US 6,374,627 B1Granted

Data center cooling system

OwnerDonald J. Schumacher, William C. Beckmaninventors

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Abstract

A data center having multiple rows of computer racks for holding heat-generating computer equipment is cooled by a liquid overfeed air conditioning unit that provides supply air at a temperature of about forty degrees Fahrenheit (40° F. or lower). The air conditioning unit is positioned outside the data center. Ducting from the heat exchanger outlet of the unit is connected to supply registers mounted in aisles that are provided between the rows of computer racks so that very cold supply air enters the space between the racks. Each computer rack includes vertically spaced compartments that house computer components to be cooled. At least one circulation fan is associated with each compartment and causes supply air to flow through the compartment to cool the components. The supply air gradually warms as it flows through successive compartments and is approximately 72° Fahrenheit when it reaches a return register in the ceiling of the data center. The use of a high temperature differential conserves energy, reduces noise, increases usable data center floor space, and maintains proper data system component operating temperatures.

Claims3

Dependent claims

An apparatus for cooling a data center of the type including a plurality of rows of computer racks, comprising:

at least one liquid overfeed air conditioning unit disposed externally to said data center;
said liquid overfeed air conditioning unit being adapted to supply air at a heat exchanger outlet thereof at a temperature of approximately forty degrees Fahrenheit;
each of said rows of computer racks having an aisle on its opposite sides so that data center personnel may walk between said rows;
at least one supply air register disposed in at least one of said aisles;
at least one air conditioning duct providing fluid communication between said heat exchanger outlet of said liquid overfeed air conditioning unit and said at least one supply air register;
whereby supply air at a temperature of approximately forty degrees Fahrenheit is supplied to an interior of said data center by said liquid overfeed air conditioning unit;
whereby the flow rate of supply air into said interior of said data center is reduced relative to a flow rate of supply air produced by a chilled water or a direct expansion air conditioning unit;
whereby noise reduction within said interior of said date center is achieved;
and
whereby electrical energy is conserved because said liquid overfeed air conditioning unit requires less energy relative to a chilled water or a direct expansion air conditioning unit.

7 more elements

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.