Apparatus, system and method for providing high efficiency air conditioning

Abstract

An apparatus, system, and method for improving the provision of air conditioning, is disclosed. The system and method optimize air flow and static pressure for decreased energy consumption, and may include a cabinet and a separation barrier. The cabinet may be operative to house a plurality of any type of plug fans, including for example, AC plug fans and/or electronically commutated (EC) plug fans. The separation barrier is operable to separate or isolate the EC fans from one another. The system may include any of a floor-mounted, raised-floor, computer room, precision air conditioner and/or data center, where the EC fans may be fixedly disposed within the cabinet. The system may also include a V-shaped coil having a substantially open end operable to receive an air flow and a substantially closed end, with a fan operable to receive the dispelled air flow from the V-shaped coil. The V-shaped coil may include interlaced coil elements disposed in the “V” shape where the coil elements meet in the substantially closed end. Air flow may flow from the open end and through the coil elements to dispel from the coil being drawn by one or more of the EC fans. The coil may be provided on top of the EC fans within the cabinet.

1 . A system for optimizing air flow and static pressure for decreased energy consumption, comprising:
 a cabinet operable to house a plurality of plug fans; and   a separation barrier operable to separate the plug fans from one another.   
   
   
       2 . The system according to  claim 1 , further comprising the one or more plug fans, the plug fans comprising at least one of alternating current (AC) plug fans and/or electronically commutated (EC) plug fans. 
   
   
       3 . The system according to  claim 1 , wherein the system further comprises at least one of a raised-floor, precision air conditioner, a computer room, and/or a data center. 
   
   
       4 . The system according to  claim 2 , wherein the fans are at least one of floor-mounted and/or fixedly disposed within said cabinet. 
   
   
       5 . The system according to  claim 4 , wherein the fans are disposed within a portion of the cabinet. 
   
   
       6 . The system according to  claim 2 , wherein the fans comprise EC fans comprising one or more electronically commutated permanent magnets. 
   
   
       7 . The system according to  claim 2 , wherein the fans comprise any one of one or more direct driven plug fans and technology associated with direct driven plug fans. 
   
   
       8 . The system according to  claim 1 , wherein the separation barrier comprises a resilient material comprising at least one of:
 a metal material and/or metallic material; and/or   a plastic and/or resin material.   
   
   
       9 . The system according to  claim 8 , wherein the separation barrier comprises a metal and/or metallic materials, comprising at least one of:
 an aluminum material; and/or   a steel material.   
   
   
       10 . The system according to  claim 1 , wherein the horizontal floor space between a given plurality of the fans is less than a horizontal floor space established by placing a given pair of the fans at a separation greater than or equal to the diameter of one of the fans. 
   
   
       11 . The system according to  claim 1 , wherein the horizontal floor space between a given pair of the fans is less than a distance of separation recommended by a manufacturer of the fans. 
   
   
       12 . A method for optimizing air flow and static pressure for decreased energy consumption, comprising:
 passing an air flow through a cabinet operable to house a plurality of plug fans; and   passing the air flow downward through at least one of the fans, and outward and upward therefrom such that the air flow does not pass through a separation barrier operable to separate the fans from one another.   
   
   
       13 . The method according to  claim 12 , further comprising passing the air flow between the cabinet and at least one of a raised-floor, precision air conditioner, a computer room, and/or a data center. 
   
   
       14 . A system for optimizing air flow and static pressure for decreased energy consumption, comprising:
 a coil comprising a shape having a substantially open end operable to receive an air flow and a substantially closed end (“V-shaped coil”); and   a fan operable to receive the dispelled air flow from the V-shaped coil.   
   
   
       15 . The system according to  claim 14 , wherein the V-shaped coil comprises an interlaced coil comprising one or more coil elements disposed in a “V” shape wherein the coil elements meet at the substantially closed end, wherein the coil elements are operable to permit the air flow from the open end and through the coil elements to dispel therefrom. 
   
   
       16 . The system according to  claim 15 , further comprising a filter disposed at the open end of the V-shaped coil in a manner to provide a substantial seal therebetween. 
   
   
       17 . The system according to  claim 15 , further comprising a drain pan disposed beneath the coil elements to collect a moisture residue therefrom. 
   
   
       18 . The system according to  claim 15 , wherein the system further comprises at least one of a raised-floor, precision air conditioner, a computer room, and/or a data center. 
   
   
       19 . The system according to  claim 18 , wherein the V-shaped coil and the at least one of the air conditioner, the computer room, and the data center are disposed to permit an air flow therebetween. 
   
   
       20 . The system according to  claim 15 , wherein the fan is a plug fan, and comprises at least one of an alternating current (AC) plug fan and/or an electronically commutated (EC) plug fan. 
   
   
       21 . The system according to  claim 16 , wherein the V-shaped coil is fixedly disposed within a cabinet operable to house a plurality of the fans. 
   
   
       22 . The system according to  claim 21 , further comprising a separation barrier operable to separate the fans from one another. 
   
   
       23 . The system according to  claim 22 , wherein the fans are at least one of floor mounted and/or fixedly disposed within the cabinet. 
   
   
       24 . The system according to  claim 23 , wherein the fans are disposed within a portion of the cabinet. 
   
   
       25 . The system according to  claim 15 , wherein the coil elements permit parallel liquid flow circuits therebetween having independent operation. 
   
   
       26 . A method for optimizing air flow and static pressure for decreased energy consumption, comprising:
 passing an air flow through a coil, the coil comprising a shape having a substantially open end operable to receive an air flow and a substantially closed end (“V-shaped coil”); and   passing the air flow from the V-shaped coil through a fan operable to receive the air flow as the air flow is dispelled from the V-shaped coil.   
   
   
       27 . The method according to  claim 26 , wherein the V-shaped coil comprises an interlaced coil comprising one or more coil elements disposed in a “V” shape wherein the coil elements meet at the substantially closed end, and wherein the air flows from the open end and through the coil elements to dispel therefrom. 
   
   
       28 . The method according to  claim 27 , wherein the air flow is passed between the V-shaped coil and at least one any one of a raised-floor, precision air conditioner, a computer room, and/or a data center. 
   
   
       29 . The method according to  claim 28 , wherein the air flow is passed between a cabinet housing the V-shaped coil and at least one of the raised-floor, precision air conditioner and/or data center, and/or the V-shaped coil. 
   
   
       30 . The system of  claim 1  for optimizing air flow and static pressure for decreased energy consumption, further comprising:
 a coil comprising a shape having a substantially open end operable to receive an air flow and a substantially closed end (“V-shaped coil”); and   a fan operable to receive the dispelled air flow from the V-shaped coil.   
   
   
       31 . The system according to  claim 30 , wherein the V-shaped coil comprises an interlaced coil comprising one or more coil elements disposed in a “V” shape wherein the one or more coil elements meet at the substantially closed end, wherein the coil elements are operable to permit the air flow from the open end and through the coil elements to dispel therefrom. 
   
   
       32 . The system according to  claim 31 , further comprising a filter disposed at the open end of the V-shaped coil in a manner to provide a substantial seal therebetween. 
   
   
       33 . The system according to  claim 31 , further comprising a drain pan disposed beneath the coil elements to collect a moisture residue therefrom. 
   
   
       34 . The system according to  claim 31 , wherein the system further comprises at least one of a raised-floor, precision air conditioner, a computer room, and/or a data center. 
   
   
       35 . The system according to  claim 34 , wherein V-shaped coil and at least one of the air conditioner, the computer room, and/or the data center are disposed to permit an air flow therebetween. 
   
   
       36 . The system according to  claim 31 , wherein the fan is a plug fan, and comprises at least one of an alternating current (AC) plug fan and/or an electronically commutated (EC) plug fan. 
   
   
       37 . The system according to  claim 32 , wherein the V-shaped coil is fixedly disposed within a cabinet operable to house a plurality of the fans. 
   
   
       38 . The system according to  claim 37 , further comprising a separation barrier operable to separate the fans from one another. 
   
   
       39 . The system according to  claim 38 , wherein the fans are at least one of floor mounted and/or fixedly disposed within the cabinet. 
   
   
       40 . The system according to  claim 38 , wherein the fans are disposed within a portion of the cabinet. 
   
   
       41 . The system according to  claim 31 , wherein the coil elements permit parallel liquid flow circuits therebetween having independent operation. 
   
   
       42 . The system according to  claim 31 , further comprising a plurality of coil fins coupled to coil tubing.