Ventilation and air flow control

Abstract

Disclosed is an electrical cabinet with associated air flow direction control system. The cabinet has a front, rear, a first side and a second side. The front side has openings to accept flow of cool air into the cabinet and the rear side has openings for exit of warm air from the rear side of the cabinet. The front, rear, first side and second side define an interior space are configured to house heat generating electrical equipment. A frame is adjacent the rear side of the cabinet. The frame has a first frame side and a second frame side. Louvers are located adjacent the rear of the cabinet. The louvers extend between the first frame side and the second frame side. Each louver has a face positioned at an angle to direct the warm air exiting the cabinet other than perpendicular to the rear of the cabinet.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A cabinet for storing electronic equipment with associated air flow direction control system comprising:
 a cabinet comprising a front side, rear side, a first side and a second side, the front side having one or more openings to accept flow of cool air into the cabinet and the rear side having one or more openings for exit of warm air from the rear side of the cabinet, the front side, rear side, first side and second side defining an interior space configured to house heat generating electrical equipment within the cabinet;   a frame adjacent the rear side of the cabinet, the frame having a first frame side and a second frame side; and   two or more louvers adjacent the rear side of the cabinet and extending between the first frame side and the second frame side, at least one louver having at least one face positioned at an angle to direct the warm air exiting the cabinets in a direction other than perpendicular to the rear side of the cabinet.   
     
     
         2 . The cabinet of  claim 1  further comprising two or more legs connected to the frame, the two or more legs cooperating with the frame to adjust a height of the frame in relation to a floor. 
     
     
         3 . The cabinet of  claim 1  wherein the frame is releasably connected to the cabinet adjacent the rear side of the cabinet. 
     
     
         4 . The cabinet of  claim 1  wherein the two or more louvers are fixed to the frame thereby fixing the angle associated with the louvers. 
     
     
         5 . The cabinet of  claim 1  wherein the two or more louvers are movable in relation to the frame from a first position to a second position, the first position establishing a first louver angle and the second position establishing a second louver angle. 
     
     
         6 . The cabinet of  claim 5  further comprising at least one motor associated with at least one frame, the at least one motor being responsive to a control signal to change the angle of at least one louver. 
     
     
         7 . The cabinet of  claim 5  wherein a first group of the two or more louvers are positioned at a first angle and a second group of two or more louvers are position at a second angle. 
     
     
         8 . An arrangement of cabinets with associated air flow direction control system comprising:
 a first row of cabinets comprising two or more cabinets;   a second row of cabinets comprising two or more cabinets, wherein the cabinets in the first row of cabinets and the second row of cabinets have a front side, rear side, a first side and a second side, the front side having one or more front openings to accept flow of cool air into the cabinet and the rear side having one or more rear openings for exit of warm air from the rear side of the cabinet, the front side, rear side, first side and second side defining an interior space configured to house heat generating electrical equipment within the housing, such that the rear side of the first row of cabinets faces the rear side of the second row of cabinets thereby establishing a hot aisle between the first row of cabinets, the second row of cabinets, and a floor;   a first set of louvers supported by a first frame that is adjacent the rear side of the first row of cabinets, the first set of louvers extending across at least a portion of the rear side of at least one of the cabinets that form the first row of cabinets; and   a second set of louvers supported by a second frame that is adjacent the rear side of the second row of cabinets, the second set of louvres extending across at least a portion of the rear side of at least one of the cabinets that form the second row of cabinets.   
     
     
         9 . The arrangement of cabinets of  claim 8  wherein the first set of louvers and the second set of louvers are positioned at an angle to direct the warm air exiting the cabinets upward away from the floor. 
     
     
         10 . The arrangement of cabinets of  claim 8  wherein the first set of louvers are adjustable between a first position, a second position and a third position such that the first position directs warm airflow upward, the second position directs warm air flow perpendicular to the rear face of the cabinets and the third position inhibits airflow from the one or more rear openings. 
     
     
         11 . The arrangement of cabinets of  claim 8  further comprising two or more legs associated with the frame, the two or more legs adjustable to change a height of the louvers relative to the floor. 
     
     
         12 . The arrangement of cabinets of  claim 8  further comprising at least one motor associated with at least one louvers, the at least one motor being responsive to a motor control signal to change the angle of the at least one louvers. 
     
     
         13 . The arrangement of cabinets of  claim 10 , wherein a first group of the first set of louvers are positioned at a first angle and a second group of the second set of louvers are position at a second angle. 
     
     
         14 . The arrangement of cabinets of  claim 8  further comprising:
 one or more temperature sensors, one or more air flow sensor, or both configured to generate sensor signals; and 
 a controller configured to receive and process sensor signals, and responsive to the processing generate the motor control signals which control the position of at least one louvers. 
 
     
     
         15 . A method for maintaining temperature within a cabinet storing electrical equipment within a predetermined range comprising:
 providing a first row of cabinets;   providing a second row of cabinets, the cabinets in the first row of cabinets and the second row of cabinets include a front side and a rear side, the front side having one or more front openings to accept flow of cool air into the cabinet and the rear side having one or more rear openings for exit of warm air from the rear side of the cabinet, the front side and rear side defining an interior space therebetween configured to house heat generating electrical equipment within the interior space, such that the rear side of the first row of cabinets faces the rear side of the second row of cabinets thereby establishing a hot aisle between the first row of cabinets, second row of cabinets;   adjusting a first set of louvers to direct airflow exiting the rear side of a cabinet in a direction non-perpendicular to the rear side of the first row of cabinets, the first set of louvers supported by a first frame the rear side of at least one cabinet that forms the first row of cabinets, the first set of louvers extending across at least a portion of the rear side of a cabinet that forms the first row of cabinets;   adjusting a second set of louvers to direct airflow exiting the rear side of a cabinet in a direction non-perpendicular to the rear side of the second row of cabinets, the second set of louvers supported by a second frame which is adjacent the rear side of at least one cabinet that forms the second row of cabinets, the second set of louvers extending across at least a portion of the rear side of the cabinets that form the second row of cabinets;   providing cooling airflow to the front of the first row and second row of cabinets, the cooling air flow flowing from the front of the cabinets toward the rear of the cabinets resulting in the cooling air flow becoming warm airflow due to the cooling air flow contacting the heat generating electrical equipment within the interior space of the cabinets;   directing the air flow with two or more louvers from the first row of cabinets in a first direction toward one or more warm air channels associated with the hot aisle   directing the air flow with two or more louvers from the second row of cabinets in a second direction toward the one or more warm air channels associated with the hot aisle, wherein the first direction and the second direction are not opposing directions;   cooling the warm airflow from the hot aisle to create cooling air flow; and   returning the cooling airflow to the front of the cabinets.   
     
     
         16 . The method of  claim 15  wherein the rear side of the first row of cabinets faces the rear side of the second row of cabinets. 
     
     
         17 . The method of  claim 15  wherein at least one louver is position adjustable by a motor, the motor responsive to a motor control signal from a controller. 
     
     
         18 . The method of  claim 17  further comprising one or more temperature sensors, airflow sensors, or both configured to provide a sensor signal to the controller such that the motor control signal responsive to the sensor signal. 
     
     
         19 . The method for of  claim 15 , further comprising increasing air flow with one or more fans mounted to at least one louver such that adjusting a louver adjusts a position of one or more fans. 
     
     
         20 . The method for of  claim 15 , further comprising adjusting a height of one or more legs to change a height of the first set of louvers and the second set of louvers.