초록 ▼

A computer room reduced air flow method and apparatus is provided which utilizes an increased delta T to reduce the required air quantity required from an air conditioning system, thus resulting in a reduced air flow capability. Specifically, the present invention utilizes an approximately 40° delta

A computer room reduced air flow method and apparatus is provided which utilizes an increased delta T to reduce the required air quantity required from an air conditioning system, thus resulting in a reduced air flow capability. Specifically, the present invention utilizes an approximately 40° delta T to reduce the CFM requirements by substantially 50% so as to correspondingly reduce the required power for the fan by approximately 50% so as to result in substantial energy savings. The present invention serves to communicate cooling air from a cooling apparatus into an air passageway, guiding the cooling air within the air passageway into the equipment assembly and introducing the air released from the equipment into either a plenum for communicating such released air to the cooling apparatus or introducing the air released from the equipment into the room in which the equipment and/or cooling apparatus are located.

대표청구항 ▼

1. An air conditioning method, comprising the steps of: supplying cooling air generated from a cooling apparatus into an air passageway; guiding the cooling air within the air passageway into an equipment assembly disposed on a floor through an opening located in the equipment assembly; comm

1. An air conditioning method, comprising the steps of: supplying cooling air generated from a cooling apparatus into an air passageway; guiding the cooling air within the air passageway into an equipment assembly disposed on a floor through an opening located in the equipment assembly; communicating the cooling air from the equipment assembly into a plenum; positioning an air flow control member in the equipment assembly so as to substantially evenly distribute cooling air to the equipment located in the equipment assembly; and communicating the air released from with said equipment via said plenum through the cooling apparatus for cooling the released air. 2. A method as claimed in claim 1, which comprises guiding the air released from the equipment assembly through at least one duct into a plenum.3. The method according to claim 2, which comprises at least one fan for communicating the cooling air into said plenum.4. The method as claimed in claim 1, which comprises cooling the cooling air generated from the cooling apparatus to a temperature of substantially 55° F.5. The method according to claim 4, which comprises heating the air released from the equipment assembly to a temperature of substantially 95° F. prior to communicating such air to the cooling apparatus.6. The method according to claim 1, wherein a temperature differential between the air supplied to the air passageway from the cooling apparatus and the air released from the equipment assembly is substantially 40° F.7. The method according to claim 1, which comprises positioning a fan between the cooling apparatus and the equipment assembly and blowing the air into the equipment assembly by said fan.8. The method according to claim 1, which comprises positioning at least one of the cooling apparatus and the equipment assembly in a computer room.9. The method according to claim 1, wherein the room comprises a computer room and wherein the cooling assembly is located outside the computer room.10. The method according to claim 1, wherein said equipment assembly comprises at least one computer processing unit.11. An air conditioning assembly, which comprises: a cooling apparatus in communication with an air passageway for introducing cooling air into the passageway; an equipment assembly positionable on a floor, the equipment having an opening in communication with said air passageway for receiving the cooling air from the cooling apparatus; a flow control member positioned upstream of said equipment assembly so as to substantially evenly distribute the cooling air to the equipment assembly; and communication means in communication with the equipment assembly for receiving air flowing from the equipment assembly which has been heated by the equipment assembly, said communication means including plenum means for communicating the air heated by the equipment assembly back to the cooling apparatus for being cooled. 12. An air conditioning assembly as claimed in claim 11, which comprises at least one duct interconnecting the equipment assembly to the communication means for communicating air heated by the cooling equipment to the cooling assembly.13. The air conditioning assembly as claimed in claim 11, which comprises at least one fan for communicating the heated air to the plenum.14. An air conditioning assembly as claimed in claim 11, wherein the cooling apparatus cools the cooling air to a temperature of substantially 55° F.15. The air conditioning assembly as claimed in claim 11, wherein the equipment apparatus heats the air blowing into the plenum to a temperature of substantially 95° F.16. The air conditioning assembly according to claim 11, wherein a temperature differential between the air supplied to the equipment apparatus and the air introduced into the communication means from the equipment assembly is substantially 40° F.17. The method as claimed in claim 1, which comprises positioning the equipment assembly in a cabinet and positioning the flow control member in said cabinet upstream of said equipment so as to control air flow to said equipment.18. The cooling apparatus as claimed in claim 11, which comprises a cabinet within which the equipment assembly is located and wherein the control member is positioned so as to be spaced from a wall of the cabinet so as to form a space within which the cooling air is communicated prior to being received by the equipment assembly.19. An air conditioning assembly as claimed in claim 11, wherein the equipment assembly comprises at least one computer processing unit.20. The apparatus according to claim 11, wherein said plenum means comprises one of a plenum, a duct and a room.21. The cooling method claimed in claim 1, wherein the communication of air from the equipment comprises communicating the air into one of a plenum, a duct and a room.22. The cooling method according to claim 1, which comprises positioning said air passageway in proximity with the floor of a room.23. The cooling method claimed in claim 1, wherein the step of supply cooling air comprises supplying cooling air into a passageway formed below a floor on which the equipment assembly is positioned.24. The cooling apparatus according to claim 11, wherein said air passageway is positioned in proximity with the floor.25. The cooling apparatus according to claim 11, wherein said air passageway is positioned with a plenum formed between the floor and a base floor.26. An air conditioning assembly, which comprises: cooling means in communication with an air passageway for introducing cooling air into said air passageway; an equipment assembly positionable on a floor, the equipment having an opening in communication with said air passageway for receiving the cooling air from the cooling means; a flow control member positionable upstream of said equipment assembly so as to substantially evenly distribute the cooling air to the equipment assembly; and communication means in communication with the equipment assembly for receiving air flowing from the equipment assembly which has been heated by the equipment assembly, said communication means including plenum means for communicating the air heated by the equipment assembly back to the cooling apparatus for being cooled. 27. An air conditioning assembly as claimed in claim 26, which comprises at least one duct means interconnecting the equipment assembly to the plenum means for communicating air heated by the cooling equipment to the cooling assembly.28. The air conditioning assembly according to claim 26, which comprises at least one fan for communicating the heated air to the plenum.29. An air conditioning assembly as claimed in claim 26, wherein the cooling apparatus cools the cooling air to a temperature of substantially 55° F.30. The air conditioning assembly as claimed in claim 26, wherein the equipment apparatus heats the air blowing into the plenum to a temperature of substantially 95° F.31. The air conditioning assembly according to claim 26, wherein a temperature differential between the air supplied to the equipment apparatus and the air introduced into the communication means from the equipment assembly is substantially 40° F.32. The method as claimed in claim 1, which comprises positioning the equipment assembly in cabinet means and positioning the flow control member in said cabinet means upstream of said equipment so as to control air flow to said equipment.33. The cooling apparatus as claimed in claim 26, which comprises cabinet means within which the equipment assembly is located and wherein the control member is positionable so as to be spaced from a wall of the cabinet so as to form a space within which the cooling air is communicated prior to being received by the equipment assembly.34. An air conditioning assembly as claimed in claim 11, wherein the equipment assembly comprises at least one computer processing means.35. The apparatus according to claim 26, wherein said p lenum means comprises one of a plenum, a duct and a room.36. The cooling method as claimed in claim 1, wherein the step of cooling air comprises supplying cooling air into passageway means formed below a floor on which the equipment assembly is positioned.37. An air conditioning method, comprising the steps of: supplying cooling air generated from a cooling apparatus into an air passageway; guiding the cooling air within the air passageway into an equipment assembly disposed on a floor via a first plenum; positioning an air flow control member in the equipment assembly so as to substantially evenly distribute cooling air to the equipment located in the equipment assembly; and introducing the air released from said equipment assembly into a second plenum and communicating the released air through the cooling apparatus via said second plenum for cooling the released air. 38. The method as claimed in claim 35, which comprises positioning at least one of said first and second plenums above a ceiling portion of a room and guiding the air released from said equipment assembly through said at least one duct into the second plenum.39. The method according to claim 38, which comprises positioning each of said first and second plenums above said ceiling for communicating the cooling air into said plenum by operation of at least one fan.40. The method as claimed in claim 37, which comprises positioning said air passageway in proximity with a ceiling portion of a room and cooling the cooling air generated from the cooling apparatus to a temperature of substantially 55° F.41. The method according to claim 40, which comprises heating the air released from the equipment assembly to a temperature of substantially 95° F. prior to communicating the air to a cooling apparatus.42. The method according to claim 37, wherein a temperature differential between the air supply to the air passageway from the cooling apparatus and the air released into the first plenum from the equipment assembly is substantially 40° F.43. The method according to claim 37, which comprises positioning the fan between the cooling apparatus and the air passageway and blowing the air into the passageway towards the equipment assembly by said fan.44. The method according to claim 37, which comprises positioning at least one of the equipment assembly and the cooling apparatus in a computer room.45. The method according to claim 37, wherein the room comprises a computer room and wherein the cooling assembly is located outside the computer room.46. The method according to claim 37, wherein said equipment assembly comprises at least one computer processing unit.47. An air conditioning assembly, which comprises: a cooling apparatus in communication with an air passageway for introducing cooling air into the passageway; an equipment assembly positioned on the floor, the equipment having an opening in communication with the air passageway for receiving the cooling air from the cooling apparatus; a flow control member positioned upstream of said equipment so as to substantially evenly distribute the cooling air to the equipment assembly; and a first plenum in communication with the equipment assembly for receiving air flowing from the equipment assembly which has been heated by the equipment assembly, said first plenum communicating the air heated by the equipment assembly back to the cooling apparatus for being cooled. 48. An air conditioning assembly as claimed in claim 47, which comprises at least one duct interconnecting the equipment assembly to the plenum for communicating air heated by the cooling equipment into the first plenum for being returned to the cooling assembly.49. The air conditioning assembly as claimed in claim 47, first comprises at least one fan for communicating the heated air to the plenum.50. An air conditioning assembly as claimed in claim 47, which comprises a second plenum for communicating cooling air from the cooling apparatus to the equipment assembly wherein the cooling apparatus cools the cooling air to the temperature of substantially 55° F.51. The air conditioning assembly as claimed in claim 47, wherein the equipment apparatus heats the air blowing into the plenum to a temperature of substantially 95° F.52. The air conditioning assembly according to claim 47, wherein a temperature differential between the air supply to the air passageway and the air introduced into the plenum from the equipment assembly is substantially 40° F.53. A method as claimed in claim 37, which comprises positioning the equipment assembly in a cabinet and positioning the flow control member in said cabinet upstream of said equipment so as to control air flow to said equipment.54. A cooling apparatus as claimed in claim 47, which comprises a cabinet within which the equipment assembly is located and wherein the control member is positioned so as to be spaced from a wall of the cabinet so as to form a space within which the cooling air is communicated prior to being received by the equipment assembly.55. An air conditioning assembly as claimed in claim 11, wherein the equipment assembly comprises at least one computer processing unit.56. An air conditioning assembly as claimed in claim 50, wherein at least one of said first and second plenums is located above a ceiling portion of a room.57. An air conditioning assembly as claimed in claim 56, wherein each of said first and second plenums are located above the ceiling portion of the room.58. An air conditioning assembly, which comprises: cooling means in communication with the near passageway for introducing cooling air into the passageway; an equipment assembly positioned on a floor, the equipment having an opening in communication with the air passageway for receiving the cooling air from the cooling apparatus; flow control means positioned upstream of said equipment assembly so as to substantially evenly distribute the cooling air to the equipment assembly; and first plenum means m communication with equipment assembly for receiving air flowing from the equipment assembly which has been heated by the equipment assembly, said first plenum means communicating the air heated by the equipment assembly back to the cooling apparatus for being cooled. 59. An air conditioning assembly as claimed in claim 58, which comprises at least one duct interconnecting the equipment assembly to the first plenum means for communicating air heated by the cooling equipment into the first plenum means for return to the cooling assembly.60. The air conditioning assembly as claimed in claim 58, which comprises at least one fan for communicating the heated air to the plenum.61. The air conditioning assembly as claimed in claim 58, which comprises a second plenum for communicating cooling air from the cooling apparatus to the equipment assembly wherein the cooling apparatus cools the cooling air to a temperature of substantially 55° F.62. The air conditioning assembly as claimed in claim 58, wherein the equipment apparatus heats the air blowing into the plenum to a temperature of substantially 95° F.63. The air conditioning assembly according to claim 58, wherein a temperature differential between air supply to the air passageway and the air introduced into the first plenum from the equipment assembly is substantially 40° F.64. The method as claimed in claim 37, which comprises positioning the equipment assembly in cabinet means and positioning the flow control member in said cabinet means upstream of said equipment so as to control air flow to said equipment.65. The cooling apparatus as claimed in claim 58, which comprises cabinet means within which the equipment assembly is located wherein the control member is positioned so as to be spaced from the wall of the cabinet means so as to form a space within which the cooling air is communicated prior to being received by the equipment assembly.66. An air conditioning assembly as cl aimed in claim 58, wherein the equipment assembly comprises at least one computer processing means.67. An air conditioning assembly as claimed in claim 58, where at least one of said first and second plenum means is located above a ceiling portion of a room.68. An air conditioning assembly as claimed in claim 67, wherein each of said first and second plenum means are located above the ceiling portion of the room.69. An air conditioning method, comprising the steps of: supplying cooling air generated from a cooling apparatus into an air passageway; guiding the cooling air within the air passageway and into an equipment assembly through an opening therein via a first plenum; positioning an air flow control member in the equipment assembly so as to substantially evenly distribute cooling air to the equipment located in the equipment assembly; and introducing the air released from said equipment into a room in which the equipment assembly is positioned and communicating the released air through the cooling apparatus via a second plenum for cooling the released air. 70. A method as claimed in claim 69, which comprises guiding the air released from the equipment assembly into the room via an opening formed in the equipment assembly.71. The method according to claim 70, which comprises communicating the cooling air into the equipment assembly by operation of at least one fan.72. The method as claimed in claim 69, which comprises cooling the cooling air generated from the cooling apparatus to a temperature of substantially 55° F.73. The method according to claim 72, which comprises heating the air released from the equipment assembly to a temperature of substantially 95° F. prior to communicating such air to the cooling apparatus.74. The method according to claim 69, wherein a temperature differential between the air supplied to the air passageway from the cooling apparatus and the air released into the plenum from the equipment assembly is substantially 40° F.75. The method according to claim 69, which comprises positioning a fan between the cooling apparatus and the equipment assembly and blowing the air into the air passageway towards the equipment assembly by said fan.76. The method according to claim 69, wherein the room comprises a computer room and wherein the at least one of the cooling apparatus and equipment assembly are positioned in the computer room.77. The method according to claim 69, wherein the room comprises a computer room, wherein the cooling assembly is located outside the computer room.78. The method according to claim 69, wherein said equipment assembly comprises at least one computer processing unit.79. An air conditioning assembly, which comprises: a cooling apparatus in communication with an air passageway for introducing cooling air into the passageway; an equipment assembly positionable on a floor, the equipment having an opening formed therein in communication with the air passageway for receiving the cooling air from the cooling apparatus; a flow control member positioned upstream of said equipment assembly so as to substantially evenly distribute the cooling air to the equipment assembly; and an outlet member formed in the equipment assembly for receiving air flowing from the equipment assembly which has been heated by the equipment assembly, said outlet member communicating the air heated by the equipment assembly via a plenum back to the cooling apparatus for being cooled. 80. An air conditioning assembly as claimed in claim 79, the passageway including a plenum and which comprises at least one duet interconnecting the equipment assembly to the plenum for communicating cooling air thereto from the cooling assembly.81. The air conditioning assembly as claimed in claim 79, which comprises at least one fan for communicating the heated air to the plenum.82. An air conditioning assembly as claimed in claim 79, wherein the cooling apparatus cools the cooling air to a temperature of substantially 55° F.83. The air conditioning assembly as claimed in claim 79, wherein the equipment apparatus heats the air blowing into the plenum to a temperature of substantially 95° F.84. The air conditioning assembly according to claim 79, wherein a temperature differential between the air supply to the air passageway and the air introduced into the plenum from the equipment assembly is substantially 40° F.85. The method as claimed in claim 69, which comprises positioning the equipment assembly in a cabinet and positioning the flow control member in said cabinet upstream of said equipment so as to control air flow to said equipment.86. The cooling apparatus as claimed in claim 79, which comprises a cabinet within which the equipment assembly is located and wherein the control member is positioned so as to be spaced from a wall of the cabinet so as to form a space within which the cooling air is communicated prior to being received by the equipment assembly.87. An air conditioning assembly as claimed in claim 79, wherein the equipment assembly comprises at least one computer processing unit.88. An air conditioning assembly as claimed in claim 79, wherein said plenum is positioned with a ceiling portion of a room within which the equipment is positioned.89. An air conditioning assembly, which comprises: cooling means in communication with an air passageway for introducing cooling air into the passageway; an equipment assembly positionable on a floor, the equipment having an opening in communication with the air passageway for receiving the cooling from the cooling means; flow control means positioned upstream of said equipment assembly so as to substantially evenly distribute the cooling air to the equipment assembly; and outlet means provided in the equipment assembly for receiving air flowing from the equipment assembly which has been heated by the equipment assembly, said outlet means including a plenum for communicating the air heated by the equipment assembly back to the cooling apparatus for being cooled. 90. An air conditioning assembly as claimed in claim 89, the plenum means comprising at least one duct interconnecting the equipment assembly to the plenum means for communicating cooling air from the cooling assembly.91. The air conditioning assembly as claimed in claim 79, which comprises at least one fan means for communicating the heating air from the outlet means wherein the cooling apparatus cools the cooling air to a temperature of substantially 55° F.92. The air conditioning assembly as claimed in claim 89, wherein the equipment apparatus heats the air blowing from the outlet means to a temperature of substantially 95° F.93. The air conditioning assembly according to claim 89, wherein a temperature differential between the air supply to the air passageway and the air communicated from the outlet means from the equipment assembly is substantially 40° F.94. A method as claimed in claim 89, which comprises positioning the equipment assembly in cabinet means and positioning the flow control means and said cabinet means upstream of said equipment so as to control air flow to said equipment.95. The cooling apparatus as claimed in claim 89, which comprises cabinet means within which the equipment assembly is located and wherein the flow control means is positioned so as to be spaced from a wall of the cabinet means so as to form a space within which the cooling air is communicated prior to being received by the equipment assembly.96. An air conditioning assembly as claimed in claim 89, wherein the equipment assembly comprises at least one computer processing unit.97. An air conditioning assembly as claimed in claim 79, wherein said outlet means is in communication with a ceiling portion of a room with which the equipment assembly is positioned.98. An air conditioning method, comprising the steps of: supplying cooling air generated from a cooling apparatus into an air passageway; guiding the c ooling air within the air passageway and into an equipment assembly via a plenum; communicating the cooling air introduced into the equipment assembly into said plenum; and introducing the air released into the plenum from within said equipment into the plenum and communicating the released air through the cooling apparatus for cooling the released air. 99. The method as claimed in claim 98, which comprises guiding the air released from the equipment assembly through at least one opening in the equipment assembly.100. The method according to claim 99, which comprises communicating the cooling air into said plenum by operation of at least one fan.101. The method as claimed in claim 98, which comprises cooling the cooling air generated from the cooling apparatus to a temperature of substantially 55° F.102. The method according to claim 101, which comprises heating the air released from the equipment assembly to a temperature of substantially 95° F. prior to communicating the air to the cooling apparatus.103. The method according to claim 98, wherein a temperature differential between the air supply to the air passageway from the cooling apparatus and the air released from the equipment assembly is substantially 40° F.104. The method according to claim 98, which comprises positioning a fan between the cooling apparatus and the air passageway and blowing the air into the passageway toward the equipment assembly by said fan.105. The method according to claim 98, wherein the room comprises a computer room and wherein at least one of the cooling apparatus and the equipment assembly are positioned in the computer room.106. The method according to claim 98, wherein the room comprises a computer room and wherein the cooling assembly is located outside the computer room.107. A method according to claim 98, wherein said equipment assembly comprises at least one computer processing unit.108. A method according to claim 98, which comprises positioning an air flow control member in the equipment assembly so as to substantially evenly distribute cooling air to the equipment located in the equipment assembly.109. An air conditioning assembly, which comprises: a cooling apparatus in communication with an air passageway of a room for introducing cooling air into the passageway; an equipment assembly positioned on the floor, the equipment having an opening in communication with an opening formed in the floor for receiving the cooling air from the cooling apparatus; a duct which is in communication with the air passageway for receiving air blowing from the cooling equipment assembly which has been heated by the equipment assembly and communicating the heated air to the cooling apparatus. 110. An air conditioning assembly as claimed in claim 109, which comprises at least one duct opening positioned in the equipment assembly for communicating air heated by the cooling equipment into a room in which the cooling apparatus is located.111. The air conditioning assembly as claimed in claim 109, which comprises at least one fan for communicating the heated air to the plenum.112. The air conditioning assembly as claimed in claim 109, wherein the cooling apparatus cools the cooling air to a temperature of substantially 55° F.113. The air conditioning assembly as claimed in claim 109, wherein the equipment apparatus heats the air flowing into the plenum to a temperature of substantially 95° F.114. The air conditioning assembly according to claim 109, wherein a temperature differential between the air supplied to the air passageway and the air from the equipment assembly is substantially 40° F.115. The method as claimed in claim 98, which comprises positioning the equipment assembly in a cabinet and positioning the flow control member in said cabinet upstream of said equipment so as to control air flow to said equipment.116. The cooling apparatus as claimed in claim 98, which comprises a cabinet within which the equipment assembly is loc ated and wherein a flow control member is positioned so as to be spaced from a wall of the cabinet so as to form a space within which the cooling air is communicated prior to being received by the equipment assembly.117. An air conditioning assembly as claimed in claim 98, wherein the equipment assembly comprises at least one computer processing unit.118. An air conditioning assembly as claimed in claim 109, which comprises a flow control member positioned upstream of said equipment assembly so as to substantially evenly distribute the cooling air to the equipment assembly.119. An air conditioning assembly, which comprises: cooling means in communication with an air passageway of a room for introducing cooling air into the passageway; an equipment assembly positioned on a floor of the room, the equipment having an opening in communication with an opening formed in the floor for receiving the cooling air from the cooling apparatus; duct means in communication with the air passageway for receiving air flowing from the cooling equipment assembly which has been heated by the equipment assembly. 120. An conditioning assembly as claimed in claim 109, which comprises at least one opening in the equipment assembly communicating air heated by the cooling equipment into a room in which the cooling apparatus is located.121. The air conditioning assembly as claimed in claim 119, which comprises at least one fan for communicating the heated air with a duct.122. An air conditioning assembly as claimed in claim 119, wherein the cooling apparatus cools the cooling air to a temperature of substantially 55° F.123. The air conditioning assembly as claimed in claim 119, wherein the equipment apparatus heats the air blowing into the duct to a temperature of substantially 95° F.124. The air conditioning assembly according to claim 98, wherein a temperature differential between the air supplied to the air passageway and the air from the equipment assembly is substantially 40° F.125. The method as claimed in claim 98, which comprises positioning the equipment assembly in a cabinet and positioning a flow control member in said cabinet upstream of said equipment so as to control air flow to said equipment.126. The cooling apparatus as claimed in claim 98, which comprises a cabinet means within which the equipment assembly is located and wherein a flow control means is positioned so as to be spaced from a wall of the cabinet so as to form a space within which the cooling air is communicated prior to being received by the equipment assembly.127. An air conditioning assembly as claimed in claim 119, wherein the equipment assembly comprises at least one computer processing unit.128. An air conditioning assembly as claimed in claim 119, which comprises flow control means positioned upstream of said equipment assembly so as to substantially evenly distribute the cooling air to the equipment assembly.