System airflow bypassing restricted rear I/O panel via power supply unit region
In one or more embodiments, a chassis may be formed with a side vent in a wall separating a main section with a plurality of components and a side section comprising a power supply unit (PSU) assembly. A main fan may generate a first airflow through the chassis and a PSU fan may generate a second airflow through the PSU housing. A side vent in the wall allows a portion of the first airflow to exit the chassis either through the PSU housing or via the side vent if the PSU housing is recessed.
1 . A system for cooling an information processing system in a chassis, the system comprising:
a main fan for drawing air through a front vent and generating a first airflow past a set of components in the chassis towards a back vent to an ambient environment;
a Power Supply Unit (PSU) fan in a PSU housing for generating a second airflow to transfer heat generated by a PSU through a PSU vent to the ambient environment, the PSU fan proximate to the PSU vent; and
a wall between the PSU housing and the set of components in the chassis, wherein the wall comprises a side vent, wherein a length of the side vent is substantially equal to a distance the PSU is recessed from the PSU vent, wherein a first portion of the first airflow exits the chassis through the back vent and a second portion of the first airflow flows through the side vent in the wall, the second portion of the first airflow flows through the side vent and exits the chassis through the PSU vent.
2 . The system of claim 1 , wherein the side vent is more than 50% open.
3 . The system of claim 2 , wherein the side vent comprises a plurality of openings.
4 . The system of claim 1 , wherein:
the PSU fan is proximate the PSU;
a length of the side vent is substantially equal to a distance the PSU fan is recessed from the PSU vent; and
the second portion of the first airflow flows through the side vent and exits the chassis through the PSU vent.
5 . The system of claim 1 , wherein
the PSU housing is recessed a distance from the PSU vent; and
the side vent and the PSU vent form a cutout in the chassis, wherein the second portion of the first airflow flows through the side vent and exits the chassis through the cutout.
6 . A chassis comprising:
a main fan for drawing air through a front vent and generating a first airflow past a set of components in the chassis towards a back vent to an ambient environment;
a Power Supply Unit (PSU) fan in a PSU housing for generating a second airflow to transfer heat generated by a PSU through a PSU vent to the ambient environment, the PSU fan proximate to the PSU vent; and
a wall between the PSU housing and the set of components in the chassis, wherein the wall comprises a side vent, wherein a length of the side vent is substantially equal to a distance the PSU is recessed from the PSU vent, wherein a first portion of the first airflow exits the chassis through the back vent and a second portion of the first airflow flows through the side vent in the wall, the second portion of the first airflow flows through the side vent and exits the chassis through the PSU vent.
7 . The chassis of claim 6 , wherein the side vent is more than 50% open.
8 . The chassis of claim 7 , wherein the side vent comprises a plurality of openings.
9 . The chassis of claim 6 , wherein:
the PSU fan is proximate the PSU;
a length of the side vent is substantially equal to a distance the PSU fan is recessed from the PSU vent; and
the second portion of the first airflow flows through the side vent and exits the chassis through the PSU vent.
10 . The chassis of claim 6 , wherein
the PSU housing is recessed a distance from the PSU vent; and
the side vent and the PSU vent form a cutout in the chassis, wherein the second portion of the first airflow flows through the side vent and exits the chassis through the cutout.
11 . A server rack comprising:
a plurality of chassis, each chassis separated from an adjacent chassis by a gap, each chassis comprising:
a main fan for drawing air through a front vent and generating a first airflow past a set of components in the chassis towards a back vent to an ambient environment, the PSU fan proximate to the PSU vent;
a Power Supply Unit (PSU) fan in a PSU housing for generating a second airflow to transfer heat generated by a PSU through a PSU vent to the ambient environment; and
a wall between the PSU housing and the set of components in the chassis, wherein the wall comprises a side vent, wherein a length of the side vent is substantially equal to a distance the PSU is recessed from the PSU vent, wherein a first portion of the first airflow exits the chassis through the back vent and a second portion of the first airflow flows through the side vent in the wall, the second portion of the first airflow flows through the side vent and exits the chassis through the PSU vent.
12 . The server rack of claim 11 , wherein the side vent is more than 50% open.
13 . The server rack of claim 12 , wherein the side vent comprises a plurality of openings.
14 . The server rack of claim 11 , wherein:
the PSU fan is proximate the PSU;
a length of the side vent is substantially equal to a distance the PSU fan is recessed from the PSU vent; and
the second portion of the first airflow flows through the side vent and exits the chassis through the PSU vent.
15 . The server rack of claim 11 , wherein
the PSU housing is recessed a distance from the PSU vent; and
the side vent and the PSU vent form a cutout in the chassis, wherein the second portion of the first airflow flows through the side vent and exits the chassis through the cutout.