Data center air handling unit including uninterruptable cooling fan with weighted rotor and method of using the same
AssigneeSwitch, Ltd.
InventorRob Roy
Life of this patent
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Abstract
Described herein is an air handling unit for use in an integrated data center that provides for efficient cooling, wherein the air handling unit includes one or more uninterruptable cooling fans each with a weighted rotor for providing uninterrupted cooling during a power outage until back-up generators come on-line, and a method of using the same. The uninterruptable cooling fan rotors are configured to store sufficient energy as rotational kinetic energy. Furthermore, the uninterruptable cooling fans may also be configured for generation of electricity to power a control system associated therewith during a power outage until back-up generators come on-line.
Claims9
A method of preventing damage to electrical equipment, the electrical equipment being cooled with cool air from an electrically powered air conditioning unit during normal operation using grid power, the method comprising the steps of:
- rotating a fan to a predetermined RPM using an electric motor powered with electricity from the grid power to cause at least a predetermined airflow, the fan including a weighted rotor assembly that includes a fan body and a plurality of fan blades, wherein the weighted rotor assembly weighs at least 50 pounds to create stored angular kinetic energy;
- directing the airflow to the electrical equipment;
- upon removal of the grid power to the fan, continuing to direct continued airflow to the electrical equipment for at least an interim period using the stored angular kinetic energy within the fan;
- and
- before expiration of the interim period, continuing to rotate the fan using the electric motor powered with electricity from the back-up generator to cause a predetermined further continued airflow to the electrical equipment.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.