Systems and methods for heating and cooling information handling system with server blank

A method, in an information handling system having a first plenum housing at least one information handling resource and having an airflow inlet and an airflow exhaust, a second plenum housing a heating element configured to transfer heat to air flowing proximate to the heating element, a first air mover in fluid communication with the first plenum and configured to drive flow of air proximate to the at least one information handling resource and through the first plenum, a second air mover in fluid communication with the second plenum and configured to drive flow of air proximate to the heating element, a first gate located proximate to the airflow inlet and translatable between a first closed position in which the first gate impedes airflow through the inlet into the first plenum and a first open position in which the first gate impedes airflow between the first plenum and the second plenum, and a second gate located proximate to the airflow inlet and translatable between a second closed position in which the second gate impedes airflow through the inlet into the first plenum and a second open position in which the second gate impedes airflow between the first plenum and the second plenum, the method comprising operating the information handling system in a plurality of modes comprising at least:

• a recirculation heating mode in which the thermal control system enables the first air mover, the second air mover, and the heating element, causes the first gate to be in the first closed position, and causes the second gate to be in the second closed position such that air is continuously heated and recirculated between the first plenum and the second plenum;
• and
• an open loop mode in which the thermal control system enables the first air mover, disables the second air mover and the heating element, causes the first gate to be in the first open position, and causes the second gate to be in the second open position such that air is driven into the first plenum via the airflow inlet and out of the first plenum via the airflow exhaust.

An article of manufacture, comprising;

• a non-transitory computer readable medium;
• and
• computer-executable instructions carried on the computer readable medium, the instructions readable by a processor, the instructions, when read and executed, for causing the processor to, in an information handling system having a first plenum housing at least one information handling resource and having an airflow inlet and an airflow exhaust, a second plenum housing a heating element configured to transfer heat to air flowing proximate to the heating element, a first air mover in fluid communication with the first plenum and configured to drive flow of air proximate to the at least one information handling resource and through the first plenum, a second air mover in fluid communication with the second plenum and configured to drive flow of air proximate to the heating element, a first gate located proximate to the airflow inlet and translatable between a first closed position in which the first gate impedes airflow through the inlet into the first plenum and a first open position in which the first gate impedes airflow between the first plenum and the second plenum, and a second gate located proximate to the airflow inlet and translatable between a second closed position in which the second gate impedes airflow through the inlet into the first plenum and a second open position in which the second gate impedes airflow between the first plenum and the second plenum:
• operate in a plurality of modes comprising at least:
• a heating mode causing electrical voltage to be applied to a thermoelectric cooler in a manner such that heat is transferred from the thermoelectric cooler to first heat-rejecting media to heat the flow of air through the first plenum;
• and
• a cooling mode causing electrical voltage to be applied to the thermoelectric cooler in a manner such that heat is transferred from the first heat-rejecting media to the thermoelectric cooler to cool the flow of air through the first plenum.