Reverse flow prevention
AssigneeMicrosoft Technology Licensing, LLC
InventorsRameez Kazi, Neeraj Ladkani, Brandon Earl Gary
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
The present concepts maintain forward flow and prevent reverse flow of heat-transferring media. A first zone and a second zone are proximate to each other. A first fan moves air through the first zone in a forward direction. A second fan moves air through the second zone in a forward direction. The speed of the first fan is compared with the speed of the second fan. If the first fan speed is slower than the second fan speed, then the first fan speed is adjusted to match the second fan speed. Therefore, reverse airflow in the first zone is prevented.
Claims20
A system, comprising:
- a system chassis having a system outlet;
- a system fan for moving warm air out of the system chassis through the system outlet;
- a power supply unit (PSU) having a PSU outlet and a PSU fan for moving warm air out of the PSU through the PSU outlet;
- a PSU fan controller for controlling the PSU fan;
- and
- a system fan controller for controlling the system fan, comparing a system fan speed of the system fan and a PSU fan speed of the PSU fan, and communicating with the PSU fan controller to adjust the PSU fan speed upon determining that the PSU fan speed is different from the system fan speed to prevent warm air moving into the PSU through the PSU outlet,
- the system fan controller being configured to communicate to the PSU fan controller a minimum speed for the PSU fan that equals the system fan speed;
- and
- the PSU fan controller being capable of overriding the minimum speed and setting an actual speed of the PSU fan that is greater than the minimum speed.
A method, comprising:
- monitoring a first rotational speed of a first fan and a second rotational speed of a second fan;
- determining whether an adjustment condition has been met based at least on comparing the first rotational speed to the second rotational speed and at least one of the following:
- comparing a first fan size of the first fan to a second fan size of the second fan, comparing a first blade pitch of the first fan to a second blade pitch of the second fan, comparing a first number of blades of the first fan to a second number of blades of the second fan, comparing a first number of fans of the first fan to a second number of fans of the second fan, comparing a first position of the first fan to a second position of the second fan, comparing a first orientation of the first fan to a second orientation of the second fan, or comparing a first model of the first fan to a second model of the second fan;
- and
- adjusting the second rotational speed of the second fan based at least on the determination to prevent a reverse airflow at the second fan.
A computer-readable storage medium storing instructions which, when executed by a first zone processor, cause the first zone processor to:
- monitor a first speed of a first fan in a first zone;
- communicate with a second zone processor to monitor a second speed of a second fan in a second zone;
- determine whether a fan speed adjustment condition has been met based on the first speed and the second speed;
- and
- upon determining that the fan speed adjustment condition has been met, setting a minimum speed for one or both of the first fan or the second fan to prevent a reverse flow of a heat-transferring medium into the first zone and the second zone, an actual speed capable of being greater than the minimum speed.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.