Controllable flow resistance in a cooling apparatus

• US 20050241810A1
• Filed: 04/29/2004
• Published: 11/03/2005
• Est. Priority Date: 04/29/2004
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Hewlett Packard Enterprise Development LP (Hewlett-Packard Enterprise Company)
• Original Assignee: Hewlett-Packard Development Company, L.P. (HP Inc.)
• Inventors: Simon, Glenn C., Malone, Christopher G.
• Granted Patent: US 8,720,532 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 165/122
• CPC Class Codes: F04D 25/14 and having shutters, e.g. automatically closed when not in use
• CPC Class Codes: F04D 25/166 using fans
• CPC Class Codes: F04D 27/004 by varying driving speed
• CPC Class Codes: H05K 7/20727 within server blades for removing heat from heat source
• CPC Class Codes: H05K 7/20836 Thermal management, e.g. server temperature control
• CPC Class Codes: Y02B 30/70 Efficient control or regulation technologies, e.g. for control of refrigerant flow, motor or heating

Abstract

An airflow control apparatus includes a controllable airflow resistance aligned with an airflow path of a plurality of airflow paths, a sensor capable of detecting an airflow condition in at least one of the plurality of airflow paths, and a controller. The controller is coupled to the controllable airflow resistance and to the sensor, and can control the controllable airflow resistance to manage airflow recirculation based on the airflow condition detected by the sensor.

Claims

1. An airflow control apparatus comprising:

a controllable airflow resistance aligned with an airflow path of a plurality of airflow paths;

a sensor adapted to detect airflow in at least one of the plurality of airflow paths;

a controllable-speed fan coupled into an airflow path of the plurality of airflow paths; and

a controller coupled to the controllable airflow resistance the sensor, the controller adapted to control the controllable airflow resistance in combination with the controllable-speed fan to manage airflow recirculation based on the airflow detected by the sensor.

2. The apparatus according to claim 1 wherein:

the controllable airflow resistance is selected from a group consisting of;

controllable louvers, sliding plates with variable perforations, variable sized vents or apertures, a perforated wall with associated sliding plates, and shutters.

3. The apparatus according to claim 1 further comprising:

a servo motor associated with and coupled to the controllable airflow resistance, the controller being coupled to the servo motor to supply the servo motor with signals controlling the servo motor to selectively modify the controllable airflow resistance.

4. The apparatus according to claim 1 wherein:

the controller is adapted to regulate the controllable airflow resistance to a value sufficient to eliminate recirculation and less than infinity to enable some air to be driven through a failed fan in a multiple-fan configuration by functional fans drawing air in an airflow pathway that is otherwise driven by the failed fan.

5. The apparatus according to claim 1 further comprising:

a plurality of controllable airflow resistances; and

a plurality of fans coupled into multiple airflow pathways, the controller being controllably coupled to the plurality of controllable airflow resistances and to the plurality of fans, and adapted to detect an airflow recirculation condition based on signals from the sensor and adjust the controllable airflow resistances and the controlled-speed fans in combination.

6. The apparatus according to claim 5 wherein:

the controller includes a logic that reduces fan speed and increases associated airflow resistance in combination in response to a recirculation condition.

7. The apparatus according to claim 1 wherein:

the controllable flow resistance is configured in a form selected from a group consisting of;

an assembly integrated into a chassis or housing, an assembly attachable to a chassis or housing, a separate assembly that can be positioned adjacent to a fan, an assembly integrated with a fan, and an assembly attachable to a fan.

8. A cooling apparatus comprising:

a plurality of at least partly intersecting airflow pathways, the individual airway pathways further comprising;

at least one fan; and

at least one controllable airflow resistance associated with the at least one fan;

at least one sensor adapted to monitor airflow in at least one of the plurality of airflow paths; and

a controller coupled to the at least one controllable airflow resistance, the at least one sensor, and the at least one fan, and adapted to control the controllable airflow resistances and the at least one fan in combination based on the monitored airflow.

9. The apparatus according to claim 8 further comprising:

a process executable on the controller and adapted to detect failure of a fan and respond to the fan failure detection by selectively controlling the controllable airflow resistances in the airflow pathways and fan speed of a non-failing fan of the at least one fan in combination.

10. The apparatus according to claim 8 further comprising:

at least one of the fans in the airflow pathways having a controllable fan speed; and

a process executable on the controller and adapted to detect failure of a fan and respond to the fan failure detection by selectively controlling the controllable airflow resistances in the airflow pathways and fan speed of one or more non-failing fans in combination.

11. The apparatus according to claim 8 wherein:

the controllable airflow resistances are selected from a group consisting of;

controllable louvers, sliding plates with variable perforations, variable sized vents or apertures, a perforated wall with associated sliding plates, and shutters.

12. The apparatus according to claim 8 further comprising:

at least one servo motor associated with and coupled to ones of the controllable airflow resistances, the controller being coupled to the servo motor to supply the servo motor with signals controlling the servo motor to selectively modify the controllable airflow resistance.

13. The apparatus according to claim 8 wherein:

the controllable flow resistances are configured in a form selected from a group consisting of;

an assembly integrated into a chassis or housing, an assembly attachable to a chassis or housing, a separate assembly that can be positioned adjacent to a fan, an assembly integrated with a fan, and an assembly attachable to a fan.

14. An electronic system comprising:

a chassis;

a plurality of components including heat-generating components mounted within the chassis;

an air cooling system comprising a plurality of fans and associated controllable airflow resistances forming a plurality of at least partly intersecting airflow pathways; and

an airflow control system coupled to the air cooling system and adapted to monitor airflow in the airflow pathways, control the airflow resistances based on the monitored airflow, and control fan speed selectively among the plurality of fans in combination with controlling the airflow resistances based on the airflow condition to reduce fan speed and increase airflow resistance in response to a recirculation condition.

16. The electronic system according to claim 14 wherein individual airway pathways further comprise:

at least one fan; and

at least one controllable airflow resistance associated with the at least one fan.

17. The electronic system according to claim 14 wherein the airflow control system further comprises:

at least one sensor adapted to monitor airflow in at least one of the plurality of airflow paths; and

a controller coupled to the controllable airflow resistances and coupled to the at least one sensor, and adapted to control the controllable airflow resistances based on the monitored airflow.

18. The electronic system according to claim 14 further comprising:

a process executable on the controller and adapted to detect failure of a fan and respond to the fan failure detection by selectively controlling the controllable airflow resistances in the airflow pathways.

19. The electronic system according to claim 14 further comprising:

at least one of the fan in the airflow pathways having a controllable fan speed; and

a process executable on the controller and adapted to detect failure of a fan and respond to the fan failure detection by selectively controlling the controllable airflow resistances in the airflow pathways in combination with fan speed.

20. The electronic system according to claim 14 wherein:

the controllable airflow resistances are selected from a group consisting of;

controllable louvers, sliding plates with variable perforations, variable sized vents or apertures, a perforated wall with associated sliding plates, and shutters.

21. The electronic system according to claim 14 wherein:

the controllable flow resistances are configured in a form selected from a group consisting of;

an assembly integrated into a chassis or housing, an assembly attachable to a chassis or housing, a separate assembly that can be positioned adjacent to a fan, an assembly integrated with a fan, and an assembly attachable to a fan.

23. The electronic system according to claim 14 wherein:

the controllable airflow resistances are selected from a group consisting of;

controllable louvers, sliding plates with variable perforations, variable sized vents or apertures, a perforated wall with associated sliding plates, and shutters.

15. (Canceled)

22. An apparatus comprising:

a cooling assembly for usage in an electronics system further comprising;

a controllable airflow resistance; and

a controlled-speed fan integrated with the controllable flow resistance to form a unitary assembly, the controllable airflow resistance and controlled-speed fan adapted to be adjusted in combination.

24. A method of managing airflow in a ventilation system comprising:

monitoring airflow in a plurality of airflow pathways;

detecting a malfunction condition on the monitored airflow;

adjusting an airflow resistance to manage airflow recirculation in at least one airflow pathway in response to the detected malfunction condition; and

adjusting fan speed of at least one fan associated with the plurality of airflow pathways in combination with adjusting the airflow resistance in response to the detected condition.

25. The method according to claim 24 further comprising:

monitoring airflow conditions for detection of a fan failure malfunction condition and/or for detection of an unloaded condition of a fan.

26. The method according to claim 24 further comprising:

regulating the airflow resistance to a value sufficient to eliminate recirculation and less than infinity to enable some air to be driven through a failed fan in a multiple-fan configuration by functional fans drawing air in an airflow pathway that is otherwise driven by the failed fan.