Abstract: In a method of generating governing metrics, a high-level goal to be met in a provisioned system is identified. In addition, a low-level governing policy designed to facilitate achievement of the high-level goal is selected and properties relating to the selected low-level governing policy are identified. The identified properties are formulated to define governing metrics relevant to the selected low-level governing policy and the formulated governing metrics are outputted. The formulated governing metrics are configured to be used in at least one of evaluating and controlling resource provisioning in the provisioned system.

Abstract: A data center is designed by determining a compute description that describes computer resources to be used in the system from design requirements and models of the computer resources. A facility description that describes facilities to be used in the data center is determined from the compute description and models of the facilities. An integrated system describing the design of the data center is determined from the facility and compute descriptions.

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 and method to model and design a layout of an Internet Datacenter (IDC) for cooling. The IDC is defined as a collection of cells, the cells of the IDC are pre-characterized, an arrangement of the cells within the IDC is determined, and a profile for one or more parameters of interest for each cell are determined.

Abstract: A device for reducing temperature variation in a plenum includes at least one pipe and a plurality of sumps containing a fluid operable to vary between a liquid state and a gaseous state depending upon a temperature of the fluid. The plurality of sumps are positioned at various locations within the plenum and the at least one pipe is in fluid communication with the plurality of sumps. In addition, the fluid, in the gaseous state, is caused to move through the at least one pipe and condense, thereby reducing the temperature at the location of the sump where the fluid was vaporized and thereby reducing temperature variation in the plenum.

Abstract: A ventilation system includes a ventilation tile. The ventilation tile has a substantially circular opening to allow air to flow through the ventilation tile and a collapsible damper operable to collapse and expand to alter the size of the substantially circular opening in the ventilation tile and thereby variably restrict air flow through the substantially circular opening.

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 device for sensing at least one environmental condition in a data center. The device includes a chassis, a propelling mechanism, a power supply, a steering mechanism, and a controller supported on the chassis. The chassis also supports at least one environmental condition sensor and is operable to travel through the data center and sense at least one environmental condition at various locations throughout the data center.

Abstract: A projection system has at least one heat source. A closed-loop heat pipe has at least one heat receiving portion thermally coupled with the at least one heat source, and at least one heat rejecting portion thermally coupled with a heat sink. A heat carrying fluid circulating through the heat pipe receives heat from the at least one heat source and releases heat to the heat sink.

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 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 for commissioning sensors includes determining correlation data between the sensors and a plurality of actuators. The correlation data is based upon conditions detected by the sensors at a plurality of actuator settings. Correlation indexes are calculated from the correlation data, where a correlation index for a sensor is a function of the plurality of actuator settings and a particular actuator. In addition, each of the sensors is assigned to at least one of a plurality of actuator families based upon the calculated correlation indexes of the sensors to thereby commission the sensors.

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: 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: A cooling system including a thermosyphon subsystem and a spray cooling subsystem, each being configured to evaporatively cool a component, and a controller configured to selectively operate the spray cooling subsystem based on the cooling requirements of the component. The controller controls a valve limiting the operation of the thermosyphon when the spray cooling system is active. The component is configured to run in a plurality of performance states including a low power state and a high power state. The spray cooling system operates when the component is in the high power state. The controller can order the component to operate in a lower power state if the cooling systems are inadequate to the cooling needs. The cooling needs are determined with a component temperature sensor, a vapor temperature sensor, a vapor pressure sensor, or a power usage sensor.

Abstract: A component cooling system including a sprayer configured to eject a stream of cooling fluid and a stream deflector to control deflection of the stream. The sprayer may be continuous or incremental. Excess spray may be deflected into a gutter configured to obstruct cooling fluid from striking the component. The stream deflector may operate using a contact surface, controllable orifice heaters, and/or electrodes is configured to deflect the stream in one or more degrees of freedom. Multiple sprayers may have overlapping spray patterns for redundancy.

Abstract: A method of operating a multi-effect cooling system uses heat generated from an engine having an exhaust system and cooling system. The multi-effect cooling system includes, a primary desorber and a secondary desorber. The primary desorber is heated using heat from the exhaust system. The secondary desorber is heated using heat from the cooling system.

Abstract: In a method of operating an air conditioning unit to reduce moisture varying operations, psychrometric chart data is accessed. In addition, a constraint is set on the relationship between the temperature of air supplied by the air conditioning unit and the relative humidity of the air supplied based upon information contained in the psychrometric chart data. The air conditioning unit is controlled based upon the constraint to thereby reduce moisture varying operations of the air conditioning unit.

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.