Abstract: A method of workload placement among servers includes receipt of a workload request. The method also includes selection of a group of servers from a set of servers capable of performing the requested workload. In addition, server workload indexes, which are ratios of temperature rises due to re-circulation load for the servers in the group of servers to temperature rises due to re-circulation load for the set of servers, of the servers in the group of servers are calculated. Moreover, the workload is placed on one or more of the servers in the group of servers based upon the server workload indexes of the servers in the group of servers.

Abstract: In a method of workload placement based upon capacity utilizations of a plurality of CRAC units, the provisioning of the plurality of CRAC units is determined and the zone of influence for each of the plurality of CRAC units is also determined based upon the provisioning of the plurality of CRAC units. It is determined whether a CRAC unit of the plurality of CRAC units is at least one of near failure or has failed. In addition, the workload is shifted from a zone of influence of at least one CRAC unit to a zone of influence of another of the plurality of CRAC units in response to a determination that a CRAC unit is at least one of near failure or has failed.

Abstract: An enclosure forms a plurality of tiers vertically stacked in a longitudinal dimension. Each tier is a 1U modular computer system having a computer chassis configured for mounting in the multi-tiered support, and computer components that need cooling within the computer chassis. A cooling system is formed by a plenum pressurized by a blower. The plenum defines a plurality of configurable orifices in the chassis, each directing pressurized air toward a component. The plenum includes adjustable valves to controllably limit airflow through the orifices, and a controller to control the air pressure within the plenum and the orifice flow rates through the valves.

Abstract: Tracking electronic devices that are equipped with tracking tags and that are stored in designated locations. The position of a reading device is monitored as it traverses the designated locations of the electronic devices and is activated to interrogate the tracking tags of the electronic devices. Identification data from the tracking tags is collected to enable determining the presence and location of the electronic devices, based on the monitored position of the reading devices.

Abstract: In a method for correlating vent tiles with racks, the vent tiles are opened to a first setting and the mass flow rates of air received by the racks and supplied through the vent tiles are determined. In addition, one of the vent tiles is closed to obtain a second setting and the mass flow rates of air received by the racks and supplied through the vent tiles are determined at the second setting. The vent tiles and the racks are correlated based upon the determined mass flow rates of air received by the racks and the mass flow rates of air supplied through the vent tiles at the first and second settings.

Abstract: A system for controlling airflow around an air-cooled heat generating device includes a cooling fluid line and heat exchangers positioned along the cooling fluid line to cool airflow around components in the heat generating device. The heat exchangers are positioned adjacent to the heat generating device such that the heat exchangers are directly in the path of at least one of airflow supplied into the components and airflow exhausted from the components. The system also includes valves positioned along the cooling fluid line to control cooling fluid flow through respective heat exchangers. The system further includes a secondary heat exchanger configured to absorb heat from the cooling fluid and a controller configured to control the valves to thereby control the cooling fluid flow through the heat exchangers.

Abstract: A method for data connectivity in a room with a robotic device. In the method, at least one condition is detected with a plurality of sensors and the detected at least one condition is communicated from the sensors to associated access points. One or more of the access points are selected and the robotic device is maneuvered to a location in a vicinity of one or more of the selected access points. The detected at least one condition is communicated from one or more of the selected access points to the robotic device. In addition, the robotic device is maneuvered to a location in a vicinity of a base station and the detected at least one condition is communicated from the robotic device to the base station.

Abstract: A cooling system for cooling computer systems detects heat dissipated by the computer systems. If the heat dissipated by the computer systems exceeds a threshold, at least one component of the computer systems is placed in a lower-power state to reduce heat dissipation.

Abstract: The present invention provides a ventilated casing for an electronic device. The ventilated casing includes a housing which has a ventilation inlet and a ventilation outlet. The ventilated casing also includes a high speed fan for moving air from the ventilation inlet to the ventilation outlet to dissipate heat that in use is generated by electronic components positioned in the housing. The fan has a blade, a motor and an air guiding portion positioned near the blade. The ventilated casing further includes a suspension for suspending the fan relative to the housing and for damping transmission of vibration originating from the fan.

Abstract: A cooling system including a housing forming a cooling chamber containing the component submerged in a pool of alcohol, oil or glycerine, a sprayer configured to spray water at the component through the oil or glycerine, and a heat exchanger configured to cool the oil or glycerine. A control system receives heat-generation information from temperature sensors on water-impingement regions of the component, and controls the spraying in response to this information. A pump pumps the oil or glycerine from a lower portion of the cooling chamber to the heat exchanger. A sprayer inlet draws water from an upper portion of the cooling chamber, or from a lower portion of a reservoir connected to the heat exchanger. Oil or glycerine is passed from a portion of the heat exchanger reservoir back to the cooling chamber, and water passes from an upper portion of the reservoir to the sprayer. Alternatively, the oil or glycerine could be replaced with helium.

Abstract: The present invention provides a ventilated casing for an electronic device. The ventilated casing includes a housing which has a ventilation inlet and a ventilation outlet. The ventilated casing also includes a high speed fan for moving air from the ventilation inlet to the ventilation outlet to dissipate heat that in use is generated by electronic components positioned in the housing. The fan has a blade, a motor and an air guiding portion positioned near the blade. The ventilated casing further includes a damping material for damping a noise originating from a vibration generated by the fan.

Abstract: A system for detecting at least one environmental condition in a room. The system includes one or more detecting devices having a sensor configured to detect the at least one environmental condition and to display the detected at least one environmental condition. The system also includes one or more reader devices configured to image the one or more detecting devices and a controller configured to communicate with the one or more reader devices. The controller is operable to control the one or more reader devices and to receive the images from the one or more reader devices. In addition, the controller is configured to determine the at least one environmental condition based upon the images of the one or more detecting devices. The system further includes a memory accessible by the controller, and the controller is configured to store the at least one environmental condition in the memory.

Abstract: At least one computer system receives power from a power system having a maximum power output based on a nominal power consumption of the at least one computer system. The power system is operable to detect an amount of power consumed by the at least one computer system, and compare the power consumption to a threshold based on the maximum power output of the power supply. The power system is operable to place one or more components of the at least one computer system in a lower-power state to reduce power consumption in response to the amount of power consumed by the at least one computer system exceeding the threshold.

Abstract: A primary power supply and a secondary power supply are operable to supply power to at least one electrical device. A power demand of the electrical device is determined, and an efficient operating point for the primary power supply is determined. One or more of the primary power supply and the secondary power supply are used to supply power to the electrical device based on whether the primary power supply operating at an efficient operating point is operable to meet the power demand of the at least one electrical device.

Abstract: A cooling system for an electronic system having at least one heat-generating component includes at least one fan and an operation level setting mechanism. The at least one fan is configured to blow air through the electronic system to thereby dissipate heat generated by the heat-generating component. The operation level setting mechanism is configured to set maximum operation level of the at least one fan, wherein the maximum operation level is based on one or more characteristics of the at least one heat-generating component.

Abstract: In a method for correlating vent tiles with racks based upon vent tile settings and rack inlet temperatures, the vent tiles are set to a first setting, the first vent tile settings are recorded and the temperatures at the inlets of the racks are detected at the first vent tile settings. One of the vent tiles is closed to obtain a second setting, the second vent tile settings are recorded and the temperatures at the inlets of the racks are detected at the second vent tile settings. In addition, the vent tiles and the racks are correlated based upon the settings of the vent tiles and the temperatures detected at the first vent tile settings and the second vent tile settings.

Abstract: An adaptable semiconductor chip cooling system having a readily openable enclosure defining a chamber configured to hold a printed circuit board carrying components to be cooled. Within the enclosure is a sprayer delivery system with a height-controllable sprayer for spraying hot components. The sprayer delivery system has an actuator configured to move the sprayer among positions for spraying different components. The actuator can be of the types used for ink-jet printers or X-Y plotters. Alternatively, the actuator can be a continuous ribbon loop, or a series of radially extending rails. The actuator and sprayer are controlled by a controller, which also controls a configuration system that configures the sprayer delivery system for use with different boards. The controller uses sensors that sense the temperature of the hot components.

Abstract: In a method for thermally managing a room with at least one air moving device having a temperature actuator and an airflow rate actuator, a temperature of airflow at a first location in the room is received and compared with a first predetermined temperature range and a second predetermined temperature range. In the method, one of the temperature actuator and the airflow rate actuator is varied when the received temperature of the airflow is outside of the first predetermined temperature range and the other of the temperature actuator and the airflow rate actuator is varied when the received temperature of the airflow is within the first predetermined temperature range and outside of the second predetermined temperature range.

Abstract: A system for workload placement among data centers includes a plurality of grid resource allocation managers (GRAMs), wherein the GRAMs are configured to obtain information from the data centers. The system also includes an information service configured to receive information from the plurality of GRAMs and a broker configured to receive an application request and to determine resource requirements from the application request, wherein the broker is configured to determine which of the data centers contains adequate resources to perform the requested application. The system further includes a co-allocator configured to receive information pertaining to the data centers having the adequate resources, wherein the co-allocator is further configured to select one of the data centers to perform the requested application based upon energy efficiency characteristics of the data centers.

Abstract: A method for agent-based operation of a robotic device. In the method, at least one condition is detected in various locations of a room with a plurality of sensors. In a plurality of agents associated with respective areas of the room, the plurality of agents being configured to control at least one condition in the respective associated areas, sensed data is received from at least one of the plurality of sensors. In addition, it is determined whether the received sensed data are outside of respective predetermined ranges, and information related to the sensed data in response to the sensed data being outside of the predetermined ranges is transmitted to the robotic device. In the robotic device, the information received from one or more of the plurality of agents is processed to determine whether components of a cooling system are to be manipulated to vary a characteristic of cooling fluid supplied to the various locations of the room.