Cooling servers in a data center using fans external to servers
First Claim
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1. A data center system comprising:
- a partition arranged between a cold aisle on a first side of the partition and a hot aisle on a second side of the partition;
a plurality of servers arranged in the partition so that each server has an input opening positioned on the first side of the partition in communication with the cold aisle and an output opening on the second side of the partition in communication with the hot aisle, wherein the partition is arranged so that an airflow path of least resistance from the cold aisle to the hot aisle is through the servers, wherein one or more of the plurality of servers further includes a fan internal to the server and an internal fan control system, the internal fan configured to remain off until the internal fan control system identifies an air pressure difference between the input opening and the output opening exceeding a threshold difference;
an air supply unit, located external to the plurality of servers, configured to pressurize the cold aisle relative to the hot aisle, so that air flows from the cold aisle to the hot aisle through the servers.
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Accused Products
Abstract
To avoid the need to operate in-chassis fans to cool rack-mounted servers in a data center, the data center is arranged into a hot aisle and a cold aisle. The cold aisle is adjacent to a first side of the rack mounted servers and receives cold air from a cold air supply unit. The hot aisle is adjacent to a second side of the rack-mounted servers and has a lower pressure than the cold aisle. Because of the pressure difference between the cold aisle and the hot aisle, cold air flows through the rack-mounted servers, cooling electronic equipment therein, into the hot aisle. Control systems are used to obtain sufficient cooling.
56 Citations
27 Claims
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1. A data center system comprising:
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a partition arranged between a cold aisle on a first side of the partition and a hot aisle on a second side of the partition; a plurality of servers arranged in the partition so that each server has an input opening positioned on the first side of the partition in communication with the cold aisle and an output opening on the second side of the partition in communication with the hot aisle, wherein the partition is arranged so that an airflow path of least resistance from the cold aisle to the hot aisle is through the servers, wherein one or more of the plurality of servers further includes a fan internal to the server and an internal fan control system, the internal fan configured to remain off until the internal fan control system identifies an air pressure difference between the input opening and the output opening exceeding a threshold difference; an air supply unit, located external to the plurality of servers, configured to pressurize the cold aisle relative to the hot aisle, so that air flows from the cold aisle to the hot aisle through the servers. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14)
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15. A data center system comprising:
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a partition arranged between a cold aisle on a first side of the partition and a hot aisle on a second side of the partition; a plurality of servers arranged in the partition, each server comprising; one or more input openings on the first side of the partition in communication with the cold aisle; one or more output openings on the second side of the partition in communication with the hot aisle; an internal fan coupled to a fan control system, the internal fan remaining off until the fan control system identifies an air pressure difference between the one or more input openings and the one or more output openings exceeding a threshold difference; and an air supply unit located external to the plurality of servers configured to pressurize the cold aisle relative to the hot aisle so that air flows from the cold aisle to the hot aisle through the servers. - View Dependent Claims (16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22)
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23. A method comprising:
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operating a plurality of servers, the servers arranged in a partition so that each server has an input opening positioned on a first side of the partition in communication with a cold aisle and an output opening on a second side of the partition in communication with a hot aisle; isolating the cold aisle and the hot aisle using the partition, so that an airflow path of least resistance from the cold aisle to the hot aisle is through the servers; pressurizing the cold aisle relative to the hot aisle using a supply of air external to the servers, so that air flows from the cold aisle to the hot aisle through the servers; monitoring an air pressure difference between the input opening and the output opening of one or more of the plurality of servers; and responsive to the air pressure difference between the input opening and the output opening falling below a threshold difference, deactivating the internal fan included in the server. - View Dependent Claims (24, 25, 26, 27)
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Specification