Data Center Cooling Device

• US 20150230364A1
• Filed: 02/07/2014
• Published: 08/13/2015
• Est. Priority Date: 02/07/2014
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Wells Fargo Bank NA (Wells Fargo & Company)
• Original Assignee: Wells Fargo Bank NA (Wells Fargo & Company)
• Inventors: Wands, Charlie, McKenna, John
• Granted Patent: US 9,769,952 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: H05K 7/20145 Means for directing air flow, e.g. ducts, deflectors, plenum or guides
• CPC Class Codes: H05K 7/20736 within cabinets for removing heat from server blades
• CPC Class Codes: H05K 7/20745 within rooms for removing heat from cabinets, e.g. by air conditioning device

Abstract

An apparatus for routing air passing through a vent of an enclosure with electrical equipment includes a routing portion, a channeling portion, and a distal portion. The routing portion deflects the air passing through the vent of the enclosure. The channeling portion forms a passage of the air between the routing portion and the distal portion. The distal portion allows the air to flow from the channeling portion to surrounding or from the surrounding to the channeling portion.

Claims

1. An apparatus for routing air passing through a vent of an enclosure with electrical equipment, the air flowing in a first direction at the vent of the enclosure, the apparatus comprising:

a routing portion engaged with the enclosure and being in fluid communication with the vent of the enclosure, the routing portion being configured to deflect the air passing through the vent of the enclosure in a second direction, the second direction being different from the first direction;

a channeling portion being in fluid communication with the routing portion and forming a passage of the air in the second direction; and

a distal portion being in fluid communication with the channeling portion and open to surroundings, the distal portion configured to allow the air to flow from the channeling portion to the surroundings or from the surrounding to the channeling portion.

2. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the surrounding adjacent a side of the enclosure different from a side of the enclosure having the vent.

3. The apparatus of claim 1,

wherein the enclosure has a first side, a second side and a third side, the second side adjacent the first side, the third side opposite to the first side and adjacent the second side, wherein the vent is located at the first side of the enclosure;

wherein the routing portion is engaged with the vent on the first side of the enclosure;

wherein the channeling portion is engaged with the enclosure on the second side and forms the passage of the air in the second direction, the second direction being substantially parallel with the second side between the routing portion and the distal portion; and

wherein the distal portion opens to the surrounding adjacent the third side of the enclosure.

4. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the routing portion includes a coupling portion, a deflecting portion, and the channel-matching portion,

wherein the coupling portion is configured to engage the vent of the enclosure and dimensioned to match a size of the vent,

wherein the channel-matching portion is coupled to the channeling portion and in fluid communication with the channeling portion, and

wherein the deflecting portion includes a first bent portion, an intermediate portion and a second bent portion, the first bent portion connected to the coupling portion, the second bent portion connected to the channel-matching portion, and the intermediate portion connecting the first bent portion to the second bent portion,

wherein the first bent portion is configured to deflect the air flowing between the vent of the enclosure and the intermediate portion, and

wherein the second bent portion is configured to deflect the air flowing between the intermediate portion and the channel-matching portion.

5. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the channeling portion has a first end and a second end, the first and second ends defining the passage therebetween,

wherein the channeling portion includes a first set of opposing side panels and a cross panel extending between the opposing side panels, the opposing side panels and the cross panel expending between the first end and the second end,

wherein the opposing side panels are engaged with a side of the enclosure, and the cross panel is arranged substantially in parallel with the side of the enclosure, and

wherein the passage is defined by the opposing side panels, the cross panel, the side of the enclosure.

6. The apparatus of claim 5, wherein the channeling portion includes a second set of opposing side panels and a cross panel, the second set of the opposing side panels and the cross panel of the second set of opposing side panels slideably engaging with the first set of the opposing side panels and the cross panel, respectively, to adjust a length of the channeling portion along the passage.

7. An air conditioning system for data center hardware, the system comprising:

an enclosure with electrical equipment, the enclosure having a first vent and a second vent at a first side thereof, wherein the first vent is configured to allow air at a first temperature to flow in a first direction between the enclosure and a surrounding therethrough, and the second vent is configured to allow the air at a second temperature to flow in a second direction between the enclosure and the surrounding therethrough, the second temperature being different from the first temperature and the second direction opposite to the first direction, and

a routing device configured to route the air at the first temperature between the first vent and surroundings, the routing device comprising;

a routing portion engaged with the enclosure and being in fluid communication with the first vent of the enclosure, the routing portion configured to deflect the air at the first temperature passing through the first vent in a third direction, the third direction different from the first direction;

a channeling portion being in fluid communication with the routing portion and forming a passage for the air at the first temperature in the third direction; and

a distal portion being in fluid communication with the channeling portion and open to the surroundings, the distal portion configured to allow the air at the first temperature to flow between the channeling portion and the surroundings, the surroundings adjacent a second side of the enclosure, the second side being different from the first side of enclosure.

8. The system of claim 7, further comprising:

an air source providing the air at the first temperature, the first temperature lower than the second temperature,

wherein the enclosure has a first side, a second side and a third side, the second side adjacent the first side, the third side opposite to the first side and adjacent the second side, wherein the first vent and the second vent are located at the first side of the enclosure;

wherein the routing portion is engaged with the first vent on the first side of the enclosure;

wherein the channeling portion is engaged with the enclosure on the second side and forms the passage of the air in the third direction, the third direction being substantially parallel with the second side between the routing portion and the distal portion; and

wherein the distal portion is arranged adjacent the third side of the enclosure and opens to the surroundings adjacent the third side.

9. The system of claim 8, wherein the air at the first temperature is supplied to the third side of the enclosure, and wherein the distal portion is configured to receive the air at the first temperature therethrough and deliver the air at the first temperature to the routing portion through the channeling portion.

10. The system of claim 7, further comprising:

an air source providing the air at the first temperature to the first vent of the enclosure, the first temperature lower than the second temperature,

wherein the enclosure has a first side, a second side and a third side, the second side adjacent the first side, the third side opposite to the first side and adjacent the second side, wherein the first vent and the second vent are located at the first side of the enclosure;

wherein the routing portion is engaged with the second vent on the first side of the enclosure, the second vent configured to discharge the air at the second temperature from the enclosure;

wherein the channeling portion is engaged with the enclosure on the second side and forms the passage of the air at the second temperature in the third direction, the third direction being substantially parallel with the second side toward the third side of the enclosure; and

wherein the distal portion is arranged adjacent the third side of the enclosure and opens to the surroundings adjacent the third side.

11. The system of claim 10, wherein the air at the first temperature is supplied to the first side of the enclosure, and wherein the distal portion is configured to discharge the air at the second temperature to the surroundings.

12. The system of claim 7, wherein the routing portion includes a coupling portion, a deflecting portion, and the channel-matching portion,

wherein the coupling portion is configured to engage the first vent of the enclosure and dimensioned to match a size of the first vent,

wherein the channel-matching portion is coupled to the channeling portion and in fluid communication with the channeling portion, and

wherein the deflecting portion includes a first bent portion, an intermediate portion and a second bent portion, the first bent portion connected to the coupling portion, the second bent portion connected to the channel-matching portion, and the intermediate portion connecting the first bent portion to the second bent portion,

wherein the first bent portion is configured to deflect the air flowing between the first vent of the enclosure and the intermediate portion, and

wherein the second bent portion is configured to deflect the air flowing between the intermediate portion and the channel-matching portion.

13. The system of claim 7, wherein the channeling portion has a first end and a second end, the first and second ends defining the passage therebetween,

wherein the channeling portion includes a first set of opposing side panels and a cross panel extending between the opposing side panels, the opposing side panels and the cross panel expending between the first end and the second end,

wherein the opposing side panels are engaged with a side of the enclosure, and the cross panel is arranged substantially in parallel with the side of the enclosure, and

wherein the passage is defined by the opposing side panels, the cross panel, the side of the enclosure.

14. The system of claim 13, wherein the channeling portion includes a second set of opposing side panels and a cross panel, the second set of the opposing side panels and the cross panel slideably engaging with the first set of the opposing side panels and the cross panel, respectively, to adjust a length of the channeling portion along the passage.

15. A method of air conditioning for an enclosure with electrical equipment, the method comprising:

supplying air at a first temperature to a first side of the enclosure, wherein the enclosure includes a first vent and a second vent, the first and second vents arranged on the first side;

receiving, by the enclosure, air at the first temperature through the first vent of the enclosure;

discharging, by the enclosure, air at a second temperature through the second vent of the enclosure, the second temperature higher than the first temperature;

deflecting, by a routing device, the air at the second temperature to flow along a second side of the enclosure toward a third side of the enclosure, wherein the second side is adjacent the first side and the third side is opposite to the first side and adjacent the second side; and

discharging, by the routing device, the air at the second temperature to surroundings adjacent the third side of the enclosure.

16. The method of claim 15, wherein the first and second vents of the enclosure are arranged on the third side of the enclosure, the method further comprising:

receiving, by the routing device, the air at the first temperature from the surroundings adjacent the first side of the enclosure;

deflecting, by the routing device, the air at the first temperature to flow along the second side of the enclosure toward the third side of the enclosure;

receiving, by the enclosure, the air at the first temperature through the first vent of the enclosure; and

discharging, by the enclosure, the air at the second temperature through the second vent of the enclosure to the surroundings adjacent the third side of the enclosure.