Heat transfer apparatus for a computer environment

A method for selectively cooling at least one component within a computer environment, comprising:

• sensing for a condition precedent associated with a predetermined condition at which to cool the at least one component;
• determining that the condition precedent exists;
• and
• providing energy to a thermoelectric cooler (TEC) in response to determining that the condition precedent exists, the TEC being thermally coupled to a cold plate and a thermally-conductive body, the cold plate being thermally coupled to a liquid line of liquid coolant system of the computer environment and to transfer heat to the liquid line, the thermally-conductive body being employed to cool the at least one component, and the TEC increasing a rate of heat transfer from the thermally-conductive body to the cold plate based on the energy being provided.

One or more computer-readable media having instructions stored thereon, wherein the instructions, in response to execution by a device, cause the device to:

• receive sensed data associated with a state of a component within a computer environment;
• compare the sensed data to a threshold condition associated with the state of the component;
• and
• activate a thermoelectric cooler (TEC) based on the comparison of the sensed data to the threshold condition, wherein the TEC is thermally coupled to a cold plate and a thermally-conductive body, with the cold plate thermally coupled to a liquid line of a liquid coolant system of the computer environment and to transfer heat to the liquid line, and the thermally-conductive body to cool the component, wherein the TEC is to increase a rate of heat transfer from the thermally-conductive body to the cold plate based on the activation of the TEC.

An apparatus for selectively transferring heat within a computer environment, comprising:

• means for cooling a component of the computer environment;
• means for increasing an amount of heat transfer from the means for cooling in response to energy provided to the means for increasing the amount of heat transfer, wherein the means for increasing has a first side coupled to the means for cooling, and wherein the means for increasing is to increase a rate of heat transfer from the first side to a second side of the means for increasing in response to the energy provided to the means for increasing;
• and
• means for transferring heat from the second side of the means for increasing to a liquid line of a liquid coolant system of the computer environment.