How a Side-Intake Switch Reaches Cold-Aisle Air
A switch mounted near the top rear of a rack may have air intakes at its sides. Those inlets can draw heated rack air even when the room has a well-defined cold aisle.
Follow the air through the process
Turn the supply route toward the inlet
A dedicated duct brings air from the front cold aisle and turns it toward the switch's actual side intake. The duct must meet that opening, with enough usable cross-section through the bend.
Let the device fan drive the route
In this passive-duct arrangement, the switch's own fan draws air through the duct and device. The duct creates a protected route; it does not add fan pressure or change the switch's designed airflow direction.
Separate intake from hot discharge
Air travels through the switch and exits at its designated exhaust side. Seals and the duct barrier reduce the chance of that hot exhaust returning to the side intake. An open gap can spoil the connection.
Verify the installed connection
Confirm the actual inlet and exhaust directions before choosing a duct or fan arrangement. Check the inlet temperature and airflow with cables, adjacent equipment and the final duct installed; an unconnected cold aisle is not enough.
Airflow function
- Inside the switch, where the device fan draws cold-aisle air through the connected side-intake duct and electronics.
- For equipment development, compact DC axial families can be evaluated against the combined device-and-duct resistance. A passive duct guides air but contributes no fan pressure.
What can change the result
- The duct does not meet the switch side inlet.
- A connection gap admits heated rack air.
- Cable congestion or a tight bend restricts the intended route.
Start with the complete air path
Share your layout and the information you already have. Unknown values can be identified before a configuration is selected.
Match the fan to this air path
For equipment development, discuss LONGWELL compact DC axial fans using the complete duct-and-device pressure loss, airflow and control needs. Confirm mechanical and electrical compatibility; the family image is not a replacement approval.
Where it sits
Inside the switch, where the device fan draws cold-aisle air through the connected side-intake duct and electronics.
Why consider this configuration
For equipment development, compact DC axial families can be evaluated against the combined device-and-duct resistance. A passive duct guides air but contributes no fan pressure.
Check the result in your equipment
Discuss your switch intake connection
Send actual intake and exhaust directions, rack and cable layout, duct bend and connection geometry, complete device and duct pressure loss, required flow and fan envelope, power and control compatibility. Ask LONGWELL to review a suitable configuration, fan curve, drawing and control details. A layout or existing fan model can start the review.
A layout, installation photos or your existing model is enough to start the discussion.