Cooling module with parallel blowers

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-9253928-B2
Application number	US-201213656812-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Oct 22, 2012
Priority date	Jun 27, 2011
Publication date	Feb 2, 2016
Grant date	Feb 2, 2016

Abstract

A cooling system for an electronics chassis includes a plurality of centrifugal blowers arranged to motivate cooling air through the electronics chassis. The centrifugal blowers are arranged in one or more sets, each having blowers oriented with respective inlets in mutual facing relationship. The orientation, positioning, and alignment of the centrifugal blowers facilitates a compact arrangement of the plurality of blowers that achieves increased aerodynamic efficiencies to reduce noise output and energy consumption.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A cooling fan array for motivating cooling fluid through an interior chamber of an electronics chassis generally along a flow direction, said array comprising:
a frame having a cooling fluid entrance and a cooling fluid exit in fluid communication with the interior chamber, with at least one of said frame entrance and exit directing the cooling fluid flow along a direction parallel with said flow direction, and a plurality of modules each comprising a centrifugal blower with an impeller driven by a motor and defining an axis of rotation, said blower having an inlet arranged to intake the cooling fluid along a respective intake direction transverse to said flow direction, wherein said blowers are arranged in said frame in one or more sets, with each set including at least two blowers oriented with respective inlets in facing relationship with one another and with respective axes of rotation being axially aligned with one another, said facing inlets being axially spaced apart by a spacing dimension that is less than 75% of a diameter dimension of said impeller within said set, such that said blowers operate in parallel to motivate the cooling fluid through said cooling fluid entrance, wherein said modules define a height dimension between said cooling fluid entrance and said cooling fluid exit of 40-50 mm.

2. A cooling fan array as in claim 1 wherein each of said blowers include a single scroll blower frame defining said dual opposed inlets and a blower outlet, and a forward-curved impeller.

3. A cooling fan array as in claim 2 , including a separation plate defining an outlet plenum of said frame wherein said outlet plenum is fluidly connected to said cooling fluid inlet only through said blowers.

4. A cooling fan array as in claim 3 wherein said outlet plenum is fluidly connected to said cooling fluid exit.

5. A cooling fan array as in claim 4 , including a divergent outlet duct in said outlet plenum defining a separate outlet flow path from said blower outlet to said cooling fluid exit.

6. A cooling fan array as in claim 5 wherein said divergent outlet duct has an increasing cross-sectional area from a first location proximal to said blower outlet to a second location distal to said bower outlet.

7. A cooling fan array as in claim 1 , said spacing dimension is 50-75% of a largest one of said diameter dimension of said impeller within said set.

8. A cooling fan array for motivating air through an interior chamber of an electronic chassis, said array comprising:
a first module aligned within an interior chamber of an electronic chassis to motivate air between a cooling air inlet and a cooling air exit of said electronic chassis, said first module including at least one centrifugal blower unit having two opposing air inlets;
a second module aligned within the interior chamber of the electronic chassis to motivate air between the cooling air inlet and the cooling air exit of said electronic chassis, said second module including at least one centrifugal blower unit having two opposing air inlets;
wherein one of said air inlets of said centrifugal blower unit of said first module operates within an air flow field of one of said air inlets of said centrifugal blower unit of said second module;
each said centrifugal blower units having an axis of rotation aligned transverse to the direction of flow of air between the cooling air inlet and the cooling air exit; and
wherein the axis of rotation of the centrifugal blower of said first module is aligned parallel with the axis of rotation of the cooling air inlet of said second module.

9. The cooling fan array according to claim 8 , wherein a distance between said air inlet of said centrifugal blower of said first module that operates within the air flow field of one of said air inlets of said centrifugal blower of said second module is less than 75% of a diameter dimension of a largest diameter impeller of said centrifugal blowers of said first and second modules.

10. The cooling fan array according to claim 9 , wherein the largest diameter impeller of said centrifugal blowers has a diameter less than 50 mm.

11. The cooling fan array according to claim 8 wherein each of said blowers include a single scroll blower frame that defines said opposing air inlets and a single blower outlet.

12. The cooling fan array according to claim 8 , further including a separation plate defining an outlet plenum that isolates said air inlets of each said blower from the cooling air inlet.

13. The cooling fan array according to claim 8 , wherein air enters the cooling air inlet in a direction transverse to the direction of flow of air between the cooling air inlet and the cooling air exit.

14. A cooling fan array for motivating air through an interior chamber of an electronic chassis, said array comprising:
a first module aligned within an interior chamber of an electronic chassis to motivate air between a cooling air inlet and a cooling air exit of said electronic chassis, said first module including a centrifugal blower unit having two opposing air inlets;
a second module aligned within the interior chamber of the electronic chassis to motivate air between the cooling air inlet and the cooling air exit of said electronic chassis, said second module including a centrifugal blower unit having two opposing air inlets;
a separation plate defining an outlet plenum that isolates said air inlets of each said centrifugal blower unit from the cooling air inlet;
wherein one of said air inlets of said centrifugal blower unit of said first module operates within an air flow field of one of said air inlets of said centrifugal blower unit of said second module;
each said centrifugal blower unit having an axis of rotation aligned transverse to the direction of flow of air between the cooling air inlet and the cooling air exit; and
wherein the axis of rotation of the centrifugal blower of said first module is aligned parallel with the axis of rotation of the cooling air inlet of said second module.

15. The cooling fan array according to claim 14 , wherein a distance between said air inlet of said centrifugal blower of said first module that operates within the air flow field of one of said air inlets of said centrifugal blower of said second module is less than 75% of a diameter dimension of a largest diameter impeller of said centrifugal blowers of said first and second modules.

16. The cooling fan array according to claim 15 , wherein the largest diameter impeller of said centrifugal blowers has a diameter less than 50 mm.

17. The cooling fan array according to claim 14 , wherein each of said blowers include a single scroll blower frame that defines said opposing air inlets and a blower outlet.

18. The cooling fan array according to claim 14 , wherein air enters the cooling air inlet in a direction transverse to the direction of flow of air between the cooling air inlet and the cooling air exit.

Assignees

• DICKINSON Roger
• O'Connor John
• Henkel IP & Holding GmbH

Inventors

• DICKINSON Roger
• O'Connor John

Classifications

• H05K7/209

  Heat transfer by conduction from internal heat source to heat radiating structure (H05K7/20909 takes precedence) · CPC title

• H05K7/20736

  within cabinets for removing heat from server blades · CPC title

• H05K7/20145

  Means for directing air flow, e.g. ducts, deflectors, plenum or guides · CPC title

• H05K7/14

  Mounting supporting structure in casing or on frame or rack · CPC title

• H05K5/06

  Hermetically-sealed casings {(specially adapted for small components H05K5/0095)} · CPC title