US6574104B2
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Smart cooling of data centers
Assignee: Hewlett Packard Enterprise Development LP
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Filing: 2001-10-05
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Granted: 2003-06-03
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Expires: 2021-10-05
Abstract
Abstract A cooling system is configured to adjust cooling fluid flow to various racks located throughout a data center based upon the detected or anticipated temperatures at various locations throughout the data center. In one respect, by substantially increasing the cooling fluid flow to those racks dissipating greater amounts of heat and by substantially decreasing the cooling fluid flow to those racks dissipating lesser amounts of heat, the amount of energy required to operate the cooling system may be relatively reduced. Thus, instead of operating the devices, e.g., compressors, fans, etc., of the cooling system at substantially 100 percent of the anticipated heat dissipation from the racks, those devices may be operated according to the actual cooling needs. In addition, the racks may be positioned throughout the data center according to their anticipated heat loads to thereby enable computer room air conditioning (CRAC) units located at various positions throughout the data center to operate in a more efficient manner. In one respect, the positioning of the racks may be determined through implementation of numerical modeling and metrology of the cooling fluid flow throughout the data center. In addition, the numerical modeling may be implemented to control the volume flow rate and velocity of the cooling fluid flow through each of the vents.
Inventors
- 👤 Chandrakant D. Patel
- 👤 Cullen E. Bash
- 👤 Abdlmonem H. Beitelmal
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-27 10:05
CPC Classifications
H; H05; H05K; H05K7/00; H05K7/20; H05K7/20709; H05K7/20718; H05K7/20745; F; F24; F24F; F24F2221/00; F24F2221/40
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 35
Claim 1
Independent Claim
199 words
A smart cooling system for cooling racks in a data center, said system comprising: a cooling device for supplying cooling fluid to said racks, said cooling device including a variable output fan; a plenum having an inlet and a plurality of outlets, wherein said inlet of said plenum is in fluid communication with said fan; a plurality of vents in fluid communication with said plurality of outlets for delivering said cooling fluid to said racks, wherein said vents are operable to vary a characteristic of said cooling fluid delivered to said racks through said vents; at least one vent controller operable to control at least one of said vents, wherein said at least one vent controller is configured to independently control one or more of said vents to thereby independently vary said characteristic of said cooling fluid delivered through said vents; a variable capacity compressor; and a cooling device controller operable to control the speed of said compressor and said output of said fan to thereby vary the output of said cooling fluid from said cooling device in response to signals received from said at least one vent controller and thereby vary the cooling fluid supply in said plenum.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
199 words
A smart cooling system for cooling racks in a data center, said system comprising: a cooling device for supplying cooling fluid to said racks, said cooling device including a variable output fan; a plenum having an inlet and a plurality of outlets, wherein said inlet of said plenum is in fluid communication with said fan; a plurality of vents in fluid communication with said plurality of outlets for delivering said cooling fluid to said racks, wherein said vents are operable to vary a characteristic of said cooling fluid delivered to said racks through said vents; at least one vent controller operable to control at least one of said vents, wherein said at least one vent controller is configured to independently control one or more of said vents to thereby independently vary said characteristic of said cooling fluid delivered through said vents; a variable capacity compressor; and a cooling device controller operable to control the speed of said compressor and said output of said fan to thereby vary the output of said cooling fluid from said cooling device in response to signals received from said at least one vent controller and thereby vary the cooling fluid supply in said plenum.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
24 words
The system according to claim 1 , wherein said characteristic of said cooling fluid comprises at least one of volume flow rate and velocity.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
57 words
The system according to claim 1 , further comprising: a plurality of temperature sensors configured to measure a temperature of one or more of said racks, wherein said at least one vent controller is configured to independently control one or more of said vents in response to said measured temperatures of one or more of said racks.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
45 words
The system according to claim 1 , wherein said at least one vent controller is operable to independently control one or more of said vents on the basis of an anticipated amount of heat predicted to be generated by one or more of said racks.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
206 words
A smart cooling system for cooling racks in a data center, said system comprising: a cooling device for supplying cooling fluid to said racks, said cooling device including a variable output fan; a plenum having an inlet and a plurality of outlets, wherein said inlet of said plenum is in fluid communication with said fan; a plurality of vents in fluid communication with said plurality of outlets for delivering said cooling fluid to said racks, wherein said vents are operable to vary a characteristic of said cooling fluid delivered to said racks through said vents; at least one vent controller operable to control at least one of said vents, wherein said at least one vent controller is configured to independently control one or more of said vents to thereby independently vary said characteristic of said cooling fluid delivered through said vents; a cooling device controller operable to control the output of 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 output of said cooling fluid from said cooling device in response to the measured pressure of said cooling fluid in said plenum.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
206 words
A smart cooling system for cooling racks in a data center, said system comprising: a cooling device for supplying cooling fluid to said racks, said cooling device including a variable output fan; a plenum having an inlet and a plurality of outlets, wherein said inlet of said plenum is in fluid communication with said fan; a plurality of vents in fluid communication with said plurality of outlets for delivering said cooling fluid to said racks, wherein said vents are operable to vary a characteristic of said cooling fluid delivered to said racks through said vents; at least one vent controller operable to control at least one of said vents, wherein said at least one vent controller is configured to independently control one or more of said vents to thereby independently vary said characteristic of said cooling fluid delivered through said vents; a cooling device controller operable to control the output of 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 output of said cooling fluid from said cooling device in response to the measured pressure of said cooling fluid in said plenum.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
24 words
The system according to claim 5 , wherein said characteristic of said cooling fluid comprises at least one of volume flow rate and velocity.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
57 words
The system according to claim 5 , further comprising: a plurality of temperature sensors configured to measure a temperature of one or more of said racks, wherein said at least one vent controller is configured to independently control one or more of said vents in response to said measured temperatures of one or more of said racks.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
45 words
The system according to claim 5 , wherein said at least one vent controller is operable to independently control one or more of said vents on the basis of an anticipated amount of heat predicted to be generated by one or more of said racks.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
164 words
A smart cooling system for cooling racks in a data center, said system comprising: a cooling device for supplying cooling fluid to said racks, said cooling device including a variable output fan; a plenum having an inlet and a plurality of outlets, wherein said inlet of said plenum is in fluid communication with said fan; a plurality of vents in fluid communication with said plurality of outlets for delivering said cooling fluid to said racks, wherein said vents are operable to vary a characteristic of said cooling fluid delivered to said racks through said vents; and at least one vent controller operable to control at least one of said vents, wherein said at least one vent controller is configured to independently control one or more of said vents to thereby independently vary said characteristic of said cooling fluid delivered through said vents, wherein said plenum includes a divider, said divider being operable to divide said plenum into a first chamber and a second chamber.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
164 words
A smart cooling system for cooling racks in a data center, said system comprising: a cooling device for supplying cooling fluid to said racks, said cooling device including a variable output fan; a plenum having an inlet and a plurality of outlets, wherein said inlet of said plenum is in fluid communication with said fan; a plurality of vents in fluid communication with said plurality of outlets for delivering said cooling fluid to said racks, wherein said vents are operable to vary a characteristic of said cooling fluid delivered to said racks through said vents; and at least one vent controller operable to control at least one of said vents, wherein said at least one vent controller is configured to independently control one or more of said vents to thereby independently vary said characteristic of said cooling fluid delivered through said vents, wherein said plenum includes a divider, said divider being operable to divide said plenum into a first chamber and a second chamber.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
52 words
The system according to claim 9 , wherein said first chamber is in fluid communication with said cooling device and said second chamber is in fluid communication with said vents, and wherein said divider operates to maintain the pressure of said cooling fluid in said second chamber at a substantially uniform pressure.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
24 words
The system according to claim 9 , wherein said characteristic of said cooling fluid comprises at least one of volume flow rate and velocity.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
57 words
The system according to claim 9 , further comprising: a plurality of temperature sensors configured to measure a temperature of one or more of said racks, wherein said at least one vent controller is configured to independently control one or more of said vents in response to said measured temperatures of one or more of said racks.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
45 words
The system according to claim 9 , wherein said at least one vent controller is operable to independently control one or more of said vents on the basis of an anticipated amount of heat predicted to be generated by one or more of said racks.
Claim 17
Independent Claim
123 words
A method of cooling a plurality of racks in a data center, said method comprising: activating a cooling system and opening a plurality of vents, each of said vents being configured to vary the supply cooling fluid to at least one of said racks; sensing the temperatures of said racks; determining whether said sensed temperatures are within a predetermined temperature range; varying said supply of said cooling fluid to one or more of said racks in response to said sensed temperatures; sensing a pressure of a supply of said cooling fluid; determining whether said sensed pressure is within a predetermined pressure range; and varying an output of said cooling system in response to said sensed pressure falling outside of said predetermined pressure range.
Claim 18
Independent Claim
123 words
A method of cooling a plurality of racks in a data center, said method comprising: activating a cooling system and opening a plurality of vents, each of said vents being configured to vary the supply cooling fluid to at least one of said racks; sensing the temperatures of said racks; determining whether said sensed temperatures are within a predetermined temperature range; varying said supply of said cooling fluid to one or more of said racks in response to said sensed temperatures; sensing a pressure of a supply of said cooling fluid; determining whether said sensed pressure is within a predetermined pressure range; and varying an output of said cooling system in response to said sensed pressure falling outside of said predetermined pressure range.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
74 words
The method according to claim 14 , further comprising: determining whether the measured temperatures of said racks are below or equal to a predetermined minimum set point temperature; decreasing the supply of said cooling fluid to said racks having measured temperatures that fall below or equal said predetermined minimum set point temperature; and increasing the supply of said cooling fluid to said racks having measured temperatures that exceed said predetermined minimum set point temperature.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
42 words
The method according to claim 15 , further comprising: decreasing an output of said cooling fluid from said cooling system in response to said decrease in cooling fluid supply to said racks exceeding said increase in cooling fluid supply to said racks.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
43 words
The method according to claim 15 , further comprising: increasing an output of said cooling fluid from said cooling system in response to said decrease in cooling fluid supply to said racks falling below said increase in cooling fluid supply to said racks.
Claim 22
Dependent Claim
32 words
The method according to claim 14 , wherein said step of varying said cooling system output includes determining whether said measured pressure falls below or equals a predetermined minimum set point pressure.
Claim 23
Dependent Claim
32 words
The method according to claim 18 , further comprising: increasing the output of said cooling system in response to said measured pressure falling below or equaling said predetermined minimum set point pressure.
Claim 24
Dependent Claim
29 words
The method according to claim 18 , further comprising: decreasing the output of said cooling system in response to said measured pressure exceeding said predetermined minimum set point pressure.
Claim 25
Dependent Claim
35 words
The method according to claim 15 , further comprising: performing a numerical modeling of a temperature distribution and flow characteristics of the data center; and manipulating said cooling system in response to said numerical modeling.
Claim 26
Dependent Claim
64 words
The method according to claim 21 , further comprising: implementing said numerical modeling to correlate at least two of temperature, velocity and pressure of said cooling fluid and power draw of said racks within said data center to thereby infer a thermal condition throughout said data center, wherein said manipulating step further comprises manipulating said cooling system in response to said inferred thermal condition.
Claim 27
Dependent Claim
247 words
A data center housing a plurality of racks, said data center comprising: a raised floor having a plurality of vents; a plenum located beneath said raised floor; a cooling system having a variable capacity compressor and a variable output fan, said cooling system being configured to supply a cooling fluid into said plenum; said plenum being in fluid communication with said plurality of vents, said vents being configured to deliver said cooling fluid to said racks, wherein said vents are operable to vary a characteristic of said cooling fluid delivered through each of said vents; a divider positioned within said plenum and operable to divide said plenum into a first chamber and a second chamber; wherein said first chamber of said plenum is in fluid communication with said cooling system and said second chamber is in fluid communication with said vents, and wherein said divider operates to maintain the pressure of said cooling fluid in said second chamber at a substantially uniform pressure; at least one vent controller operable to control at least one of said vents, wherein said at least one vent controller is configured to independently control said vents to thereby independently vary said characteristic of said cooling fluid flow through said vents; and a cooling system controller operable to control a speed of said compressor and an output of said fan to thereby vary the output of said cooling fluid from said cooling system to thereby vary the cooling fluid supply in said plenum.
Claim 28
Dependent Claim
247 words
A data center housing a plurality of racks, said data center comprising: a raised floor having a plurality of vents; a plenum located beneath said raised floor; a cooling system having a variable capacity compressor and a variable output fan, said cooling system being configured to supply a cooling fluid into said plenum; said plenum being in fluid communication with said plurality of vents, said vents being configured to deliver said cooling fluid to said racks, wherein said vents are operable to vary a characteristic of said cooling fluid delivered through each of said vents; a divider positioned within said plenum and operable to divide said plenum into a first chamber and a second chamber; wherein said first chamber of said plenum is in fluid communication with said cooling system and said second chamber is in fluid communication with said vents, and wherein said divider operates to maintain the pressure of said cooling fluid in said second chamber at a substantially uniform pressure; at least one vent controller operable to control at least one of said vents, wherein said at least one vent controller is configured to independently control said vents to thereby independently vary said characteristic of said cooling fluid flow through said vents; and a cooling system controller operable to control a speed of said compressor and an output of said fan to thereby vary the output of said cooling fluid from said cooling system to thereby vary the cooling fluid supply in said plenum.
Claim 29
Dependent Claim
153 words
A computer readable storage medium on which is embedded one or more computer programs, said one or more computer programs implementing a method for cooling a plurality of racks in a data center, said one or more computer programs comprising a set of instructions for: activating a cooling system and opening a plurality of vents, each of said vents being configured to vary the supply cooling fluid to at least one of said racks; sensing the temperatures of said racks; determining whether said sensed temperatures are within a predetermined temperature range; varying said supply of said cooling fluid to one or more of said racks in response to said sensed temperatures; sensing a pressure of a supply of said cooling fluid; determining whether said sensed pressure is within a predetermined pressure range; and varying an output of said cooling system in response to said sensed pressure falling outside of said predetermined pressure range.
Claim 30
Dependent Claim
153 words
A computer readable storage medium on which is embedded one or more computer programs, said one or more computer programs implementing a method for cooling a plurality of racks in a data center, said one or more computer programs comprising a set of instructions for: activating a cooling system and opening a plurality of vents, each of said vents being configured to vary the supply cooling fluid to at least one of said racks; sensing the temperatures of said racks; determining whether said sensed temperatures are within a predetermined temperature range; varying said supply of said cooling fluid to one or more of said racks in response to said sensed temperatures; sensing a pressure of a supply of said cooling fluid; determining whether said sensed pressure is within a predetermined pressure range; and varying an output of said cooling system in response to said sensed pressure falling outside of said predetermined pressure range.
Claim 31
Dependent Claim
88 words
The computer readable storage medium according to claim 24 , said one or more computer programs further comprising a set of instructions for: determining whether the measured temperatures of said racks are below or equal to a predetermined minimum set point temperature; decreasing the supply of said cooling fluid to said racks having measured temperatures that fall below or equal said predetermined minimum set point temperature; and increasing the supply of said cooling fluid to said racks having measured temperatures that exceed said predetermined minimum set point temperature.
Claim 32
Dependent Claim
56 words
The computer readable storage medium according to claim 25 , said one or more computer programs further comprising a set of instructions for: decreasing an output of said cooling fluid from said cooling system in response to said decrease in cooling fluid supply to said racks exceeding said increase in cooling fluid supply to said racks.
Claim 33
Dependent Claim
57 words
The computer readable storage medium according to claim 25 , said one or more computer programs further comprising a set of instructions for: increasing an output of said cooling fluid from said cooling system in response to said decrease in cooling fluid supply to said racks falling below said increase in cooling fluid supply to said racks.
Claim 34
Dependent Claim
49 words
The computer readable storage medium according to claim 25 , said one or more computer programs further comprising a set of instructions for: performing a numerical modeling of a temperature distribution and flow characteristics of the data center; and manipulating said cooling system in response to said numerical modeling.
Claim 35
Dependent Claim
78 words
The computer readable storage medium according to claim 28 , said one or more computer programs further comprising a set of instructions for: implementing said numerical modeling to correlate at least two of temperature, velocity and pressure of said cooling fluid and power draw of said racks within said data center to thereby infer a thermal condition throughout said data center, wherein said manipulating step further comprises manipulating said cooling system in response to said inferred thermal condition.
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USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
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| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 2006-06-02 | 2006-12-02 | 2007-06-03 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 2010-06-02 | 2010-12-02 | 2011-06-03 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 2014-06-02 | 2014-12-02 | 2015-06-03 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |