Cooling of data centers
AssigneeHewlett-Packard Development Company, L.P.
InventorsCullen E. Bash, Chandrakant D. Patel, Abdlmonem H. Beitelmal, Ratnesh K. Sharma
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
In a cooling system for cooling racks in a data center, cooling fluid is circulated in the data center by a cooling device having a fan. In addition, this system includes a plenum having a plurality of returns and an outlet. The outlet of the plenum is in fluid communication with the fan and the plurality of returns are configured for removing the cooling fluid from the data center. Furthermore, the returns and are operable to vary a characteristic of the removal of the cooling fluid.
Claims35
A cooling system for cooling racks in a data center, said system comprising:
- a cooling device for circulating cooling fluid in said data center, said cooling device including a fan;
- a plenum having a plurality of returns and an outlet, wherein said outlet of said plenum is in fluid communication with said fan, wherein said plurality of returns are configured for removing said cooling fluid from said data center and are operable to vary a characteristic of said removal of cooling fluid through said plurality of returns;
- a cooling device controller operable to control the intake of said cooling fluid by said cooling device;
- and
- a pressure sensor situated within said plenum to measure the pressure of said cooling fluid located within said plenum,
- wherein said cooling device controller is operable to vary the intake of said cooling fluid by said cooling device in response to the measured pressure of said cooling fluid in said plenum.
A method of cooling a plurality of racks in a data center, said method comprising:
- activating a cooling system and opening a plurality of returns, said plurality of returns being configured to remove cooling fluid from various locations of said data center, said plurality of returns also being in fluid communication with a plenum, wherein cooling fluid is configured to flow through the plurality of returns through the plenum and into the cooling system;
- sensing a pressure of said cooling fluid in the plenum;
- determining whether said sensed pressure is within a predetermined pressure range;
- and
- varying an intake of said cooling system through the plurality of returns in response to said sensed pressure falling outside of said predetermined pressure range.
An apparatus for cooling a plurality of racks in a data center, said apparatus comprising:
- means for activating a cooling system and opening a plurality of returns, each of said returns being configured to remove cooling fluid from various locations of said data center, said plurality of returns also being in fluid communication with a plenum, wherein cooling fluid is configured to flow through the plurality of returns through the plenum and into the cooling system;
- means for sensing a pressure of said cooling fluid in the plenum;
- means for determining whether said sensed pressure is within a predetermined pressure range;
- and
- means for varying an intake of said cooling system through the plurality of returns in response to said sensed pressure falling outside of said predetermined pressure range.
A computer readable medium on which is embedded computer software, said software comprising executable code for performing a method of cooling a plurality of racks in a data center, said method comprising:
- activating a cooling system and opening a plurality of returns, each of said returns being configured to remove cooling fluid from various locations of said data center, said plurality of returns also being in fluid communication with a plenum, wherein cooling fluid is configured to flow through the plurality of returns through the plenum and into the cooling system;
- sensing a pressure of said cooling fluid in the plenum;
- determining whether said sensed pressure is within a predetermined pressure range;
- and
- varying an intake of said cooling system through the plurality of returns in response to said sensed pressure falling outside of said predetermined pressure range.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.