# US 11,310,944 B2 · Energy saving system and method for cooling computer data center and telecom equipment > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 11,310,944 B2 - Document ID: US11310944B2 - Status: Granted - Kind: B2 - Application number: 17/015,191 - Filed: 2020-09-09 - Published: 2020-12-31 - Granted: 2022-04-19 - Earliest claimed: 2006-06-15 - Applicants: Valan R. Martini - Inventors: Valan R. Martini - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US11310944B2 ## CPC - H05K 7/20745: {within rooms for removing heat from cabinets, e.g. by air conditioning device} - F24F 11/0001: {for ventilation (F24F11/30 takes precedence)} - G06F 1/20: Cooling means - H05K 7/20145: {Means for directing air flow, e.g. ducts, deflectors, plenum or guides} - H05K 7/20172: {Fan mounting or fan specifications} - H05K 7/20381: {Thermal management, e.g. evaporation control} - F24F 11/46: Improving electric energy efficiency or saving - F24F 2221/40: HVAC with raised floors - Y02B 30/70: Efficient control or regulation technologies, e.g. for control of refrigerant flow, motor or heating - H05K: PRINTED CIRCUITS; CASINGS OR CONSTRUCTIONAL DETAILS OF ELECTRIC APPARATUS; MANUFACTURE OF ASSEMBLAGES OF ELECTRICAL COMPONENTS - F24F: AIR-CONDITIONING; AIR-HUMIDIFICATION; VENTILATION; USE OF AIR CURRENTS FOR SCREENING (removing dirt or fumes from areas where they are produced B08B15/00; vertical ducts for carrying away waste gases from buildings E04F17/02; tops for chimneys or ventilating shafts, terminals for flues F23L17/02) - G06F: ELECTRIC DIGITAL DATA PROCESSING (computer systems based on specific computational models G06N) - Y02B: CLIMATE CHANGE MITIGATION TECHNOLOGIES RELATED TO BUILDINGS, e.g. HOUSING, HOUSE APPLIANCES OR RELATED END-USER APPLICATIONS ## Abstract A system and method of reducing consumption of electricity used to cool electronic components such as in an electronic computer data center or in a facility of networking and telecommunications equipment, and to reduce the incidence of thermal failure of the electronic components, includes providing one or more partitions configured to form a reduced-volume cooled-environment chamber in order to supply cooled air from an air conditioning system to the chamber adjacent to racks containing the electronic components, thereby preventing dilution of the cooling air by warmer air from outside of the chamber, and controlling the delivery of cooling air through the reduced-volume cooled-environment chamber. ## Claims ### Claim 1 An airflow partitioning system for use with a positive-pressure cool-air supply to provide cooling air to electronic equipment supported in at least two spaced-apart adjacent racks forming an aisle therebetween, the partitioning system comprising: a plurality of partitioning panels configured to span the two adjacent racks of electronic equipment and to cooperate with the two adjacent racks to contain the aisle and thereby form a cool-air enclosure defining a cool-air chamber, wherein the partitioning panels include one or more roof panels configured to form a roof partition extending between the two adjacent racks of electronic equipment at a top of the aisle between the racks, wherein the partitioning panels include one or more end panels configured to form an end partition extending between the two adjacent racks of electronic equipment at an end of the aisle between the racks, wherein the partitioning panels include at least one access panel that moves between a closed position that cooperates in forming the cool-air enclosure and an open position that provides access between the cool-air chamber and outside the cool-air enclosure, wherein the cool-air chamber is in airflow communication with, and fed the cooling air by, the positive-pressure cool-air supply, wherein the partitioning panels substantially restrict the cooling air from escaping from the cool-air chamber through the top and end of the aisle so that the cooling air is forced and directed to flow into the cool-air chamber, into the two adjacent racks through inward-facing sides of the racks, across the electronic equipment in the two adjacent racks to absorb heat from and thereby cool the electronic equipment, and out of the two adjacent racks through opposite-facing sides of the racks. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The partitioning system of claim 1, wherein the partitioning panels further comprise one or more blanking panels, wherein all equipment spaces in the two adjacent racks where the electronic equipment can be located are either occupied by the electronic equipment or covered by one of the blanking panels. ### Claim 3 (depends on 1) The partitioning system of claim 1, wherein the partitioning panels cooperate with the two adjacent racks so that the cool-air enclosure is substantially airtight, and wherein the cool-air chamber is partitioned from and has a smaller volume than the environment in which the two adjacent racks are housed. ### Claim 4 (depends on 1) The partitioning system of claim 1, wherein the access panel is a sliding door or wall panel of the end partition. ### Claim 5 (depends on 1) The partitioning system of claim 1, further comprising a plurality of framing members to which the roof panels and the end panels are mounted. ### Claim 6 (depends on 1) The partitioning system of claim 1, wherein the partitioning panels include one or more opposite-end panels configured to form an opposite-end partition extending between the two adjacent racks of electronic equipment at an opposite end of the aisle between the racks. ### Claim 7 (depends on 6) The partitioning system of claim 6, wherein the partitioning panels include one or more sidewall panels configured to form a sidewall partition extending along a side of the aisle between at least a portion of the end and the opposite end of the aisle. ### Claim 8 (depends on 1) The partitioning system of claim 1, wherein a third rack supporting additional electronic equipment is located spaced-apart from and adjacent to a second one of the two adjacent racks so that the second and third adjacent racks form an additional aisle between them, and further comprising: a plurality of additional partitioning panels configured to span the second and third adjacent racks of electronic equipment and to cooperate with the second and third adjacent racks to contain the additional aisle and thereby form a warm-air enclosure defining a warm-air chamber, wherein the warm-air chamber is in airflow communication with the cool-air chamber through equipment spaces in the second rack so that the cooling air is forced and directed to flow into the warm-air chamber after flowing across the electronic equipment in the equipment spaces of the second adjacent rack. ### Claim 9 (depends on 8) The partitioning system of claim 8, wherein the additional partitioning panels include one or more additional roof panels configured to form an additional roof partition extending between the second and third adjacent racks of electronic equipment at a top of the additional aisle between the racks, and wherein the partitioning panels include one or more additional end panels configured to form an additional end partition extending between the second and third adjacent racks of electronic equipment at an end of the additional aisle between the racks. ### Claim 10 (depends on 8) The partitioning system of claim 8, further comprising a discharge fan in airflow communication with the warm-air chamber to draw the cooling air across the electronic equipment in the second adjacent rack and into the warm-air chamber. ### Claim 11 A cool-air enclosure for use with a positive-pressure cool-air supply to provide cooling air to electronic equipment, the enclosure comprising: at least two spaced-apart adjacent racks that support the electronic equipment therein and that form an aisle therebetween; and a plurality of partitioning panels configured to span the two adjacent racks of electronic equipment and to cooperate with the two adjacent racks to contain the aisle and thereby form the cool-air enclosure, wherein the cool-air enclosure defines a cool-air chamber, wherein the partitioning panels include one or more roof panels configured to form a roof partition extending between the two adjacent racks of electronic equipment at a top of the aisle between the racks, wherein the partitioning panels include one or more end panels configured to form an end partition extending between the two adjacent racks of electronic equipment at an end of the aisle between the racks, wherein the partitioning panels include at least one access panel that moves between a closed position that cooperates in forming the cool-air enclosure and an open position that provides access between the cool-air chamber and outside the cool-air enclosure, wherein the cool-air chamber is in airflow communication with, and fed the cooling air by, the positive-pressure cool-air supply, and wherein the partitioning panels substantially restrict the cooling air from escaping from the cool-air chamber through the top and end of the aisle so that the cooling air is forced and directed to flow into the cool-air chamber, into the two adjacent racks through inward-facing sides of the racks, across the electronic equipment in the two adjacent racks to absorb heat from and thereby cool the electronic equipment, and out of the two adjacent racks through opposite-facing sides of the racks. ### Claim 12 (depends on 11) The enclosure of claim 11, wherein the partitioning panels further comprise one or more blanking panels, wherein all equipment spaces in the two adjacent racks where the electronic equipment can be located are either occupied by the electronic equipment or covered by one of the blanking panels. ### Claim 13 (depends on 11) The enclosure of claim 11, wherein the partitioning panels cooperate with the two adjacent racks so that the cool-air enclosure is substantially airtight, and wherein the cool-air chamber is partitioned from and has a smaller volume than the environment in which the two adjacent racks are housed. ### Claim 14 (depends on 1) The partitioning system of claim 1, wherein the access panel is a sliding door or wall panel of the end partition. ### Claim 15 (depends on 11) The enclosure of claim 11, further comprising a plurality of framing members to which the roof panels and the end panels are mounted, and wherein the partitioning panels include one or more opposite-end panels configured to form an opposite-end partition extending between the two adjacent racks of electronic equipment at an opposite end of the aisle between the racks. ### Claim 16 (depends on 11) The enclosure of claim 11 in combination with a warm-air enclosure, the warm-air enclosure comprising: a third rack supporting additional electronic equipment and located spaced-apart from and adjacent to a second one of the two adjacent racks so that the second and third adjacent racks form an additional aisle between them; and a plurality of additional partitioning panels configured to span the second and third adjacent racks of electronic equipment and to cooperate with the second and third adjacent racks to contain the additional aisle and thereby form the warm-air enclosure, wherein the warm-air enclosure defines a warm-air chamber, wherein the warm-air chamber is in airflow communication with the cool-air chamber through equipment spaces in the second rack so that the cooling air is forced and directed to flow into the warm-air chamber after flowing across the electronic equipment in the equipment spaces of the second rack. ### Claim 17 A method of controlling cooling air to electronic equipment supported in at least two spaced-apart adjacent racks forming an aisle therebetween, the method comprising: installing a plurality of partitioning panels spanning the two adjacent racks of electronic equipment and cooperating with the two adjacent racks to contain the aisle and thereby form a cool-air enclosure, wherein the cool-air enclosure defines a cool-air chamber that is in airflow communication with a positive-pressure cool-air supply to provide the cooling air, wherein the panel-installing step includes installing one or more of the panels to form a roof partition extending between the two adjacent racks of electronic equipment at a top of the aisle between the racks, wherein the panel-installing step includes installing one or more of the panels to form an end partition extending between the two adjacent racks of electronic equipment at an end of the aisle between the racks, at least one access panel that moves between a closed position that cooperates in forming the cool-air enclosure and an open position that provides access between the cool-air chamber and outside the cool-air enclosure, and wherein in use the partitioning panels substantially restrict the cooling air from escaping from the cool-air chamber through the top and end of the aisle so that the cooling air is forced and directed to flow into the cool-air chamber, into the two adjacent racks through inward- facing sides of the racks, across the electronic equipment in the two adjacent racks to absorb heat from and thereby cool the electronic equipment, and out of the two adjacent racks through opposite-facing sides of the racks. ### Claim 18 (depends on 17) The method of claim 17, further comprising installing one or more blanking panels covering all equipment spaces in the two adjacent racks that are unoccupied by the electronic equipment. ### Claim 19 (depends on 17) The method of claim 17, wherein the access panel is a sliding door or wall panel of the end partition. ### Claim 20 (depends on 17) The method of claim 17, further comprising installing a plurality of additional partitioning panels spanning a second one of the two adjacent racks and a third rack, wherein the third rack supports additional electronic equipment and is located spaced-apart from and adjacent to a second one of the two adjacent racks so that the second and third adjacent racks form an additional aisle between them, wherein the additional partitioning panels cooperate with the second and third adjacent racks to contain the additional aisle and thereby form a warm-air enclosure, wherein the warm-air enclosure defines a warm-air chamber, wherein in use the warm-air chamber is in airflow communication with the cool-air chamber through equipment spaces in the second rack so that the cooling air is forced and directed to flow into the warm-air chamber after flowing across the electronic equipment in the equipment spaces of the second and third adjacent racks. ### Claim 21 An airflow partitioning system for use with a positive-pressure air supply to provide ventilating air to electronic equipment supported in at least two spaced-apart racks with an aisle therebetween, the partitioning system comprising: a plurality of partitioning panels configured to span the two spaced-apart racks of electronic equipment and to cooperate with the two spaced-apart racks to contain the aisle and thereby form an air enclosure defining an air chamber, wherein the partitioning panels include one or more roof panels configured to form a roof partition extending between the two spaced-apart racks of electronic equipment at a top of the aisle between the racks, wherein the partitioning panels include one or more end panels configured to form an end partition extending between the two spaced-apart racks of electronic equipment at an end of the aisle between the racks, wherein the partitioning panels are configured to form the air enclosure with fire-suppression access, wherein the air chamber is in airflow communication with the positive-pressure air supply, and wherein the partition panels substantially restrict the air from escaping from the air chamber through the top and end of the aisle so that the air is directed to flow into the air chamber through inward-facing sides of the racks, after flowing across the electronic equipment in the two spaced-apart racks to absorb heat from and thereby cool the electronic equipment, and after flowing into the two spaced-apart racks through opposite-facing sides of the racks. ### Claim 22 (depends on 21) The partitioning system of claim 21, wherein the roof partition is equipped with a fire-suppression system.