Methods and apparatus for an autonomous stage-switching multi-stage cooling device

A coolant distribution unit (CDU) comprising:

• an enclosure;
• an inlet and an outlet of the CDU to be fluidly coupled to a cooling block associated with a heat generating source;
• at least one sensor to measure a first temperature corresponding to the inlet and a second temperature corresponding to the outlet;
• and
• a plurality of valves to be controlled by a controller to direct a flow of fluid from the inlet to at least one of an ambient cooler or a sub-ambient cooler based on:
• (i) a comparison of the first temperature to an ambient temperature and (ii) a comparison of the second temperature to a target temperature.

A non-transitory machine readable storage medium comprising instructions that, when executed, cause processor circuitry to at least:

• determine, based on first sensor information from a first sensor, a first temperature associated with fluid exiting an outlet of at least one cooling block and entering a fluid line operatively coupled to a first valve, the first valve to be operated to direct fluid from the fluid line to an ambient cooler, a second valve to be operated to direct fluid from at least one of the ambient cooler or the fluid line toward a sub-ambient cooler;
• determine, based on second sensor information from a second sensor, a second temperature associated with fluid entering an inlet of the at least one cooling block;
• compare, with a first comparison, the first temperature to a first threshold;
• compare, with a second comparison, the second temperature to a second threshold;
• and
• control the first and second valves based on the first and second comparisons.

A method comprising:

• determining, based on first sensor information from a first sensor, a first temperature associated with fluid exiting an outlet of at least one cooling block and entering a fluid line operatively coupled to first and second valves, the first valve to be operated to direct fluid from the fluid line to an ambient cooler, the second valve to be operated to direct fluid from at least one of the ambient cooler or the fluid line toward a sub-ambient cooler;
• determining, based on second sensor information from a second sensor, a second temperature of fluid associated with fluid entering an inlet of the at least one cooling block;
• comparing, with a first comparison, the first temperature to a first threshold;
• comparing, with a second comparison, the second temperature to a second threshold;
• and
• controlling the first and second valves based on the first and second comparisons.