# US 2014/0150480 A1 · Cooling system and method

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- Number: US 2014/0150480 A1
- Document ID: US20140150480A1
- Status: Published application
- Kind: A1
- Application number: 14/172,944
- Filed: 2014-02-05
- Published: 2014-06-05
- Earliest claimed: 2011-09-12
- Assignees: Fujitsu Limited
- Applicants: Fujitsu Limited
- Inventors: Hiroyoshi Kodama
- Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US20140150480A1

## CPC

- F25D 17/06: by forced circulation
- F24F 11/30: for purposes related to the operation of the system, e.g. for safety or monitoring
- F24F 11/52: Indication arrangements, e.g. displays
- F24F 11/62: characterised by the type of control or by internal processing, e.g. using fuzzy logic, adaptive control or estimation of values
- F24F 11/64: using pre-stored data
- F24F 11/77: by controlling the speed of ventilators
- H05K 7/20209: {Thermal management, e.g. fan control}
- F24F 11/46: Improving electric energy efficiency or saving
- Y02B 30/70: Efficient control or regulation technologies, e.g. for control of refrigerant flow, motor or heating
- F25D: REFRIGERATORS; COLD ROOMS; ICE-BOXES; COOLING OR FREEZING APPARATUS NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR (refrigerated showcases A47F3/04; thermally-insulated vessels for domestic use A47J41/00; refrigerated vehicles, see the appropriate subclasses of classes B60 - B64; containers with thermal insulation in general B65D81/38; heat-transfer, heat-exchange or heat-storage materials, e.g. refrigerants, or materials for the production of heat or cold by chemical reactions other than by combustion C09K5/00; thermally-insulated vessels for liquefied or solidified gases F17C; air-conditioning or air-humidification F24F; refrigeration machines, plants, or systems F25B; cooling of instruments or comparable apparatus without refrigeration G12B)
- F24F: AIR-CONDITIONING; AIR-HUMIDIFICATION; VENTILATION; USE OF AIR CURRENTS FOR SCREENING (removing dirt or fumes from areas where they are produced B08B15/00; vertical ducts for carrying away waste gases from buildings E04F17/02; tops for chimneys or ventilating shafts, terminals for flues F23L17/02)
- H05K: PRINTED CIRCUITS; CASINGS OR CONSTRUCTIONAL DETAILS OF ELECTRIC APPARATUS; MANUFACTURE OF ASSEMBLAGES OF ELECTRICAL COMPONENTS
- Y02B: CLIMATE CHANGE MITIGATION TECHNOLOGIES RELATED TO BUILDINGS, e.g. HOUSING, HOUSE APPLIANCES OR RELATED END-USER APPLICATIONS

## Abstract

A cooling system includes an air conditioner capable of cooling a predetermined space and changing an air volume or set temperature; one or more electronic devices disposed in the predetermined space and including a fan of variable rotational speed; a temperature sensor configured to detect temperature of the electronic devices; and a control apparatus configured to select, based on an increase in the detected temperature, whether to increase the air volume or decrease the set temperature of the air conditioner or to increase the rotational speed of the fan, with reference to air-conditioner information indicating a relationship between cooling performance and power consumption of the air conditioner and fan information indicating a relationship between cooling performance and power consumption of the fan.

## Claims

### Claim 1

A cooling system comprising:
an air conditioner configured to be capable of cooling a predetermined space and changing an air volume or a set temperature thereof;
one or more electronic devices disposed in the predetermined space and provided with a fan whose rotational speed is variable;
a temperature sensor configured to detect temperature of the one or more electronic devices; and
a control apparatus configured to select, based on an increase in the temperature detected by the temperature sensor, whether to increase the air volume or decrease the set temperature of the air conditioner or to increase the rotational speed of the fan, with reference to air-conditioner information indicating a relationship between cooling performance and power consumption of the air conditioner and fan information indicating a relationship between cooling performance and power consumption of the fan, and control the air volume or the set temperature of the air conditioner and the rotational speed of the fan based on which to select whether to increase the air volume or decrease the set temperature of the air conditioner or to increase the rotational speed of the fan.

### Claim 2 (depends on 1)

The cooling system according to claim 1, further comprising:
a power measuring apparatus configured to measure the power consumption of the fan,
wherein the control apparatus updates the fan information based on the temperature detected by the temperature sensor and the power consumption measured by the power measuring apparatus.

### Claim 3 (depends on 1)

The cooling system according to claim 1, wherein:
the control apparatus
calculates a selection rule for selecting whether to increase the air volume or decrease the set temperature of the air conditioner or to increase the rotational speed of the fan, based on the air-conditioner information and the fan information, and
controls the air volume or the set temperature of the air conditioner and the rotational speed of the fan based on the selection rule and the temperature detected by the temperature sensor.

### Claim 4 (depends on 3)

The cooling system according to claim 3, wherein:
the control apparatus calculates an index value indicating operational efficiency of the one or more electronic devices, based on the power consumption of the air conditioner and power consumption of the one or more electronic devices, and adjusts the selection rule based on the index value.

### Claim 5

A cooling method used in a system including an air conditioner capable of cooling a predetermined space and changing an air volume or a set temperature thereof and one or more electronic devices disposed in the predetermined space and provided with a fan whose rotational speed is variable, the cooling method comprising:
detecting temperature of the one or more electronic devices with use of a temperature sensor;
accessing, by a processor, air-conditioner information indicating a relationship between cooling performance and power consumption of the air conditioner and fan information indicating a relationship between cooling performance and power consumption of the fan; and
selecting, by the processor, based on an increase in the detected temperature, whether to increase the air volume or decrease the set temperature of the air conditioner or to increase the rotational speed of the fan, with reference to the accessed air-conditioner information and fan information, and controlling the air volume or the set temperature of the air conditioner and the rotational speed of the fan based on a result of the selecting.

### Claim 6

A computer-readable storage medium storing a computer program used to control a system including an air conditioner capable of cooling a predetermined space and changing an air volume or a set temperature thereof and one or more electronic devices disposed in the predetermined space and provided with a fan whose rotational speed is variable, the computer program causing a computer to perform a procedure comprising:
detecting temperature of the one or more electronic devices with use of a temperature sensor;
accessing air-conditioner information indicating a relationship between cooling performance and power consumption of the air conditioner and fan information indicating a relationship between cooling performance and power consumption of the fan; and
selecting, based on an increase in the detected temperature, whether to increase the air volume or decrease the set temperature of the air conditioner or to increase the rotational speed of the fan, with reference to the accessed air-conditioner information and fan information, and controlling the air volume or the set temperature of the air conditioner and the rotational speed of the fan based on a result of the selecting.