Server rack-dedicated vertical vortex airflow server cooling

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-10136560-B2
Application number	US-201815908316-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Feb 28, 2018
Priority date	Oct 27, 2014
Publication date	Nov 20, 2018
Grant date	Nov 20, 2018

Abstract

A vortex-producing fan controller uses a variable-speed vortex-producing fan positioned above a server rack to create a helical airflow within the server rack that couples with cooled air entering a data center through a floor opening situated near a bottom of the server rack. A speed of the variable-speed vortex-producing fan and a flow rate of the cooled air coupled within the helical airflow up through the server rack are adjusted responsive to changes in input air temperature of air entering the variable-speed vortex-producing fan detected using a fan input air temperature sensor positioned above the server rack.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A method, comprising:
by a processor of a vortex-producing fan controller:
creating, using a variable-speed vortex-producing fan positioned above a server rack, a helical airflow within the server rack that couples with cooled air entering a data center through a floor opening situated near a bottom of the server rack; and
adjusting, responsive to changes in input air temperature of air entering the variable-speed vortex-producing fan detected using a fan input air temperature sensor positioned above the server rack, a speed of the variable-speed vortex-producing fan and a flow rate of the cooled air coupled with the helical airflow up through the server rack.

2. The method of claim 1 , further comprising the processor maintaining the input air temperature of the air entering the variable-speed vortex-producing fan within a specified fan input air temperature range, where the server rack is coincidentally maintained within a specified server rack temperature range.

3. The method of claim 1 , where the vortex-producing fan controller comprises a server rack-dedicated vortex-producing fan controller that autonomously regulates heat extraction from the server rack.

4. The method of claim 1 , where the vortex-producing fan controller comprises a server rack-dedicated vortex-producing fan controller that adjusts the speed of the variable-speed vortex-producing fan and the flow rate of the cooled air coupled within the helical airflow up through the server rack responsive to instructions from a data center controller.

5. The method of claim 1 , further comprising the processor:
sending input air temperature readings to a data center controller;
receiving, from the data center controller, instructions to adjust the input air temperature of the air entering the variable-speed vortex-producing fan; and
where the processor adjusting, responsive to the changes in the input air temperature of the air entering the variable-speed vortex-producing fan detected using the fan input air temperature sensor positioned above the server rack, the speed of the variable-speed vortex-producing fan and the flow rate of the cooled air coupled within the helical airflow up through the server rack comprises the processor:
adjusting the speed of the variable-speed vortex-producing fan based upon the instructed adjustment of the input air temperature of the air entering the variable-speed vortex-producing fan.

6. The method of claim 5 , further comprising the processor:
confirming the instructed adjustment of the input air temperature of the air entering the variable-speed vortex-producing fan using the fan input air temperature sensor positioned above the server rack; and
sending a confirmation of the instructed adjustment of the input air temperature of the air entering the variable-speed vortex-producing fan to the data center controller.

7. The method of claim 1 , where the processor adjusting, responsive to the changes in the input air temperature of the air entering the variable-speed vortex-producing fan detected using the fan input air temperature sensor positioned above the server rack, the speed of the variable-speed vortex-producing fan and the rate of cooled airflow up through the server rack comprises the processor:
iteratively adjusting the speed of the variable-speed vortex-producing fan using the fan input air temperature sensor positioned above the server rack until the input air temperature of the air entering the variable-speed vortex-producing fan is within a specified fan input air temperature range.

Assignees

• IBM

Inventors

• Boegner Marc D
• D'Angelo Dario

Classifications

• H05K7/20745

  within rooms for removing heat from cabinets, e.g. by air conditioning device · CPC title

• G05D13/62

  characterised by the use of electric means, e.g. use of a tachometric dynamo, use of a transducer converting an electric value into a displacement {(electric motor control H02P)} · CPC title

• H05K7/20736 Primary

  within cabinets for removing heat from server blades · CPC title

• G05B15/02

  electric · CPC title

• G05D23/1917

  using digital means · CPC title