Abstract: A method for cooling a heat-generating device, comprising setting a reference surface temperature of the heat-generating device, measuring a temperature of a surface of the heat-generating device, measuring a temperature gradient based on temperature measurements of two or more different locations on the heat-generating device, implementing a closed-loop control based on the reference surface temperature, the measured surface temperature, and the measured temperature gradient of the heat-generating device to compute a rate of application of a cooling material to the surface of the heat-generating device, and providing a command to apply the cooling material to the surface of the heat-generating device at the calculated rate to cool the heat-generating device.

Abstract: A method for controlling one or more computer room air conditioning (CRAC) units configured to receive return air for energy efficient operation. In the method, the temperature of the air returned (Trat) into the one or more CRAC units is detected. It is determined whether the Trat is within a predetermined setpoint temperature range and at least one operation of the one or more CRAC units is reduced in response to the Trat being within the predetermined setpoint temperature range to thereby increase the efficiencies of the one or more CRAC units.

Abstract: A computer-implemented data center manager includes an evaluation engine configured to receive information pertaining to an operating policy, a system manager configured to collect information pertaining to system devices and to communicate the collected system device information to the evaluation engine, and a facility manager configured to collect information pertaining to facility devices and to communicate the collected facility device information to the evaluation engine. The evaluation engine is configured to determine target policies for coordinated operations of the system devices and the facility devices to satisfy the operating policy.

Abstract: In a method of controlling vent tiles, the vent tiles are initially correlated with at least one rack. A vent tile family (VTF) of the at least one rack is determined, where the VTF includes vent tiles that have at least a predefined level of influence over the at least one rack as determined by the correlation between the vent tiles and the at least one rack. In addition, a vent control family (VCF) from the vent tiles in the VTF is identified, where the VCF includes vent tiles having an associated at least one rack whose inlet condition is outside of a predefined threshold. Moreover, the vent tiles in the VCF are controlled on a weighted basis determined by the correlation between the vent tiles and the at least one rack.

Abstract: A system for cooling an electronic device having a heat-generating component includes a passive cooling device having a cooling ability designed to expire after a predetermined amount of heat is absorbed from the heat-generating component and an active cooling device configured to at least one of dissipate heat generated by the heat-generating component and cool the passive cooling device, when the active cooling device is activated. The system also includes a controller configured to activate the active cooling device after a determination that a predetermined threshold condition has occurred, wherein the predetermined threshold condition is selected to occur after the passive cooling device cooling ability has substantially expired, to thereby substantially minimize power consumption of the active cooling device in cooling the heat-generating component.

Abstract: A refrigeration system for controlling airflow around an air-cooled heat generating device having a plurality of components includes a refrigerant line split into second refrigerant lines, which are arranged in a parallel configuration with respect to each other. Evaporators are positioned along the second refrigerant lines and in the path of airflow supplied into the components or airflow exhausted from the components. The refrigeration system further includes a variable speed compressor and a controller for controlling the speed of the variable speed compressor. Furthermore, the refrigeration system includes a temperature sensor configured to transmit signals related to a detected temperature to the controller, and the controller is configured to vary the speed of the variable speed compressor based upon the detected temperature.

Abstract: A system for cooling an electronic device having a heat-generating component includes a passive cooling device having a cooling ability designed to expire after a predetermined amount of heat is absorbed from the heat-generating component and an active cooling device configured to at least one of dissipate heat generated by the heat-generating component and cool the passive cooling device, when the active cooling device is activated. The system also includes a controller configured to activate the active cooling device after a determination that a predetermined threshold condition has occurred, wherein the predetermined threshold condition is selected to occur after the passive cooling device cooling ability has substantially expired, to thereby substantially minimize power consumption of the active cooling device in cooling the heat-generating component.

Abstract: A refrigeration system for controlling airflow around an air-cooled heat generating device having a plurality of components includes a refrigerant line split into second refrigerant lines, which are arranged in a parallel configuration with respect to each other. Evaporators are positioned along the second refrigerant lines and in the path of airflow supplied into the components or airflow exhausted from the components. The refrigeration system further includes a variable speed compressor and a controller for controlling the speed of the variable speed compressor. Furthermore, the refrigeration system includes a temperature sensor configured to transmit signals related to a detected temperature to the controller, and the controller is configured to vary the speed of the variable speed compressor based upon the detected temperature.

Abstract: In a method for operating a fluid moving device, the fluid moving device is operated under one of a local mode where the fluid moving device operates autonomously and a global mode where the fluid moving device operates based upon instructions received from a global controller, and where the fluid moving device is operated under the local mode as a fail-safe operation to the global mode.

Abstract: A refrigeration system for controlling airflow around an air-cooled heat generating device includes a variable speed compressor. The refrigeration system also includes evaporators positioned along a refrigerant line in a serial configuration with respect to each other and are positioned directly in at least one of the path of airflow supplied into the heat generating components and the path of airflow exhausted from the heat generated components. The refrigeration system further includes a controller and at least one temperature sensor. The temperature sensor is configured to transmit signals related to the detected temperature to the controller, and the controller is configured to vary the speed of the variable speed compressor based upon the signals received from the temperature sensor.

Abstract: In a method for correlating airflow delivery devices with air conditioning (AC) units having actuators for varying flow rates of air supplied by the air movers, flow rates of air supplied through the airflow delivery devices at a plurality of settings of the actuators are determined. Coefficients that relate the flow rates of air supplied by the air movers to the flow rates of air supplied through the airflow delivery devices based upon the flow rates determined at the plurality of actuator settings is calculated and the airflow delivery devices are correlated with the air movers using the calculated coefficients.

Abstract: A method for controlling cooling provisioning for heat generating devices includes correlating the heat generating devices with primary actuators, such that the heat generating devices are associated with primary actuators having at least a predefined level of influence over the respective heat generating devices. The flow rates of air supplied by the primary actuators are set based upon volume flow rate requirements of the heat generating devices, such that the volume flow rate setting for a primary actuator is based upon the volume flow rate requirement for the heat generating devices associated with the primary actuator. In addition, the temperatures of the airflow supplied by the primary actuators are varied to substantially maintain associated heat generating devices within predetermined temperature ranges.

Abstract: In a method for controlling temperature using a sensor network, the sensors of the sensor network are commissioned and one of a plurality of control schemes for operating a primary actuator configured to vary temperatures of the sensors based upon energy utilization requirements of the plurality of control schemes is selected. In addition, the selected one of the plurality of control schemes is implemented to vary the temperatures detected by the sensors.

Abstract: A method of cooling components across a continuum having a plurality of levels includes receiving and evaluating detected data related to the components across the continuum. A control scheme is developed based upon the evaluated data, where the control scheme is configured to manipulate one or more actuators across a plurality of levels. In addition, one or more of the actuators across the plurality of levels are manipulated in accordance with the developed control scheme.

Abstract: A method for controlling one or more computer room air conditioning (CRAC) units for energy efficient operation, in which, the temperature of the air returned (Trat) into the one or more CRAC units and the temperature of the air supplied (Tsat) by the one or more CRAC units is detected. The caloric heat transfer level (Q) is calculated based upon the Trat and the Tsat and it is determined whether the Q is within a predetermined setpoint caloric heat transfer range. In addition, at least one operation of the one or more CRAC units is reduced in response to the Q being within the predetermined setpoint caloric heat transfer range to thereby increase the efficiencies of the one or more CRAC units.

Abstract: A system for reducing effects of adverse air re-circulation in a room containing at least one heat generating component includes an air conditioning unit configured to cool airflow in the room and at least one cooling vent tile operable to deliver the cooled airflow to the at least one heat generating component. The system also includes at least one secondary vent tile positioned and operated to one of, introduce airflow into a re-circulating airflow and remove airflow from a re-circulating airflow, to thereby respectively divert or vary the temperature of the re-circulating airflow and thereby reduce the effects of air re-circulation in the room.

Abstract: In a method for predicting an airflow rate of at least one air delivery device, a plurality of airflow rates through the at least one air delivery device at a plurality of airflow rates of at least one air moving device are received. A conditional probabilistic model is generated with the air moving device flow rates as inputs and the airflow rates through the at least one air delivery device as outputs. Moreover, the airflow rate of the at least one air delivery device is predicted from the conditional probabilistic model.

Abstract: A drive for data storage includes a first component and a second component movable with respect to the first component. The drive also includes a first sensor and a second sensor. The first sensor is in connection with the first component and is configured to detect movement of the first component. The second sensor is in connection with the second component and is configured to detect movement of the second component.

Abstract: A method for cooling a heat-generating device, comprising setting a reference surface temperature of the heat-generating device, measuring a temperature of a surface of the heat-generating device, measuring a temperature gradient based on temperature measurements of two or more different locations on the heat-generating device, implementing a closed-loop control based on the reference surface temperature, the measured surface temperature, and the measured temperature gradient of the heat-generating device to compute a rate of application of a cooling material to the surface of the heat-generating device, and providing a command to apply the cooling material to the surface of the heat-generating device at the calculated rate to cool the heat-generating device.

Abstract: A method for controlling one or more computer room air conditioning (CRAC) units for energy efficient operation, in which, the temperature of the air returned (Trat) into the one or more CRAC units and the temperature of the air supplied (Tsat) by the one or more CRAC units is detected. The caloric heat transfer level (Q) is calculated based upon the Trat and the Tsat and it is determined whether the Q is within a predetermined setpoint caloric heat transfer range. In addition, at least one operation of the one or more CRAC units is reduced in response to the Q being within the predetermined setpoint caloric heat transfer range to thereby increase the efficiencies of the one or more CRAC units.