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Title: Methods and apparatus for cooling electronics

Abstract

Methods and apparatus are provided for choosing an energy-efficient coolant temperature for electronics by considering the temperature dependence of the electronics' power dissipation. This dependence is explicitly considered in selecting the coolant temperature T.sub.0 that is sent to the equipment. To minimize power consumption P.sub.Total for the entire system, where P.sub.Total=P.sub.0+P.sub.Cool is the sum of the electronic equipment's power consumption P.sub.0 plus the cooling equipment's power consumption P.sub.Cool, P.sub.Total is obtained experimentally, by measuring P.sub.0 and P.sub.Cool, as a function of three parameters: coolant temperature T.sub.0; weather-related temperature T.sub.3 that affects the performance of free-cooling equipment; and computational state C of the electronic equipment, which affects the temperature dependence of its power consumption. This experiment provides, for each possible combination of T.sub.3 and C, the value T.sub.0* of T.sub.0 that minimizes P.sub.Total. During operation, for any combination of T.sub.3 and C that occurs, the corresponding optimal coolant temperature T.sub.0* is selected, and the cooling equipment is commanded to produce it.

Inventors:
;
Issue Date:
Research Org.:
International Business Machines Corp., Armonk, NY (United States)
Sponsoring Org.:
USDOE
OSTI Identifier:
1164703
Patent Number(s):
8899060
Application Number:
13/173,082
Assignee:
International Business Machines Corporation (Armonk, NY)
Patent Classifications (CPCs):
F - MECHANICAL ENGINEERING F25 - REFRIGERATION OR COOLING F25B - REFRIGERATION MACHINES, PLANTS OR SYSTEMS
F - MECHANICAL ENGINEERING F25 - REFRIGERATION OR COOLING F25D - REFRIGERATORS
DOE Contract Number:  
B554331
Resource Type:
Patent
Resource Relation:
Patent File Date: 2011 Jun 30
Country of Publication:
United States
Language:
English
Subject:
32 ENERGY CONSERVATION, CONSUMPTION, AND UTILIZATION; 97 MATHEMATICS AND COMPUTING

Citation Formats

Hall, Shawn Anthony, and Kopcsay, Gerard Vincent. Methods and apparatus for cooling electronics. United States: N. p., 2014. Web.
Hall, Shawn Anthony, & Kopcsay, Gerard Vincent. Methods and apparatus for cooling electronics. United States.
Hall, Shawn Anthony, and Kopcsay, Gerard Vincent. Tue . "Methods and apparatus for cooling electronics". United States. https://www.osti.gov/servlets/purl/1164703.
@article{osti_1164703,
title = {Methods and apparatus for cooling electronics},
author = {Hall, Shawn Anthony and Kopcsay, Gerard Vincent},
abstractNote = {Methods and apparatus are provided for choosing an energy-efficient coolant temperature for electronics by considering the temperature dependence of the electronics' power dissipation. This dependence is explicitly considered in selecting the coolant temperature T.sub.0 that is sent to the equipment. To minimize power consumption P.sub.Total for the entire system, where P.sub.Total=P.sub.0+P.sub.Cool is the sum of the electronic equipment's power consumption P.sub.0 plus the cooling equipment's power consumption P.sub.Cool, P.sub.Total is obtained experimentally, by measuring P.sub.0 and P.sub.Cool, as a function of three parameters: coolant temperature T.sub.0; weather-related temperature T.sub.3 that affects the performance of free-cooling equipment; and computational state C of the electronic equipment, which affects the temperature dependence of its power consumption. This experiment provides, for each possible combination of T.sub.3 and C, the value T.sub.0* of T.sub.0 that minimizes P.sub.Total. During operation, for any combination of T.sub.3 and C that occurs, the corresponding optimal coolant temperature T.sub.0* is selected, and the cooling equipment is commanded to produce it.},
doi = {},
journal = {},
number = ,
volume = ,
place = {United States},
year = {2014},
month = {12}
}

Works referenced in this record:

Data Center Cooling
patent-application, May 2011


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