Server rack-dedicated vertical vortex airflow server cooling

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-9588526-B2
Application number	US-201414524851-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Oct 27, 2014
Priority date	Oct 27, 2014
Publication date	Mar 7, 2017
Grant date	Mar 7, 2017

Abstract

A vortex-producing fan controller uses a variable-speed vortex-producing fan to create a helical airflow within a server rack that couples with cooled air entering a data center through a floor opening situated near a bottom of the server rack and that draws the cooled air up through the server rack in a helical pattern. An input air temperature of air entering the variable-speed vortex-producing fan is measured using readings from 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 within the helical airflow up through the server rack are adjusted responsive to changes in the input air temperature of the air entering the variable-speed vortex-producing fan.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A system, comprising:
a fan input air temperature sensor positioned above a server rack; and
a processor of a vortex-producing fan controller programmed to:
create, using a variable-speed vortex-producing fan, 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 that draws the cooled air up through the server rack in a helical pattern;
measure, using readings from the fan input air temperature sensor positioned above the server rack, an input air temperature of air entering the variable-speed vortex-producing fan; and
adjust, responsive to changes in the input air temperature of the air entering the variable-speed vortex-producing fan, 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 system of claim 1 , where the processor is further programmed to maintain 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 system 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 system 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 system of claim 1 , where the processor is further programmed to:
send input air temperature readings to a data center controller;
receive, from the data center controller, instructions to adjust the input air temperature of the air entering the variable-speed vortex-producing fan;
where, in being programmed to adjust, responsive to the changes in the input air temperature of the air entering the variable-speed vortex-producing fan, 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, the processor is programmed to:
adjust 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; and

the processor is further programmed to:
confirm the instructed adjustment of the input air temperature of the air entering the variable-speed vortex-producing fan using additional input air temperature readings from the fan input air temperature sensor positioned above the server rack; and
send 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.

6. The system of claim 1 , where, in being programmed to adjust, responsive to the changes in the input air temperature of the air entering the variable-speed vortex-producing fan, the speed of the variable-speed vortex-producing fan and the rate of cooled airflow up through the server rack, the processor is programmed to:
iteratively adjust the speed of the variable-speed vortex-producing fan using input air temperature readings from 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.

7. A computer program product, comprising:
a computer readable storage medium having computer readable program code embodied therewith, where the computer readable program code when executed on a computer causes the computer to:
create, using a variable-speed vortex-producing fan, a helical airflow within a server rack that couples with cooled air entering a data center through a floor opening situated near a bottom of the server rack and that draws the cooled air up through the server rack in a helical pattern;
measure, using readings from a fan input air temperature sensor positioned above the server rack, an input air temperature of air entering the variable-speed vortex-producing fan; and
adjust, responsive to changes in the input air temperature of the air entering the variable-speed vortex-producing fan, 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.

8. The computer program product of claim 7 , where the computer readable program code when executed on the computer further causes the computer to maintain 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.

9. The computer program product of claim 7 , where the computer comprises a server rack-dedicated vortex-producing fan controller that autonomously regulates heat extraction from the server rack.

10. The computer program product of claim 7 , where the computer 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.

11. The computer program product of claim 7 , where the computer readable program code when executed on the computer further causes the computer to:
send input air temperature readings to a data center controller;
receive, from the data center controller, instructions to adjust the input air temperature of the air entering the variable-speed vortex-producing fan; and
where, in causing the computer to adjust, responsive to the changes in the input air temperature of the air entering the variable-speed vortex-producing fan, 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, the computer readable program code when executed on the computer causes the computer to:
adjust 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.

12. The computer program product of claim 11 , where the computer readable program code when executed on the computer further causes the computer to:
confirm the instructed adjustment of the input air temperature of the air entering the variable-speed vortex-producing fan using additional input air temperature readings from the fan input air temperature sensor positioned above the server rack; and
send 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.

13. The computer program product of claim 7 , where, in causing the computer to adjust, responsive to the changes in the input air temperature of the air entering the variable-speed vortex-producing fan, the speed of the variable-speed vortex-producing fan and the rate of cooled airflow up through the server rack, the computer readable program code when executed on the computer causes the computer to:
iteratively adjust the speed of the variable-speed vortex-producing fan using input air temperat

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

• F04D19/002

  Axial flow fans · 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