Dew point sensitive computer cooling system

Abstract

A computer cooling system has a mixing valve which supplies coolant to the computer and receives hot return coolant from the computer and also chilled return coolant from a chiller intermediate the computer and the mixing valve. The mixing valve mixes the hot return coolant with the chilled return coolant to adjust the cooling system temperature. Control circuitry senses, or estimates, the dew point temperature of the computer room environment, compares it with the cooling system temperature, and adjusts the mixing valve to maintain the cooling system temperature a few degrees above the dew point temperature. A condensation sensor comprises of a light emitting diode (LED), reflective tape applied about a cooling system supply conduit, and a phototransistor is disclosed. Light from the LED is fully reflected by the reflective tape to the phototransistor in dry conditions, but only partially reflected when condensation forms on the tape. The phototransistor output drops when condensation impedes the reflectability of the tape resulting in only partial reflection of the light and this drop in the phototransistor output is sensed by circuitry associated therewith to shut down the coolant pump and the computer system.

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.