Thermal management system

A thermal management system for an enclosure housing devices which generate heat cooled by a variable speed fan providing a gas flow outlet filtered by a filter, the system comprising:

• at least one temperature sensor disposed in the enclosure for measuring the temperature inside the enclosure;
• a controller for adjusting the speed of the fan until the temperature inside the enclosure is within a predetermined range to ensure that the devices inside the enclosure do not overheat;
• means for determining the condition of the fan;
• and
• means, responsive to the temperature sensor, for determining the condition of the filter.

A thermal management system comprising:

• an enclosure housing devices which generate heat;
• a fan whose speed is responsive to an input signal, the fan having a gas flow output in communication with the enclosure;
• a filter disposed in the gas flow path of the fan's output;
• at least one temperature sensor disposed in the enclosure for measuring the temperature inside the enclosure;
• a controller for adjusting the speed of the fan until the temperature inside the enclosure is within a predetermined range to ensure that devices inside the enclosure do not overheat;
• at least one gas flow rate sensor disposed to measure the flow rate through the enclosure;
• and
• a processor, responsive to the at least one gas flow rate sensor, programmed to provide an output signal indicative of a clogged filter when the gas flow rate is less than a predetermined level at a predetermined fan speed.

A thermal management system comprising:

• a temperature sensor for measuring the temperature inside an enclosure to be cooled with a gas flow through a filter from a fan, whose speed depends on a fan input signal;
• and
• a controller responsive to the temperature sensor and connectable to the fan for monitoring the temperature inside the enclosure and adjusting the speed of the fan until the temperature inside the enclosure is within a predetermined range, the controller including:
• means for comparing the fan input signal with the speed of the fan to determine the condition of the fan;
• and
• means, responsive to the temperature sensor, for determining the condition of the filter.