Patent US6747872B1 successfully refreshed from Google Patents.
US6747872B1
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Pressure control of cooling fluid within a plenum
Assignee: Hewlett Packard Enterprise Development LP
•
Filing: 2003-02-28
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Granted: 2004-06-08
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Expires: 2023-02-28
Abstract
Abstract Cooling fluid pressure within a plenum of a cooling system is controlled by activating the cooling system, sensing a plurality of cooling fluid pressures at a plurality of respective locations within the plenum, determining whether pressure differences between the plurality of sensed cooling fluid pressures are within a predetermined pressure differential, and modulating a variable volume device in response to the pressure differences being outside the predetermined pressure differential. The cooling system is configured to cool racks in a data center and includes a cooling device in fluid communication with the plenum. The plenum is in fluid communication with a vent configured to supply cooling fluid to the racks. The variable volume device is configured to control a flow resistance of cooling fluid within the plenum and is positioned between the plenum and the vent.
Inventors
- 👤 Chandrakant D. Patel
- 👤 Cullen E. Bash
- 👤 Scot Austin
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-02 21:07
CPC Classifications
H; H05; H05K; H05K7/00; H05K7/20; H05K7/20709; H05K7/20718; H05K7/20745; G; G06; G06F; G06F1/00; G06F1/16; G06F1/20; G06F1/206; H05K7/20836; F; F24; F24F; F24F2221/00; F24F2221/40; G06F2200/00; G06F2200/20; G06F2200/201; Y; Y02; Y02D; Y02D10/00
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 41
Claim 1
Independent Claim
138 words
A method of controlling cooling fluid pressure within a plenum of a cooling system for cooling a plurality of racks in a data center, said method comprising: activating said cooling system, said cooling system including a cooling device in fluid communication with said plenum, said plenum being in fluid communication with a vent configured to supply cooling fluid to said racks; sensing a plurality of cooling fluid pressures at a plurality of respective locations within said plenum; determining whether pressure differences between said plurality of sensed cooling fluid pressures are within a predetermined pressure differential; and modulating a variable volume device positioned between said plenum and said vent in response to said pressure differences being outside said predetermined pressure differential, wherein said variable volume device is configured to control a flow resistance of cooling fluid within said plenum.
Claim 2
Independent Claim
138 words
A method of controlling cooling fluid pressure within a plenum of a cooling system for cooling a plurality of racks in a data center, said method comprising: activating said cooling system, said cooling system including a cooling device in fluid communication with said plenum, said plenum being in fluid communication with a vent configured to supply cooling fluid to said racks; sensing a plurality of cooling fluid pressures at a plurality of respective locations within said plenum; determining whether pressure differences between said plurality of sensed cooling fluid pressures are within a predetermined pressure differential; and modulating a variable volume device positioned between said plenum and said vent in response to said pressure differences being outside said predetermined pressure differential, wherein said variable volume device is configured to control a flow resistance of cooling fluid within said plenum.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
38 words
The method according to claim 1 , further comprising: individually controlling cooling fluid flow to a plurality of vents configured to supply cooling fluid to said racks by controlling said flow resistance of cooling fluid within said plenum.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
25 words
The method according to claim 1 , further comprising: determining whether said pressure differences are below or equal to a predetermined maximum negative pressure variance.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
40 words
The method according to claim 3 , further comprising: modulating said flow resistance of said variable volume device to positively influence said pressure differences in response to said pressure differences falling below or equaling said predetermined maximum negative pressure variance.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
38 words
The method according to claim 3 , further comprising: modulating said flow resistance of said variable volume device to negatively influence said pressure differences in response to said pressure differences being above said predetermined maximum negative pressure variance.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
48 words
The method according to claim 1 , further comprising: sensing temperatures of said racks; determining whether said sensed temperatures are within a predetermined temperature range; and varying said supply of cooling fluid to said racks in response to said sensed temperatures falling outside of said predetermined temperature range.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
25 words
The method according to claim 6 , further comprising: decreasing said supply of cooling fluid to at least one rack having a relatively lower temperature.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
25 words
The method according to claim 6 , further comprising: increasing said supply of cooling fluid to at least one rack having a relatively higher temperature.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
42 words
The method according to claim 6 , further comprising: decreasing said supply of cooling fluid to at least one rack having a relatively lower temperature relative to said supply of cooling fluid to at least one rack having a relatively higher temperature.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
36 words
The method according to claim 1 , further comprising: performing a numerical modeling of a pressure distribution and flow characteristics of the data center; and modulating said variable volume device in response to said numerical modeling.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
65 words
The method according to claim 10 , 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 modulating step further comprises modulating said variable volume device in response to said inferred thermal condition.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
136 words
A 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 fan; a plenum having an inlet and an outlet, wherein said inlet of said plenum is in fluid communication with said fan; a vent assembly for delivering said cooling fluid to said racks, said vent assembly being in fluid communication with said outlet of said plenum; and a variable volume device in fluid communication with said plenum and said vent assembly, said variable volume device being positioned between said plenum and said vent assembly, wherein said variable volume device is operable to control pressure differences of said cooling fluid between a plurality of locations within said plenum by modulating flow resistance of said cooling fluid within said plenum.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
136 words
A 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 fan; a plenum having an inlet and an outlet, wherein said inlet of said plenum is in fluid communication with said fan; a vent assembly for delivering said cooling fluid to said racks, said vent assembly being in fluid communication with said outlet of said plenum; and a variable volume device in fluid communication with said plenum and said vent assembly, said variable volume device being positioned between said plenum and said vent assembly, wherein said variable volume device is operable to control pressure differences of said cooling fluid between a plurality of locations within said plenum by modulating flow resistance of said cooling fluid within said plenum.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
71 words
The system according to claim 12 , further comprising: a plurality of dampers controllable to vary said flow resistance at said plurality of locations within said plenum, wherein said variable air volume device includes at least one damper of said plurality of dampers; and a vent controller operable to control said plurality of dampers, wherein said vent controller is configured to control said pressure of said cooling fluid within said plenum.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
49 words
The system according to claim 13 , further comprising: a plurality of pressure sensors configured to sense said pressure of said cooling fluid at said plurality of locations within said plenum, wherein said vent controller is operable to modulate said plurality of dampers in response to said sensed pressure.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
44 words
The system according to claim 14 , further comprising: a plurality of temperature sensors configured to measure temperatures of said racks, wherein said vent controller is configured to control said plurality of dampers in response to said measured temperatures of each of said racks.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
33 words
The system according to claim 14 , wherein said vent controller is operable to independently control said plurality of dampers on the basis of an anticipated amount of heat generation by said racks.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
29 words
The system according to claim 12 , wherein said plenum includes a divider, said divider being operable to divide said plenum into a first chamber and a second chamber.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
54 words
The system according to claim 17 , wherein said first chamber is in fluid communication with said cooling device and said second chamber is in fluid communication with said variable volume device, and wherein said divider operates to maintain the pressure of said cooling fluid in said second chamber at a substantially uniform pressure.
Claim 21
Independent Claim
145 words
A system for controlling cooling fluid pressure within a plenum of a cooling system for cooling a plurality of racks in a data center, said system comprising: means for activating said cooling system, said cooling system including a cooling device in fluid communication with said plenum, said plenum being in fluid communication with a vent configured to supply cooling fluid to said racks; means for sensing a plurality of cooling fluid pressures at a plurality of respective locations within said plenum; means for determining whether pressure differences between said plurality of sensed cooling fluid pressures are within a predetermined pressure differential; and means for modulating a variable volume device positioned between said plenum and said vent in response to said-pressure differences being outside said predetermined pressure differential, wherein said variable volume device is configured to control a flow resistance of cooling fluid within said plenum.
Claim 22
Independent Claim
145 words
A system for controlling cooling fluid pressure within a plenum of a cooling system for cooling a plurality of racks in a data center, said system comprising: means for activating said cooling system, said cooling system including a cooling device in fluid communication with said plenum, said plenum being in fluid communication with a vent configured to supply cooling fluid to said racks; means for sensing a plurality of cooling fluid pressures at a plurality of respective locations within said plenum; means for determining whether pressure differences between said plurality of sensed cooling fluid pressures are within a predetermined pressure differential; and means for modulating a variable volume device positioned between said plenum and said vent in response to said-pressure differences being outside said predetermined pressure differential, wherein said variable volume device is configured to control a flow resistance of cooling fluid within said plenum.
Claim 23
Dependent Claim
29 words
The system according to claim 19 , further comprising: means for individually controlling cooling fluid flow to a plurality of vents configured to supply cooling fluid to said racks.
Claim 24
Dependent Claim
27 words
The system according to claim 19 , further comprising: means for determining whether said pressure differences are below or equal to a predetermined maximum negative pressure variance.
Claim 25
Dependent Claim
42 words
The system according to claim 21 , further comprising: means for modulating said flow resistance of said variable volume device to positively influence said pressure differences in response to said pressure differences falling below or equaling said predetermined maximum negative pressure variance.
Claim 26
Dependent Claim
40 words
The system according to claim 21 , further comprising: means for modulating said flow resistance of said variable volume device to negatively influence said pressure differences in response to said pressure differences being above said predetermined maximum negative pressure variance.
Claim 27
Dependent Claim
54 words
The system according to claim 19 , further comprising: means for sensing temperatures of said racks; means for determining whether said sensed temperatures are within a predetermined temperature range; and means for varying said supply of cooling fluid to said racks in response to said sensed temperatures falling outside of said predetermined temperature range.
Claim 28
Dependent Claim
27 words
The system according to claim 24 , further comprising: means for decreasing said supply of cooling fluid to at least one rack having a relatively lower temperature.
Claim 29
Dependent Claim
27 words
The system according to claim 24 , further comprising: means for increasing said supply of cooling fluid to at least one rack having a relatively higher temperature.
Claim 30
Dependent Claim
44 words
The system according to claim 24 , further comprising: means for decreasing said supply of cooling fluid to at least one rack having a relatively lower temperature relative to said supply of cooling fluid to at least one rack having a relatively higher temperature.
Claim 31
Dependent Claim
40 words
The system according to claim 19 , further comprising: means for performing a numerical modeling of a pressure distribution and flow characteristics of the data center; and means for modulating said variable volume device in response to said numerical modeling.
Claim 32
Dependent Claim
67 words
The system according to claim 28 , further comprising: means 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 modulating step further comprises modulating said variable volume device in response to said inferred thermal condition.
Claim 33
Independent Claim
155 words
A method of cooling a plurality of racks in a data center, said method comprising: activating a cooling system, said cooling system including a cooling device in fluid communication with a plenum, said plenum being in fluid communication with a vent configured to supply cooling fluid to said racks; sensing temperatures of said racks; sensing pressure of said cooling fluid at a plurality of locations within said plenum; determining whether said sensed temperatures of said racks are within a predetermined temperature range; determining whether differences of said sensed pressure of said cooling fluid at said plurality of locations is within a predetermined pressure differential; and modulating a variable volume device positioned between said plenum and said vent to varying said supply of cooling fluid to said racks in response to said sensed temperatures and said sensed pressure, wherein said variable volume device is configured to control a flow resistance of cooling fluid within said plenum.
Claim 34
Independent Claim
155 words
A method of cooling a plurality of racks in a data center, said method comprising: activating a cooling system, said cooling system including a cooling device in fluid communication with a plenum, said plenum being in fluid communication with a vent configured to supply cooling fluid to said racks; sensing temperatures of said racks; sensing pressure of said cooling fluid at a plurality of locations within said plenum; determining whether said sensed temperatures of said racks are within a predetermined temperature range; determining whether differences of said sensed pressure of said cooling fluid at said plurality of locations is within a predetermined pressure differential; and modulating a variable volume device positioned between said plenum and said vent to varying said supply of cooling fluid to said racks in response to said sensed temperatures and said sensed pressure, wherein said variable volume device is configured to control a flow resistance of cooling fluid within said plenum.
Claim 35
Dependent Claim
49 words
The method according to claim 30 , further comprising: sensing a plenum temperature; determining whether said sensed plenum temperature is within a predetermined plenum temperature range; and varying a capacity of said cooling fluid in response to said sensed plenum temperature falling outside of said predetermined plenum temperature range.
Claim 36
Dependent Claim
38 words
The method according to claim 30 , further comprising: individually controlling cooling fluid flow to a plurality of vents configured to supply cooling fluid to said racks by controlling said flow resistance of cooling fluid within said plenum.
Claim 37
Dependent Claim
25 words
The method according to claim 30 , further comprising: determining whether said pressure differences are below or equal to a predetermined maximum negative pressure variance.
Claim 38
Dependent Claim
40 words
The method according to claim 33 , further comprising: modulating said flow resistance of said variable volume device to positively influence said pressure differences in response to said pressure differences falling below or equaling said predetermined maximum negative pressure variance.
Claim 39
Dependent Claim
38 words
The method according to claim 33 , further comprising: modulating said flow resistance of said variable volume device to negatively influence said pressure differences in response to said pressure differences being above said predetermined maximum negative pressure variance.
Claim 40
Dependent Claim
36 words
The method according to claim 30 , further comprising: performing a numerical modeling of a pressure distribution and flow characteristics of the data center; and modulating said variable volume device in response to said numerical modeling.
Claim 41
Dependent Claim
65 words
The method according to claim 36 , 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 modulating step further comprises modulating said variable volume device 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 2007-06-08 | 2007-12-08 | 2008-06-08 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 2011-06-08 | 2011-12-08 | 2012-06-08 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 2015-06-08 | 2015-12-08 | 2016-06-08 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |