Multi-stage air movers for cooling computer systems and for other uses
First Claim
Patent Images
1. A computer system comprising:
- a plurality of computer modules;
a computer cabinet holding the plurality of computer modules, the computer cabinet including an air inlet and an air outlet; and
a multi-stage air mover carried by the computer cabinet, wherein the multi-stage air mover is configured to move a flow of cooling air from the air inlet, past the plurality of computer modules, and out the computer cabinet via the air outlet, wherein the multi-stage air mover includes first and second rotating blade sets, and wherein the multi-stage air mover further includes a stationary portion carrying a third blade set positioned in an annular arrangement about the axis of rotation, and wherein the third blade set is further positioned at least partially between the first and second blade sets.
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Abstract
Multi-stage air movers for cooling computers and other systems are described herein. In one embodiment, a computer system includes a computer cabinet holding a plurality of computer modules. The computer cabinet includes an air inlet and an air outlet. The computer system further includes a multi-stage air mover configured to move a flow of cooling air from the air inlet, past the plurality of computer modules, and out the computer cabinet via the air outlet.
244 Citations
19 Claims
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1. A computer system comprising:
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a plurality of computer modules; a computer cabinet holding the plurality of computer modules, the computer cabinet including an air inlet and an air outlet; and a multi-stage air mover carried by the computer cabinet, wherein the multi-stage air mover is configured to move a flow of cooling air from the air inlet, past the plurality of computer modules, and out the computer cabinet via the air outlet, wherein the multi-stage air mover includes first and second rotating blade sets, and wherein the multi-stage air mover further includes a stationary portion carrying a third blade set positioned in an annular arrangement about the axis of rotation, and wherein the third blade set is further positioned at least partially between the first and second blade sets. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5)
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6. A computer system comprising:
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a computer cabinet holding at least one computer module; and an air mover positioned inside the computer cabinet, wherein the air mover includes a plurality of radially positioned rotating blade sets configured to move a flow of cooling air through the computer cabinet and past the at least one computer module, wherein the air mover further includes a stationary blade set positioned at least partially between two adjacent rotating blade sets. - View Dependent Claims (7, 8)
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9. A centrifugal air mover comprising:
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a first rotating blade set positioned in an annular arrangement about an axis of rotation; at least a second rotating blade set positioned in a generally annular arrangement about the axis of rotation, wherein the first and second rotating blade sets are at least approximately aligned in a radial direction extending outwardly from the axis of rotation; and a stationary blade set positioned at least partially between the first and second rotating blade sets. - View Dependent Claims (10, 11)
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12. An air mover assembly for use with a computer cabinet, the air mover assembly comprising:
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a mounting plate having first and second openings; a first multi-stage air mover attached to the mounting plate, the first multi-stage air mover having a first outlet in fluid communication with the first opening; and a second multi-stage air mover attached to the mounting plate, the second multi-stage air mover having a second outlet in fluid communication with the second opening, wherein at least one of the first and second multi-stage air movers includes; a first rotating blade set positioned in an annular arrangement about an axis of rotation; a second rotating blade set positioned in an annular arrangement about the axis of rotation; and a stationary blade set positioned in an annular arrangement about the axis of rotation, and wherein the first stationary blade set is positioned at least partially between the first and second rotating blade sets. - View Dependent Claims (13, 14, 15)
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16. A method for cooling a plurality of computer modules carried by a computer cabinet in a room, the computer cabinet including an air inlet and an air outlet, the method comprising:
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positioning a multi-stage air mover in the computer cabinet; and operating the multi-stage air mover to drive a flow of cooling air from the air inlet through the computer cabinet, past the computer modules, and into the room through the air outlet, wherein the multi-stage air mover includes first, second, and third blade sets at least approximately aligned in a radial direction extending outwardly from an axis of rotation, wherein operating the multi-stage air mover further comprises; compressing the flow of cooling air from the air inlet to a first pressure with the first blade set; at least partially radially directing the compressed cooling air from the first blade set to the third blade set with the second blade set; and further compressing the directed cooling air to a second pressure higher than the first pressure with the third blade set. - View Dependent Claims (17)
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18. A system for performing high-speed computations, the system comprising:
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means for holding at least one computer module; means for admitting a flow of cooling air from a room into the computer module holding means; a first compressing means for compressing the flow of cooling air to a first pressure; and a second compressing means for compressing the flow of cooling air from the first pressure to a second pressure higher than the first pressure, wherein the second compressing means are positioned in an annular arrangement around the first compressing means, wherein the system further comprises an air directing means for at least partially radially directing the flow of cooling air from the first compressing means to the second compressing means. - View Dependent Claims (19)
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Specification