Selectively routing air within an electronic equipment enclosure

Abstract

A method of cooling electronic equipment mounted in an enclosure includes routing air from beneath the enclosure to an upper portion of the enclosure, selectively routing air to electronic equipment mounted in the upper portion of the enclosure, and exhausting heated air from the electronic equipment to an enclosure outlet. In addition, preventing recirculation includes installing and arranging an internal air duct within an enclosure in such a manner that recirculation is prevented, and balancing air temperature around an enclosure includes using an internal air duct.

1 .- 13 . (canceled) 
     
     
         14 . A method of cooling electronic equipment mounted in an enclosure, comprising:
 (a) routing air from directly beneath an enclosure to an interior of the enclosure;   (b) locating a plurality of temperature-measuring devices at locations specific to the enclosure, each location being downstream from electronic equipment mounted in the interior of the enclosure;   (c) measuring air temperature, via the temperature-measuring devices, at the plurality of locations downstream from electronic equipment mounted in the interior of the enclosure, wherein each measurement is carried out specifically relative to the enclosure;   (d) on the basis of the air temperature measurements, balancing the air temperature at the plurality of locations downstream from the electronic equipment by selectively routing air, via an internal air duct, to the electronic equipment; and   (e) exhausting heated air from the electronic equipment to an enclosure outlet.   
     
     
         15 . The method of  claim 14 , wherein locating the plurality of temperature-measuring devices includes positioning the plurality of temperature-measuring devices within the enclosure, and wherein air temperature is measured within the enclosure. 
     
     
         16 . The method of  claim 14 , wherein locating the plurality of temperature-measuring devices includes positioning each of the plurality of temperature-measuring devices at an outlet of the enclosure, and wherein air temperature is measured at the outlet to the enclosure. 
     
     
         17 . The method of claim  8 , wherein air temperature is measured outside the enclosure. 
     
     
         18 . The method of claim  8 , wherein balancing the air temperature includes selectively adjusting ports of the internal air duct. 
     
     
         19 . The method of claim  8 , further comprising adjusting the temperature of cool air provided by a CRAC based on air temperatures measured downstream from electronic equipment mounted in the interior of the enclosure. 
     
     
         20 . The method of claim  8 , wherein balancing the air temperature at the plurality of locations downstream from the electronic equipment by selectively routing air, via an internal air duct, to the electronic equipment comprises balancing the air temperature at the plurality of locations downstream from the electronic equipment by selectively routing air, via opening or closing of a plurality of ports of an internal air duct, to the electronic equipment. 
     
     
         21 . A method of cooling electronic equipment mounted in an enclosure, comprising:
 (a) passively routing air from beneath the enclosure to an upper portion of the enclosure via a riser;   (b) selectively routing air to one or more air inlets of electronic equipment mounted in the upper portion of the enclosure by opening or closing a plurality of ports of the riser; and   (c) exhausting heated air from the electronic equipment to an enclosure outlet;   (d) wherein the route of the air from beneath the enclosure through the riser to the upper portion of the enclosure and to the one or more electronic equipment air inlets defines an inlet air path; and   (e) wherein the air does not pass through any fan as it is routed through the entirety of the inlet air path.   
     
     
         22 . A method of cooling electronic equipment in an enclosure, comprising:
 (a) routing air from directly beneath the enclosure into a collector;   (b) routing air from the collector into a riser in fluid communication with the collector, the riser having a front that faces toward a front of the enclosure, but spaced apart therefrom;   (c) opening at least one port of a plurality of ports disposed at the front of the riser, at an upper portion thereof, the plurality of ports facing toward the front of the enclosure; and   (d) routing air from the riser, through the at least one open port, to electronic equipment mounted in the upper portion of the enclosure, wherein routing air from the riser to the electronic equipment includes redirecting air flowing from the at least one open port, after it leaves such port, from a first direction of flow, being substantially toward the front of the enclosure, to a second direction of flow, being generally toward a side of the enclosure and across a front of the electronic equipment.   
     
     
         23 . The method of  claim 22 , wherein opening the at least one port of the plurality of ports includes opening a hinged door covering the at least one port. 
     
     
         24 . The method of  claim 23 , wherein redirecting air from the first direction of flow to the second direction of flow is carried out by the hinged door. 
     
     
         25 . The method of  claim 22 , wherein redirecting air from the first direction of flow to the second direction of flow is carried out by an air dam disposed adjacent a front corner of the enclosure. 
     
     
         26 . The method of  claim 22 , wherein opening the at least one port of the plurality of ports includes removing a knockout panel covering the at least one port. 
     
     
         27 . The method of  claim 22 , wherein opening the at least one port of the plurality of ports includes removing a filler plate covering the at least one port. 
     
     
         28 . The method of  claim 27 , wherein the filler plate is re-attachable to cover the at least one port. 
     
     
         29 . The method of  claim 22 , wherein opening the at least one port of the plurality of ports includes adjusting a grill assembly covering the at least one port to an open position. 
     
     
         30 . The method of  claim 22 , wherein the front of the riser is generally co-planar with a front of the electronic equipment.