Equipment enclosure air flow control system

Abstract

Disclosed is a system and method for control of air flow in an enclosure. A system discloses: a first element located on a first surface of the equipment enclosure having: first and second reels located along opposing edges of the first element; and a first air flow control element located between first and second reels and having a first portion and a second portion, said first portion being located on an edge of the first element adjoining the first reel, said second portion being located on an edge of the first element adjoining the second reel, each having apertures located therein of a number or cross sectional area different from the other portions, movement of the first air flow control element from a first reel to a second reel by rotation of the reels causing the first portion or second portion to be positioned between the first and second reels.

1 . A method of control of air flow in an equipment enclosure, the method comprising the steps of:
 measuring the air flow through a first element located on a first surface of the equipment enclosure;   comparing the measured air flow with a desired air flow; and   rotating first and second reels located along opposing first and second edges of the first element so as to cause a first portion of an air flow control element to be positioned substantially between the first and second reels or a second portion of an air flow control element to be positioned substantially between the first and second reels, said first portion of the air flow control element being located on an edge of the first air flow control element adjoining the first reel, said second portion being located on an edge of the first air flow control element adjoining the second reel, each of the first and second portions having apertures located therein of a number or cross sectional area different from the other of said first and second portions, movement of the first air flow control element from a first reel to a second reel by rotation of the first and second reels causing the first portion to be positioned substantially between the first and second reels or the second portion to be positioned substantially between the first and second reels.   
     
     
         2 . A method as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein said air flow is measured by air flow probes and/or air flow analyzing probes and said first and second reels are controlled by an air control module selecting the first portion or the second portion of the first air flow control element and causing rotation of the reels such that the first portion is positioned substantially between the first and second reels or the second portion is positioned substantially between the first and second reels, so as to achieve a desired air flow. 
     
     
         3 . A method as claimed in  claim 2 , wherein said air flow probes and/or air analyzing probes measure one or more of the air flow, air temperature, air humidity or air pressure. 
     
     
         4 . A method as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein the first air flow control element further comprises a third portion and a fourth portion, said third and fourth portions being located on the first air flow control element between said first and second portions, each of the third and fourth portions having apertures located therein of a number or cross sectional area different from the others of said first, second, third and fourth portions, movement of the first air flow control element from a first reel to a second reel by rotation of the first and second reels causing one of the first, second, third or fourth portions to be positioned substantially between the first and second reels. 
     
     
         5 . A method as claimed in  claim 4 , further comprising the steps of:
 measuring the air flow through a second element located on a second surface of the equipment enclosure;   comparing the measured air flow with a desired air flow; and   rotating third and fourth reels located along opposing first and second edges of the second element so as to cause a first portion of a second air flow control element to be positioned substantially between the third and fourth reels or a second portion of the second air flow control element to be positioned substantially between the third and fourth reels, said first portion of the second air flow control element being located on an edge of the second air flow control element adjoining the third reel, said second portion being located on an edge of the second air flow control element adjoining the fourth reel, each of the first and second portions having apertures located therein of a number or cross sectional area different from the other of said first and second portions, movement of the second air flow control element from a third reel to a fourth reel by rotation of the third and fourth reels causing the first portion to be positioned substantially between the third and fourth reels or the second portion to be positioned substantially between the third and fourth reels.   
     
     
         6 . A method as claimed in  claim 5 , wherein the first portion or the second portion of the first air flow control element has no apertures located therein.