GB2480477A

GB2480477A - Air condition and ventilation system particularly for use with a data or server room

Info

Publication number: GB2480477A
Application number: GB1008416A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Stephen Mark Farrell
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 2010-05-20
Filing date: 2010-05-20
Publication date: 2011-11-23
Also published as: GB2481676A; GB201008416D0; GB201108518D0

Abstract

The air condition and ventilation system is suitable for regulating the temperature of a first 108 and a second space. The system comprises an air conditioning unit 100 fluidly interconnected with an extractor 102 via at least one connecting duct 113, the at least one connecting duct having a connecting duct damper (C); and at least one airway 110 providing fluid communication between the first and second space, the at least one airway including an airway damper (B); wherein the extractor further comprises at least one extractor vent 112 in fluid communication with a third space containing unconditioned air, and at least one extractor inlet 118 in fluid communication with the first space, the at least one extractor vent having an extractor vent damper (A); and wherein the air conditioning unit further comprises at least one air conditioning inlet 114 and at least one air conditioning outlet 116, the at least one air conditioning inlet having an air conditioning inlet damper (D). The dampers moderate the flow of air through their respective airways. The system may be used to pass unwanted heat generated in the first space to the second or third space.

Description

Energy Saving Temperature Regulation System Bac]çground of the Invention [1] The present invention relates to air conditioning and ventilation systems, and in particular to systems using a combination of conditioned and ventilated air to maintain a room temperature.

[2] Combined ventilation and air conditioning systems are known in the art.

[3] EP 2116786 to Takahashi discloses an air-conditioning ventilator capable of suppressing freezing of a ventilation unit due to a cold air supply while ensuring a supply of fresh air through ventilation even in cold regions. A ventilation unit has an air supply duct for supplying air from an outdoor space, and an air supply fan. An air-conditioning unit has an intake duct, an indoor heat exchanger, a discharge duct, and an indoor fan. A bypass duct bypasses an inlet duct of the air supply duct and the discharge duct.

[4] WO 2009103963 to Woods discloses an integrated ventilation and heating system for a room, building or the like which comprises a ventilation stack having an interior space, a first opening which in use provides fluid communication between the interior space and the room, building or the like to be ventilated, and a second opening which in use provides fluid communication between the interior space and ambient atmosphere, the interior space in use providing a mixing space for air entering the stack from the room and air entering the stack from the ambient atmosphere. A heating control device controls the operation of a heating apparatus that provides heat to the room, building or the like. A system controller controls both the operation of the heating control device and the size of at least the second opening according to a pre-determined room condition.

[5] US 2010065650 to Phillips discloses an air conditioning system which treats outdoor air from outside a conditioned space and return air from inside the conditioned space, and mixes the outdoor air with the return air to form supply air for the conditioned space. The air conditioning system includes: an latent cooling treatment stage for outdoor air; a sensible cooling treatment stage for return air, which are configured to provide parallel airflow with each other; and a means for mixing outdoor air with return air to form supply air for the conditioned space. The latent cooling treatment stage includes at least: a dehumidification heat exchanger, combination pre-cooling and heat reclaim heat exchangers, and a heat transfer pump. The return air sensible cooling treatment stage includes at least a sensible cooling heat exchanger.

[6J WO 2008085115 to Berg discloses air conditioning equipment for return air admixture of outgoing air into incoming air comprising outdoor, return, outgoing and incoming airflow channels. The equipment comprises a control and regulating system with a monitoring and calculation unit arranged, based on one or more sensors present in the building, to individually regulate speed controlled fans in said airflow channels, as well as the opening and closing of the airflow channels, to provide a desired return air admixture.

[7} WO 2008146843 to Ishida discloses a ventilating and air conditioning apparatus for adjusting a room temperature, having improved efficiency. A ventilating and air conditioning apparatus is provided with a heat exchanging element for exchanging heat between air passing through an isolated first heat exchanging air path and air passing through a second heat exchanging air path. The apparatus comprises a heat pump which performs air conditioning; a heat exchanging air feeding path which causes the first air path to communicate with the second air path through the heat pump; a non heat exchanging air feeding path which bypasses the first air path; and an air path damper which performs switching between the heat exchanging air feeding path and the non heat exchanging air feeding path.

[8] Data room or server room air conditioning units are known in the art.

[9] US 2009292811 to Pienta discloses a method which includes a step of obtaining efficiency characteristic information for each of a plurality of air conditioning units in a location containing a plurality of server computers. A computer management system memory stores efficiency characteristic information for a plurality of air conditioning units in a location containing a plurality of server computers. The processing circuit is further configured to allocate one or more processing tasks to one of the plurality of server computers based on the efficiency characteristic information.

[10] US 2005267639 to Sharma discloses a method for evaluating one or more components in a data center, in which inlet and outlet temperatures of one or more heat dissipating devices are detected. In addition, the temperatures ofair supplied by one or more computer room air conditioning (CRAC) units are also detected. Indices of air re-circulation for the one or more heat dissipating devices are calculated based upon the detected inlet temperatures, outlet temperatures and supplied air temperatures. The indices of air re-circulation are determined at various flow field settings of air delivered to the one or more heat dissipating devices and the one or more components are evaluated based upon changes in the indices ofair re-circulation for the one or more heat dissipating devices

at the various flow field settings.

[11] US 2009210096 to Stack discloses a climate control system that includes a computer room air conditioner (CRAC) and an air economizer. The system is designed for use in a data center which has equipment racks in which electronic equipment is disposed. The climate control system includes a control module that controls the climate control system. The control module determines whether outside air is suitable for use in cooling the data center based on the dry bulb temperature and humidity of the outside air. If the outside air is not suitable for, only the CRAC is used to cool the data center. If the outside air is suitable for use, i.e., below a set temperature, outside air and not the CRAC is used to cool the data center The outside air is conditioned before it is introduced as supply air into the data center so that the supply air is above a minimum temperature. If the outside air is suitable for use and the dry bulb temperature of the outside air is above the minimum, the control module determines a percentage of data center cooling to be provided by the CPAC and a percentage to be provided by the outside air. The control module then controls the climate control system accordingly.

Brief Summary of the Invention

[12] It can be seen from the forgoing that there is a prevalent need for air conditioning and ventilation systems which mix conditioned air with outdoor air to reduce energy used to cool a room, in particular a data or server room.

[13] It can further be seen that there is a prevalent need to extract heat from server rooms and dispose of it in a safe way.

[14] It would be advantageous to use hot air extracted from such data or server rooms to heat a building.

[15] It is therefore an object of the present invention to provide an air conditioning and ventilation system for cooling a data room, which minimizes energy consumption by using outside air to cool the server room where necessary, and which redirects excess heat energy to heat other parts of a building, reducing energy required to heat the building.

[16] To this end, an air conditioning and ventilation system for regulating the temperature of a first space is disclosed. The system comprises: at least one air conditioning unit for cooling air; at least one vent for admitting atmospheric air to said air conditioning unit; at least one outlet from said air conditioning unit to said first space; at least one extractor unit; at least one inlet from said first space to said extractor; at least one vent for emitting air from said extractor unit to an atmosphere; at least one connector airway from said extractor to said air conditioning unit; and at least one heating airway leading to a second space, for heating said second space.

[17] An advantage of the present invention is that it uses outside air to cool the data room where possible, minimizing energy used. A further advantage is that the air is therefore fresher than wholly conditioned air and therefore suitable for use in the rest of the building. A yet further advantage is that by using air warmed by the servers to heat the building, energy use is further reduced. A yet further advantage is that the system is flexible and allows the user to alter the source of the air between outside air and recirculated air, and the destination of the air between the building and the atmosphere. In this way the system can be used differently in different climates, on individual days according to weather conditions, and in different buildings, as appropriate.

Brief Description of the Several Views of the Drawing [18] The invention can be better understood with reference to the following drawings, in which: [19] Figure 1 shows the air conditioning and ventilation system of the present invention in full recirculation' mode.

[20] Figure 2 shows the air conditioning and ventilation system of the present invention in full fresh air' mode.

[21] Figure 3 shows the air conditioning and ventilation system of the present invention in fresh air with second space heating' mode.

Detailed Description of the Invention

[22] A preferred embodiment of the invention is shown in Figures 1-3 wherein like numerals refer to like components. In the figures, areas shaded with diagonal lines indicate vents, areas shaded by cross-hatching indicate dampers, and arrows indicate air flow.

[23] The figures show an air conditioning and ventilation system for regulating the temperature of a first space 108. It is envisaged that the first space will be a data room, server room, computer room or the like, wherein the proximity of electronic appliances causes substantial heating. However, alternatively the first space may be any space from which heat may be required to be extracted, such as a food storage room, chemical storage room, or any other space.

[24] The air conditioning and ventilation system comprises: at least one air conditioning unit 100 for cooling air; at least one vent 106 for admitting atmospheric air to said air conditioning unit; at least one outlet 116 from said air conditioning unit to said first space; at least one extractor unit 102; at least one inlet 118 from said first space to said extractor; at least one vent 104 for emitting air from said extractor unit to an atmosphere; at least one connector airway 113 from said extractor to said air conditioning unit; and at least one heating airway 110 leading to a second space, for heating said second space.

[25] It is envisaged that the second space will be a room or other space occupied by people inside a building and thereby commonly requiring heating above atmospheric temperature.

However, the second space may be any space having a requirement to be heated.

[26] The system further comprises at least four dampers for modulating the passage of air between the components of the system: at least one first damper A for modulating the passage of air between said extractor unit and said emitting vent; at least one second damper B for modulating the passage of air along said heating airway; at least one third damper C for modulating the passage of air between said connector airway and said air conditioning unit; and at least one fourth damper D for modulating the passage of air between said admitting vent and said air conditioning unit.

[27] The system is characterized in that, using a combination of external and conditioned air, not only can it regulate the temperature of the first space with minimal energy usage, but it can also use heat energy from said first space to heat said second space.

[28] The air conditioning unit for cooling air may be any air conditioning unit as known in the art. The figures show two air inlets to the air conditioning unit -an inlet 114 from a vent and a second inlet 119 from the first space. However one or both of these may be present. There may be further air inlets disposed in the first space or anywhere else. Furthermore, the figures show one air outlet from the air conditioning unit to the first space, however, there may be air outlets in the first space other than that shown, which may be distributed around the room for even temperature control, as known in the art. The outlets may comprise vents, fans, or other air distribution means as known in the art.

[29] The vent for admitting atmospheric air to said air conditioning unit may be any vent or air passageway known in the art. The atmosphere is defined as the space outside the first and second spaces, from which the system takes in air through the air inlet which feeds the air conditioning unit. It is envisaged that this space will be outdoors therefore the admitting vent is envisaged to be in an external wall although this may not be the case. However, the atmosphere may also be indoors within a larger, non-climate controlled space containing the first and second spaces.

[30] The outlet from said air conditioning unit to said first space may be any air outlet known in the art and may feed air directly from said air conditioning unit to the first space or may feed air via pipes or other air conducting passages to the second space. There may be several such outlets other than that shown, which may be distributed around the first space for even temperature control. The outlets may comprise vents, fans, or other air distribution means as known in the art.

[31] The extractor unit may be any air extraction unit as widely known in the art for removing air from a space.

[32] The inlet from said first space to said extractor may be any air inlet known in the art and may feed directly from the second space to the extractor or may conduct air via vents, pipes or other air conducting passages to the extractor unit. There may be several such inlets other than that shown, which may be distributed around the first space for even air flow. The inlets may comprise vents, fans, or other air distribution means as known in the art.

[331 The vent for emitting air from said extractor unit to the atmosphere may be any vent or air passageway known in the art. Since it is envisaged that the atmosphere will be outdoors, the emitting vent is envisaged to be in an external wall.

However, it may also be disposed anywhere where it can communicate with the atmosphere.

[34] The connector airway from the extractor to the air conditioning unit may be any airway known in the art for air conditioning systems and may comprise flexible tubes, metal pipes or any combination of these or other air handling means. The connector airway may comprise a direct or indirect connection between the extractor and the air conditioning unit, may incorporate vents, dampers or the like other than those mentioned here, and may or may not be connected to other airways from and to other components.

[35] The heating airway for conducting air warmed by said first space to a second space may originate from: the connector airway; the extractor unit; the inlet to the extractor unit; an airway connecting any of the inlet, extractor unit, and connector airway; or any location from which air warmed by said first space or by the contents of said first space can be collected. The defining feature of the heating airway is that it conducts air heated by said first space into a second space for the purpose of heating the second space. This may be via the various airways or combinations of airways of the system or via other airways or directly from the first space.

[361 The heating airway may be any airway known in the art for air conditioning systems and may comprise flexible tubes, metal pipes or any combination of these or other air handling means. The connector airway may comprise a direct or indirect connection between its origin and the second space, may incorporate vents, dampers, or the like other than those mentioned here, and may or may not be connected to other airways from and to other components.

[37] The first, second, third and fourth dampers for modulating the passage of air may be any dampers known in the art, but are preferably automatically operated dampers having an electrical or pneumatic motor connected thereto enabling the dampers to be automatically controlled. Alternatively they may be manually operated dampers. Preferably the openness of each damper can be varied substantially between 0 and 100%, that is, between allowing no air or a negligible amount of air to flow through the damper, and allowing all or approximately all air to flow through the damper. An advantage of this arrangement is increased efficiency. Alternatively they may have a non-zero lower limit of openness, for example 25%, such that a small amount of air is always allowed to pass, an advantage of this being that it is impossible to accidentally close all dampers simultaneously, which would cause damage to the system.

[38] Preferably, at least one said damper comprises, and most preferably all dampers comprise a regulator whereby the openness of the damper can be varied. In this way, the amount of air passing through the damper can be controlled automatically.

The regulator responds to signals from a PCB, computer programme, or the like which makes decisions based on user input as to required temperature and humidity in the first and second spaces, as well as temperature and humidity readings from probes, to open and close the dampers in various degrees. The regulators may, for example, send signals to a motor which may be a pneumatic, electric, or other motor, to open or close the damper by the required amount. Furthermore the regulators may control the dampers by any known means. Such regulators, being widely known in the art, are not described in detail here.

[39] Alternatively, in the absence of a regulator, some or all dampers may be manually operated and users may decide based on temperature readings or personal sensation, to open or close the dampers via a manual handle or the like.

[40] The system preferably further comprises at least one and more preferably several temperature probes disposed in various locations within the first space, the second space, and the atmosphere, or at least one of those locations. The temperature probes may be any temperature probes known in the art and as such are not described in detail here. The probes are used to measure the temperatures of the spaces and communicate (via PCBs, computer programmes or the like as known in the art) with the dampers. The dampers may comprise regulators for this purpose as described below.

[41] The system preferably further comprises at least one and more preferably several humidity probes disposed in various locations within the first space, the second space, and the atmosphere, or at least one of those locations. The humidity probes may be any humidity probes known in the art and as such are not described in detail here. The probes are used to measure the humidity of the spaces and communicate (via PCBs, computer programmes, or the like as known in the art) with the dampers.

The dampers preferably comprise regulators for this purpose as described below.

[42] The system preferably further comprises a control unit whereby a user can control at least one, and preferably all of: the temperature of said first space; the temperature of said second space; the humidity of said first space; the humidity of said second space. The control unit may also enable a user to individually control the openness of at least one or any damper; the operation of said air conditioning unit; the operation of said extractor unit. Controlling individual components may be preferable in special cases or exceptional circumstances, and controlling humidity may be necessary for specialist equipment or in particularly humid climates, while it is envisaged that for most users most of the time, it will be sufficient to set a required temperature for the first and second space, for example, the data room and a proximate office. The control means may comprise any or all of a touch screen, LCD screen or other type of screen, buttons, dials, switches or other types of control, or any known user input means.

[43] In the absence of a control unit, users may manually operate some or all components as required. There may be a control unit connecting some components and others may require manual operation, or any combination of manual and automatic control of the components may be provided.

[44] It is envisaged that the control unit will be used to enable a number of modes of operation, which are illustrated in Figures 1-3 and which will now be described. It will be readily appreciated that many other modes of operation are possible and those described herein are not intended to limit the scope of the present invention to these modes, but rather to illustrate the usefulness of the present invention. It should further be noted that the terms substantially open' and substantially closed' are used herein to refer to damper openness and closedness having the effect of being fully open and closed respectively, however, the modes described below are not limited to substantially full openness and closedness of the dampers but could also comprise any degree of partial openness and closedness of the dampers, under the scope of the invention. The first, second, third and fourth dampers are respectively termed dampers A, B, C and D herein for ease of reference and to correspond with the figures.

The terms fresh air' and atmospheric air' are used interchangeably.

[45] A first operational mode comprising Full Recirculation Mode' is shown in Figure 1. Damper A is substantially closed between the extractor unit and the emitting vent, damper B is substantially closed preventing air from entering the second space, and damper D is substantially closed between the admitting vent and the air conditioning unit. Damper C is substantially open enabling air from the extractor unit to be recirculated to the air conditioning unit for reconditioning. Air flows from the air conditioning unit to the outlet to the first space to the inlet to the extractor unit to the connector airway and back to the air conditioning unit. In this mode, no atmospheric air is used and no air is used to heat a second space. This mode is advantageous where the temperature to be maintained in the first space is only slightly different from the natural temperature of the first space, therefore the recirculated air is close to the required temperature. This mode is particularly suited to a room which is not occupied by people, such as an equipment room or the like, since fresh air is not used.

[46] A second operational mode comprising Full Fresh Air Node' is shown in Figure 2. Damper A is substantially open between the extractor unit and the emitting vent and damper D is substantially open between the admitting vent and the air conditioning unit. Damper B is substantially closed preventing air from entering the second space and damper C is substantially closed preventing air from the extractor unit from being recirculated to the air conditioning unit. Air flows from the atmosphere to the air conditioning unit, to the outlet, to the first space, to the extractor inlet, to the extractor unit, to the atmosphere. In this way, air is conditioned and used once in the first space before being returned to the atmosphere. This mode is useful where atmospheric air is close to the required room temperature and where the first space is inhabited by people, among other applications.

[47] A third operational mode comprising Fresh Air With Second Space Heating Node' is shown in Figure 3. Damper A is variably open between the extractor unit and the emitting vent, changing its degree of openness according to signals from the control unit to allow the correct proportion of air to escape to the atmosphere and the rest to be redirected towards damper B and the second space. Damper B is substantially open allowing air heated by the system to enter the second space. Damper D is also substantially open between the admitting vent and the air conditioning unit. Damper C is substantially closed preventing air from the extractor unit from being recirculated to the air conditioning unit. Air flows from the atmosphere to the air conditioning unit, to the outlet, to the first space, to the extractor inlet, to the extractor unit. From the extractor unit, some air escapes through the vent to the atmosphere depending on the degree of openness of damper A, while the rest is redirected via the heating airway to the second space. In this way, air is conditioned and used once in the first space before being used in its warmer state to heat the second space. Some air is returned to the atmosphere if necessary to maintain a desired temperature or humidity in the second space. This mode is useful where equipment such as computer servers in the first space generate a significant amount of unwanted heat, and particularly when the second space is occupied by people and has a natural temperature below that which is comfortable for people. An advantage of this mode is that the unwanted heat generated by data rooms, computer servers or the like is usefully used to heat occupied spaces and the energy required to heat such occupied spaces is thereby reduced. Furthermore the system may be reversed and used in this mode, such that the first space is an inhabited office space in a cold climate requiring heating (and extraction of colder air), and the second space a server room which is fed cold air extracted from the office. Yet further, this mode may be used where the first space is an office in a warm climate requiring cooling, and extraction of warm air, to heat a second space requiring cooling which may be for example a food or other chilled goods storage area. It will be readily appreciated that there are many other applications of this mode. This mode may also be used with recirculated, rather than fresh, air, or a combination of recirculated and fresh air.

[48) A fourth operational mode comprising Efficiency Mode' is a combination of the recirculation and fresh air modes.

Dampers A, C, and D are maintained open as much as possible, using external atmospheric air to cool the first space when the atmospheric temperature is suitably cool (as measured by a temperature probe disposed in the atmosphere) . The air conditioning unit is turned off. Damper B leading to the second space may be open or closed. When the atmospheric temperature rises above that which can effectively cool the first space, dampers A and D close, stopping any atmospheric air from circulating. Damper C remains open and all air recirculates. The air conditioning unit is used to cool the first space. As soon as the atmospheric temperature drops low enough that it can be used to cool the first space, dampers A and D reopen, and the air conditioning unit is turned off. Atmospheric air again cools the room and energy usage is minimized.

[49] It will be readily understood that if the first space is to be heated, this mode can also be used. When the atmospheric temperature drops below that which can be effectively used to warm the first space, dampers A and D close and air is recirculated. When atmospheric air rises above a temperature which can be used to warm the first space, dampers A and D reopen.

[50] Upon a change in atmospheric temperature between suitable and unsuitable for use, dampers A and D may open and close fully, or alternatively they may open or close only partially, allowing a proportion of atmospheric air to be mixed with a proportion of recirculated air, as controlled by the control unit and the PCB, computer programme or the like, for maximum efficiency and minimal use of the air conditioning unit.

The openness of dampers A and D may be gradually changed over a period of time as said humidity and temperature of the atmosphere and the first space change, to allow atmospheric air and recirculated air to be mixed in a controlled proportional manner such that the temperature is maintained just beyond that at which the air conditioning unit is required to turn on, for as long as possible as the atmospheric air temperature rises or falls outside a suitable range for use. In this way, operation of the air conditioning unit is minimized.

[51] For example, for a server room to be cooled, when atmospheric temperature rises slightly above that which can cool the server room, dampers A and D may slowly begin to close, so that some warm fresh air is mixed with cooler recirculated air, such that the overall temperature of the mixed air is still lower than that at which the air conditioning unit will turn on, thereby further delaying the point at which the air conditioning unit turns on and further reducing energy usage. As the atmospheric temperature increases further, dampers A and D close more, allowing progressively less warm atmospheric air to mix with the cooler recirculated air, maintaining the coolness of the air in the system for as long as possible until the air conditioning unit is required to turn on.

[52] This mode is useful where atmospheric air temperature is highly variable and where energy usage is at a premium. This mode can also be used in conjunction with the suitability of atmospheric humidity, that is, opening and closing dampers A and D depending on the suitability of the atmospheric humidity for the first space, or depending on a combination of atmospheric humidity and temperature. The required temperature and humidity may be set by a user via the control means.

Claims

Claims 1. An air conditioning and ventilation system for regulating the temperature of a first space comprising: at least one air conditioning unit for cooling air; at least one vent for admitting atmospheric air to said air conditioning unit; at least one outlet from said air conditioning unit to said first space; at least one extractor unit; at least one inlet from said first space to said extractor; at least one vent for emitting air from said extractor unit to an atmosphere; at least one connector airway from said extractor to said air conditioning unit; at least one heating airway conducting air warmed by said first space to a second space; at least one first damper for modulating the passage of air between said extractor unit and said emitting vent; at least one second damper for modulating the passage of air along said heating airway; at least one third damper for modulating the passage of air between said connector airway and said air conditioning unit; and at least one fourth damper for modulating the passage of air between said admitting vent and said air conditioning unit; whereby the system can heat said second space.
2. The system of claim 1 further comprising at least one temperature probe disposed in at least one location selected from the list comprising: said first space; said second space; said atmosphere.
3. The system of claim 1 further comprising at least one humidity probe disposed in at least one location selected from the list comprising: said first space; said second space; said atmosphere.
4. The system of claim 1 wherein at least one said damper comprises a regulator whereby the openness of said damper can be varied whereby an amount of air passing through said damper can be controlled.
5. The system of claim 4 wherein the openness of said at least one damper can be varied substantially between 0 and 100%.
6. The system of claim 1 further comprising a control unit whereby a user can control at least one of: the temperature of said first space; the temperature of said second space; the humidity of said first space; the humidity of said second space; the openness of at least one damper; the operation of said air conditioning unit; the operation of said extractor unit.
7. A method of using the system of claim 1 comprising opening said third damper and closing said first, second and fourth dampers whereby air is recirculated.
8. A method of using the system of claim 1 comprising opening said first, third and fourth dampers and closing said second damper whereby atmospheric air is used.
9. A method of using the system of claim 1 comprising opening said second and fourth damper and closing said third damper whereby air extracted from said first space is directed to said second space.
10. The method of claim 9 further comprising the step of controlling openness of said first damper to determine a proportion of said extracted air to be directed to said second space.
11. A method of using the system of claim 1 comprising: measuring at least one of a humidity and temperature of an atmosphere; measuring at least one of a humidity and temperature of said first space; gradually changing the openness of said first and fourth dampers as said humidity and temperature of said atmosphere and first space change; whereby atmospheric air and recirculated air are mixed; whereby operation of said air conditioning unit is minimized.