Intensifier
An intensifier is disclosed. The intensifier includes an enclosure with an intake port, an exhaust port, an interior surface that defines a chamber, and an air flow source in communication with the chamber. The intensifier can be positioned in an under floor plenum of a data center. In the plenum, an ambient at a first pressure is draw into the chamber via the intake port and is expelled out of the chamber via the exhaust port and at a second pressure that is higher than the first pressure. The ambient expelled from the intensifier can pass through a vent tile in a raised floor of the data center and the ambient can be used to cool a component supported by the raised floor.
The present invention relates generally to an intensifier. More specifically, the present invention relates to an intensifier that generates an air flow at a high flow rate and the air flow can be used to cool a component positioned adjacent to the intensifier.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTIONA data center is a type of computer room in which one or more components are positioned in the data center and are cooled by conditioned air circulating in the data center. Typical components include computers, PC's, servers, printers, disk arrays, network equipment, backup power supplies, and monitors, just to name a few. The conditioned air can be supplied by one or more computer room air conditioning units (CRAC) that may also be positioned in the data center.
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One disadvantage to the UFP 201 is that an air flow rate (e.g. in CFM) of the conditioned air 206 through the vent tiles 202 is mainly influenced by a local static head pressure in the UFP 201. In
As one example, the static head pressure in the UFP 201 can vary from about 0.01 inches of water column to about 0.15 inches of water column. Consequently, the variations in the static head pressure result in the above mentioned variations in air flow rate through the vent tiles 202. Vent tiles 202 positioned over a region in the UFP 201 that has a relatively high static head pressure will have a higher air flow rate. Conversely, vent tiles 202 positioned over a region in the UFP 201 that has a relatively low static head pressure will have a lower air flow rate. In either case, the resulting air flow rate may not be sufficient to meet the cooling requirements of some components. Other factors can contribute to the variations in static head pressure. For example, obstructions in the UFP 201, such as cables, wires, conduits, junction boxes, support structures 231 for supporting the raised floor 203, and cable trays 208 can disrupt the flow of the conditioned air 204 resulting in variations in static head pressure.
An insufficient air flow rate can be detrimental to components that require a high air flow rate to adequately dissipate waste heat. One example of a component that requires a high air flow rate is a high density rack that includes several components (e.g. network servers, disk drives, routers) that are placed in close proximity to each other and dissipate a large amount of waste heat. If the high density rack is positioned near vent tiles 202 that have an insufficient air flow rate, one or more of the components in the rack can fail due to overheating. Moreover, it can be costly in terms of labor, rerouting cables, and system down time to move the high density rack to a location on the raised floor 203 where there is a sufficient air flow through the vent tiles 202 to meet the cooling needs of the high density rack.
Consequently, there is a need for an intensifier that can be flexibly positioned to deliver an increased air flow rate where it is needed. There is also a need for an intensifier that can be retrofitted into existing data centers, or into any environment in which an increased air flow is required to cool components in the environment.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTIONAn intensifier of the present invention comprises an enclosure including an intake port, an exhaust port, an interior surface that defines a chamber, and an air flow source in communication with the chamber. The enclosure can be positioned in a space (e.g. in an under floor plenum UFP) that includes an ambient at a first pressure and the exhaust port can be positioned adjacent to an opening in a surface (e.g. a raised floor) that partially encloses the space. The air flow source draws the ambient into the chamber through the intake port where the ambient is expelled out of the exhaust port. The ambient exits the exhaust port at a second pressure that is higher than the first pressure.
The intensifier solves the aforementioned problems because the ambient that exits the exhaust port at the second pressure generates a higher air flow rate out of the exhaust port. The higher air flow rate can be used to dissipate waste heat from components that would otherwise not receive an adequate air flow rate through the opening in the surface based solely on the first pressure.
The intensifier can be retrofitted in an existing environment (e.g. a data center) and the intensifier can be flexibly relocated as air flow needs in the environment change. Other advantages to the intensifier include fabrication from low cost materials (e.g. metals, plastics, composites, wood) and the use of commonly available components for the air flow source (e.g. an electrically powered fan).
Other aspects and advantages of the present invention will become apparent from the following detailed description, taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, illustrating by way of example the principles of the present invention.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
In the following detailed description and in the several figures of the drawings, like elements are identified with like reference numerals.
As shown in the drawings for purpose of illustration, the present invention is embodied in an intensifier comprising an enclosure that includes an intake port, an exhaust port, an interior surface that defines a chamber, and an air flow source in communication with the chamber. The enclosure can be positioned in a space that includes an ambient at a first pressure and the exhaust port can be positioned adjacent to an opening in a surface that partially encloses the space. The air flow source draws the ambient into the chamber through the intake port and expels the ambient out of the chamber through the exhaust port at a second pressure that is higher than the first pressure.
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Communication between the air flow source 21 and the chamber 15 can be accomplished in a variety of ways. As one example, the air flow source 21 can be positioned in the chamber 15 as depicted in
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The intensifier 10 can include more than one air flow source 21 as depicted in
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The ambient Ae that is expelled from the chamber 15 passes through the surface via the opening 51o. The space 50 is only partially enclosed because the surface 51 includes one or more of the openings 51o. A vent tile 52 can be positioned in the opening 51o. The vent tile 52 includes a plurality of apertures or vent holes through which the ambient Ae passes. An exemplary vent tile 52 is a type used in computer data centers.
The space 50 can be an under floor plenum (UFP) such as the type used in a data center to facilitate the cooling of components (e.g. servers) housed in the data center. The under floor plenum can include a subsurface 53 that is positioned below the surface 51. Accordingly, the space 50 can be defined by the surface 51, the subsurface 53, and additional surfaces, such as four walls (not shown). The surface 51 can be a raised floor. A support structure 55 connected with the subsurface 53 can support the raised floor above the subsurface 53.
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Of the components (80, 83), the air flow rate f1 of the ambient Ai that exits the vent tiles 52 is sufficient to cool the components 83. However, the air flow rate f1 is not sufficient to cool the components 80. Consequently, two intensifiers 10 are positioned in the space 50 under the vent tiles 52 that are adjacent to the components 80 so that the ambient Ae at the higher air flow rate f2 cools the components 80.
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Optionally, the control unit 101 can monitor the air flow source 21. Monitoring can be important in determining proper operation of the air flow source 21. An operational parameter of the air flow source 21 that can be monitored by the control unit 101 includes but is not limited to: monitoring a speed (e.g. RPM) of the air flow source 21; a state of the air flow source 21, and a temperature of the air flow source 21. The speed of the air flow source 21 can be indicative of a magnitude of the air flow rate f2 of the ambient Ae. The temperature of the air flow source 21 can be monitored to detect an over heating condition. Similarly, the state of the air flow source 21 can be monitored to detect a fault condition, such as a stalled fan, for example.
The control unit 101 can be in communication with one or more sensors. The communication can be an electrical communication or a wireless form of communication such as a radio or an infrared link and the communication can be bi-directional. Parameters that can be sensed by the sensors and communicated with the control unit 101 include but are not limited to temperature, pressure, an air flow rate, humidity, and power consumption. In
Examples of sensors (103, 105) that can be in communication with the control unit 101 include current sensors, temperature sensors, pressure sensors, humidity sensors, and flow rate sensors. One or more of the sensors 103 can be positioned in the space 50 and one or more of the sensors 105 can be positioned outside of the space 50. The sensors (103, 105) can sense identical conditions or different conditions. As one example, the component 80 can be a high density rack system that is cooled by the ambient Ae from the intensifier 10 and a current sensor can be used to sense a magnitude of an electrical current being draw by the components 80.
A high current demand by the component 80 can be indicative of a high processing load that will result in the generation of additional waste heat that must be dissipated by the ambient Ae. The current sensor communicates the magnitude of the electrical current to the control unit 101 and the control unit 101 can control the air flow source 21 of the intensifier 10 by increasing the air flow rate f2 (e.g. increasing fan speed), turning on the air flow source 21, or if the air flow rate f2 is at its maximum, then the control unit 101 can shift a portion of the processing load of the component 80 to another component.
Alternatively, the sensor (103, 105) can be used to sense a power condition of or one or more components or of one or more of the power supply units 63. Examples of the power condition include but are not limited to power consumption and a power factor. For instance, one of the power supply units 63 can supply power to one or more of the components 80, an increase in power consumption by the power supply unit 63 is sensed by the sensor and the control unit 101 controls the air flow source 21 of the intensifier 10 that services the component 80 (e.g. increases fan speed). As another example, the sensor 105 can be a temperature sensor that senses the temperature of one of the components 80 that is serviced by the intensifier 10. If the temperature rises above a predetermined threshold value, then the control unit 101 can increase the air flow rate f2 (e.g. increasing fan speed) or turn on the air flow source 21. Conversely, if the temperature is below a predetermined threshold value, then the control unit 101 can decrease the air flow rate f2 or turn off the air flow source 21. Advantages to reducing the air flow rate f2 or turning off the air flow source 21 include energy conservation and a lower operating cost due to reduced power consumption.
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A computer readable medium 121 can include program instructions (e.g. a computer program) that controls the intensifier system 100. The computer readable medium 121 can be a media including but not limited to a diskette, a CD media, a DVD media, Flash memory, optical storage media, a hard disk drive, read-only-memory, DRAM, MRAM, and random access memory. The computer readable medium 121 can be inserted into the control unit 101, be a component of the control unit 101, or can be an external medium that can be accessed (e.g. read) by the control unit 101. The computer readable medium 121 can include one or more program instructions for controlling the control unit 101 that is in communication with one or more intensifiers 10 that are controlled by the control unit 101.
The program instructions include but are not limited to: a program instruction for controlling the air flow source 21 of the intensifier 10; a program instruction for monitoring the air flow source 21 of the intensifier 10; a program instruction for controlling the air conditioning unit 61 in communication with the control unit 101 and controlled by the control unit 101; a program instruction for monitoring the air conditioning unit 61; a program instruction for controlling a power supply unit 63 in communication with the control unit 101 and controlled by the control unit 101; a program instruction for monitoring the power supply unit 63; a program instruction for controlling a component 80 serviced by the intensifier 10 and in communication with the control unit 101 and controlled by the control unit 101; a program instruction for monitoring the component 80; a program instruction for reading data from at least one sensor (103, 105) in communication with the control unit 101; and a program instruction for causing the control unit 101 to control one or more of the air flow source 21, an air conditioning unit 61 in communication with the control unit 101, a power supply unit 63 in communication with the control unit 101, and a component 80 that is serviced by the intensifier 10 and is in communication with the control unit 101. The program instructions can be written in a computer language such a C, C++, a UNIX® script, JAVA®, and PERL®, for example.
Although several embodiments of the present invention have been disclosed and illustrated, the invention is not limited to the specific forms or arrangements of parts so described and illustrated. The invention is only limited by the claims.
Claims
1. An intensifier, comprising:
- an enclosure including an intake port, an exhaust port, an interior surface defining a chamber; and an air flow source in communication with the chamber,
- the enclosure is adapted to be positioned in a space that includes an ambient at a first pressure, the exhaust port is adapted to be positioned adjacent to an opening in a surface that partially encloses the space,
- a conduit connected with the intake port; and
- the air flow source is operative to draw the ambient into the chamber through the conduit connected to the intake port and to expel the ambient out of the chamber through exhaust port at a second pressure that is higher than tile first pressure.
2. The intensifier of claim 1, wherein the air flow source is positioned in the chamber.
3. The intensifier of claim 1, wherein the air flow source is connected with the intake port
4. (canceled)
5. The intensifier of claim 1, wherein the air flow source is a fan.
6. The intensifier of claim 1, wherein the ambient comprises a conditioned air.
7. The intensifier of claim 6, wherein the conditioned air is at a temperature that is less than about than about 25.0° C.
8. The intensifier of claim 1, wherein tie space is an under floor plenum.
9. The intensifier of claim 8, wherein the under floor plenum includes a subsurface positioned below the surface.
10. The intensifier of claim 1, wherein the surface is a raised floor.
11. The intensifier of claim 10, wherein the raised floor supports a component to be cooled by the ambient expelled from the exhaust port.
12. The intensifier of claim 1, wherein the enclosure is connected with the surface.
13. The intensifier of claim 1, wherein the enclosure is connected with a structure positioned below the surface.
14. The intensifier of claim 1, wherein the enclosure is connected with a subsurface that is positioned below the surface.
15. The intensifier of claim 1 and further comprising:
- a vent tile connected with the enclosure and positioned over the exhaust port to vent tile including an aperture through which the ambient exits the chamber.
16. The intensifier of claim 1 and further comprising a vent tile connected with the surface and positioned in the opening and the vent tile includes an aperture through which the ambient exits the chamber.
17. The intensifier of claim 1, wherein the exhaust port is positioned adjacent to the opening in the surface based on an air flow requirement of a component.
18. An intensifier system, comprising:
- an enclosure including an intake port, an exhaust port, an interior surface defining a chamber, and an air flow source in communication with the chamber,
- the enclosure is adapted to be positioned in a space that includes an ambient at a first pressure, the exhaust port is adapted to be positioned adjacent to an opening in a surface that partially encloses the space, and
- the air flow source is operative to draw the ambient into the chamber through the intake port and to expel the ambient out of the chamber through exhaust port at a second pressure that is higher than the first pressure; and
- a control unit in communication with the air flow source and operative to control the air flow source.
19. The intensifier system of claim 18, wherein the control unit controls a parameter of the air flow source selected from the group consisting, of a speed of the air flow source, turning the air flow source on, turning the air flow source off and controlling a power source that supplies power to the air flow source.
20. The intensifier system of claim 18, wherein the control unit monitors the air flow source.
21. The intensifier system of claim 20, wherein the control unit monitors a parameter of the air flow source selected from the group consisting of a speed of the air flow source, a state of the air flow source, and a temperature of the air flow source.
22. The intensifier system of claim 18 and further comprising at least one sensor in communication with the control unit.
23. The intensifier system of claim 22, wherein the sensor senses a parameter selected from the group consisting of a temperature, a pressure, an air flow rate, and a humidity.
24. The intensifier system of claim 22, wherein the sensor has a position selected from the group consisting of a position in the space and a position outside of the space.
25. The intensifier system of claim 18 and further comprising an air conditioning unit in communication with the control unit, the air conditioning unit is operative to generate a conditioned air, and the control unit is operative to control the air conditioning unit.
26. The intensifier system of claim 25, wherein the control unit controls a parameter of the air conditioning unit selected from the group consisting of a temperature of the conditioned air, a humidity of the conditioned air, and a flow rate of the conditioned air.
27-32. (canceled)
33. The intensifier of claim 1, further comprising:
- a second air flow source; and
- a second intake port, wherein the second air flow source is operative to draw the ambient into the chamber through the second intake port and to expel the ambient out of the chamber through the exhaust port at a higher pressure than first pressure of the ambient
34. The intensifier of claim 1, further comprising:
- at least one other enclosure positioned in the space and connected to the air flow source, the at least one other enclosure including a second intake port, a second exhaust port, and a second interior surface defining a second chamber, wherein the air flow source is also operative to draw the ambient into the second chamber through the second intake port and to expel the ambient out of the second chamber through the second exhaust port at a higher pressure than first pressure of the ambient.
35. The intensifier system of claim 18, wherein the air flow source is a fan.
36. An apparatus comprising:
- an enclosure including an intake port, an exhaust port, an interior surface defining a chamber;
- an air flow source in communication with the chamber;
- a conduit connected with the intake port and the air flow source;
- wherein the enclosure is adapted to be positioned in a space that includes an ambient at a first pressure, the exhaust port is adapted to be positioned adjacent to an opening in a surface that partially encloses the space;
- wherein the air flow source is operative to draw the ambient into the chamber through the conduit connected to the intake port and to expel the ambient out of the chamber through the exhaust port at a second pressure that is higher than the first pressure;
- wherein the air flow source is located outside of the enclosure and is connected to the enclosure via the conduit such that the air flow source is operative to be flexibly placed in the space to draw the ambient from different locations within the space.
Type: Application
Filed: Jan 28, 2005
Publication Date: Sep 7, 2006
Inventors: Manu Kumar Nair , Premjit Daniel , Govindaraj Gettimall
Application Number: 11/046,602
International Classification: F24F 7/00 (20060101);