US 2013/0158713 A1 · INTEGRATING A DATA CENTER THERMAL CONTROL SYSTEM AND INDIVIDUAL FAN CONTROLLERS FOR CONTROLLING A THERMAL ENVIRONMENT IN A DATA CENTER ROOM

Abstract

A thermal control system for a data center room, for controlling an ambient temperature in the data center room to meet an ambient temperature set point, receives multiple ambient temperature votes from multiple fan controllers positioned in the data center room each for controlling fan speeds for at least one separate fan from among multiple fans each positioned within a separate system from among multiple systems within the data center room. The thermal control system sets the ambient temperature set point to a lowest ambient temperature specified in the multiple ambient temperature votes, such that the thermal control system and fan controllers operate as independent systems, but are integrated for selecting an ambient temperature that minimizes the power required for controlling a thermal environment in the data center room.

Claims20

Dependent claims

A method for managing a thermal environment in a data center room, comprising:

receiving, by a thermal control system for a data center room for controlling an ambient temperature in the data center room to meet an ambient temperature set point, a plurality of ambient temperature votes from a plurality of fan controllers positioned in the data center room each for controlling fan speeds for at least one separate fan from among plurality of fans each positioned within a separate system from among a plurality of systems within the data center room;
and
setting, by the thermal control system, the ambient temperature set point to a lowest ambient temperature specified in the plurality of ambient temperature votes.

A system for managing a thermal environment in a data center room, comprising:

a data center room comprising a plurality of systems each housing at least one fan from among a plurality of fans each positioned in the plurality of systems for controlling local temperatures within a separate system from among the plurality of systems, wherein each fan is controlled by at least one fan controller from among a plurality of fan controllers positioned within the plurality of systems;
a thermal control system for controlling an ambient temperature in the data center room to meet an ambient temperature set point;
the thermal control system operative to receive a plurality of ambient temperature votes from the plurality of fan controllers;
and
the thermal control system, operative to set the ambient temperature set point to a lowest ambient temperature specified in the plurality of ambient temperature votes.

2 more elements

A computer program product for managing a thermal environment in a data center room, said computer program product tangibly embodied in a computer-readable storage medium and comprising computer executable instructions which cause a computer to:

receive, by a thermal control system for a data center room for controlling an ambient temperature in the data center room to meet an ambient temperature set point, a plurality of ambient temperature votes from a plurality of fan controllers positioned in the data center room each for controlling fan speeds for at least one separate fan from among plurality of fans each positioned for controlling local temperatures within a separate system from among a plurality of systems within the data center room;
and
set, by the thermal control system, the ambient temperature set point to a lowest ambient temperature specified in the plurality of ambient temperature votes.

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.

Integrating a data center thermal control system and individual fan controllers for controlling a thermal environment in a data center room

Life of this patent

Integrating a data center thermal control system and individual fan controllers for controlling a thermal environment in a data center room

Life of this patent

Abstract

Claims20