airflow through the plurality of equipment racks; and

store, on a storage device, an indication of the sufficiency of airflow through the plurality of equipment racks.

19. The computer readable medium claim 17, wherein the sequences of instructions further include instructions that will cause the processor to display the ratio on the output device overlayed on a graphical representation of the equipment.

21. A computer-implemented method for evaluating ceiling plenum airflow patterns and cooling performance of equipment in a data center, the equipment including a plurality of equipment racks and at least one cooling provider, the method comprising:

receiving data related to types of equipment and an arrangement of equipment in the data center including the location and configuration of the plurality of equipment racks and one or more hot aisles;

receiving data related to locations and configurations of one or more perforated ceiling tiles providing fluid communication between the one or more hot aisles and the ceiling plenum;

determining a first quantity of air exhausted from one of the plurality of equipment racks;

determining a second quantity of air captured by the one or more perforated ceiling tiles which is exhausted from the one of the plurality of equipment racks using an algebraic calculation method;

determining a hot aisle capture index for the one of the plurality of equipment racks based on the first quantity of air and the second quantity of air; and

storing, on a storage device, an indication of the hot aisle capture index.