System and Method for Isolating Components in an Enclosure

Abstract

A system and method for isolating equipment within a cabinet. The system comprising an internal fan disposed within an internal chamber and an external fan disposed outside the internal chamber. The internal fan and the external fan are driven by a corresponding motor disposed within the internal chamber, wherein each motor independently rotates the internal fan and the external fan.

1 . A thermal system for isolating components, the system comprising:
 a cabinet having an internal chamber for storing a plurality of components therein;   a first fan disposed outside the internal chamber and operable to direct air into an outer chamber of the cabinet;   a first motor operatively connected to the first fan and operable to rotate the first fan about a first axis, the first motor being disposed within the internal chamber and substantially isolated from the first fan;   a second fan disposed within the internal chamber and operable to direct air flow through the internal chamber; and   a second motor operatively connected to the second fan and operable to rotate the second fan about a second axis, the second motor being disposed within the internal chamber,   wherein the first motor and the second motor independently rotate the first fan and the second fan, respectively.   
     
     
         2 . The thermal system of  claim 1 , wherein the first motor is operatively connected to the first fan by way of an elongated shaft rotatable therewith, the elongated shaft extending through a cabinet wall disposed between the first motor and the first fan. 
     
     
         3 . The thermal system of  claim 1 , wherein the first motor is magnetically coupled to the first fan through a non-ferrous wall disposed therebetween, the first motor being in contactless cooperation with the first fan. 
     
     
         4 . The thermal system of  claim 1 , wherein the first motor comprises a magnetic shaft for rotating a magnetic blade portion of the first fan, the magnetic shaft being disposed within the internal chamber at a location proximate to the magnetic blade portion for frictionless rotation therewith. 
     
     
         5 . The thermal system of  claim 1 , further comprising at least one heat-exchanging element disposed at least partially within an area of the outer chamber surrounding the internal chamber, the at least one heat-exchanging element being operable to transfer heat from the internal chamber by at least one of conduction or convection. 
     
     
         6 . The thermal system of  claim 2 , wherein the elongated shaft comprises a flexible shaft extending between the first motor and the first fan in a direction such that the first motor is angularly offset from the first axis. 
     
     
         7 . The thermal system of  claim 2 , wherein the elongated shaft is a magnetic shaft supported by at least one magnetic bearing, the magnetic shaft and the at least one magnetic bearing cooperating to create a substantially frictionless seal. 
     
     
         8 . The thermal system of  claim 1 , wherein the cabinet is selected from a plurality of cabinets, each cabinet of the plurality of cabinets being configured substantially the same as the cabinet, the plurality of cabinets being outdoor cabinets disposed throughout an infrastructure, each cabinet being operable to protectively seal a plurality of components stored within each internal chamber, respectively. 
     
     
         9 . The thermal system of  claim 8 , wherein the plurality of components comprise telecommunications equipment associated with the infrastructure, each component of the plurality of components being operable to interconnect a plurality of network elements within the infrastructure. 
     
     
         10 . A cabinet comprising:
 an outer chamber;   an internal chamber for storing components, wherein the internal chamber is substantially disposed within the outer chamber;   an external fan disposed outside the internal chamber and operable to direct outside air into the outer chamber of the cabinet and across a first portion of at least one heat exchanger;   a first motor operatively connected to the external fan and operable to rotate the external fan about a first axis, the first motor being disposed within the internal chamber and substantially isolated from the external fan;   an internal fan disposed within the internal chamber and operable to direct air flow through the internal chamber and across a second portion of the at least one heat exchanger; and   a second motor operatively connected to the internal fan and operable to rotate the internal fan about a second axis, the second motor being disposed within the internal chamber and integrally attached to the internal fan,   wherein the first motor and the second motor independently rotate the external fan and the internal fan, respectively.   
     
     
         11 . The cabinet of  claim 10 , wherein the first motor is operatively connected to the external fan by way of an elongated shaft rotatable therewith, the elongated shaft extending through a cabinet wall disposed between the first motor and the external fan. 
     
     
         12 . The cabinet of  claim 11 , wherein the elongated shaft comprises a flexible shaft extending between the first motor and the external fan in a direction such that the first motor is angularly offset from the first axis. 
     
     
         13 . The cabinet of  claim 11 , wherein the elongated shaft is a magnetic shaft supported by at least one magnetic bearing, the magnetic shaft and the at least one magnetic bearing cooperating to create a substantially frictionless seal. 
     
     
         14 . The cabinet of  claim 11 , further comprising at least one labyrinth seal circumferentially arranged around the elongated shaft. 
     
     
         15 . The cabinet of  claim 10 , wherein the first motor is magnetically coupled to the external fan through a non-ferrous wall disposed therebetween, the first motor being in contactless cooperation with the external fan. 
     
     
         16 . The cabinet of  claim 10 , wherein the first motor comprises a magnetic shaft for rotating a magnetic blade portion of the external fan, the magnetic shaft being disposed within the internal chamber at a location proximate to the magnetic blade portion for frictionless rotation therewith. 
     
     
         17 . The cabinet of  claim 10 , wherein the first motor is operatively connected to and operable to rotate multiple external fans, each fan selected from the multiple external fans being disposed outside the internal chamber and configured substantially the same as the external fan. 
     
     
         18 . A method for isolating components within an internal chamber of a cabinet from an outer chamber of the cabinet, the method comprising:
 rotating an external fan via a first motor disposed within the internal chamber and substantially isolated from the external fan, the external fan being disposed outside the cabinet and operable to direct outside air into the outer chamber; and   rotating an internal fan via second motor disposed within the internal chamber, the internal fan being operable to direct air flow through the internal chamber;   wherein the first motor and the second motor independently rotate the external fan and the internal fan, respectively.   
     
     
         19 . The method of  claim 18 , further comprising transferring heat from the internal chamber to a heat-exchanging element disposed within the cabinet, the transfer of heat being via at least one of convection and conduction. 
     
     
         20 . The method of  claim 19 , further comprising:
 directing the outside air into the heat-exchanging element, the outside air flowing across the heat-exchanging element;   circulating air within the internal chamber across the heat-exchanging element, the outside air flowing across the heat-exchanging element cooling the circulated air; and   directing air flowing out of an end of the heat-exchanging element out of the cabinet, the air flowing out of the end including heated air from the internal chamber.