IP Library Granted Patent US 7,826,216
Granted Patent B2
US 7,826,216 · App. 12/326,992 · Granted Nov 2, 2010

Information handling center cooling system

Assignee: Dell Products L.P.
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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 7,826,216
App. No.
12/326,992
Filed
Dec 3, 2008
Granted
Nov 2, 2010
Kind
B2
Art Unit
2835
USPC
361/679.49
Abstract

An information handling center includes an information handling system (IHS) rack configured to receive cooled fluid from a pressurized plenum. The IHS rack includes at least one ventilator that is operable to cause cooled fluid to be drawn from the pressurized plenum into the IHS rack. A cooling fluid supply unit is coupled to the pressurized plenum and operable to cool a fluid passing through the cooling fluid supply unit and direct that cooled fluid into the pressurized plenum. A fluid flow control is located in the cooling fluid supply unit and coupled to a pressure sensor that is operable to determine a pressure in the pressurized plenum. The fluid flow control is operable to adjust the flow rate of the fluid passing through the cooling fluid supply unit based on the pressure determined by the pressure sensor. In response to the pressure sensor determining a pressure change in the pressurized plenum, the fluid flow control adjusts the flow rate of the fluid passing through the cooling fluid supply unit to adjust the pressure in the pressurized plenum.

Claims (38)

1. An information handling center, comprising:

an information handling system (IHS) rack configured to receive a cooled fluid from a pressurized plenum, wherein the IHS rack includes at least one ventilator that is operable to cause the cooled fluid to be drawn from the pressurized plenum into the IHS rack, and wherein the IHS rack includes at least one ventilator that is operable to direct a heated fluid that has been heated through the IHS rack such that the heated fluid is combined with the cooled fluid into a mixed fluid and the mixed fluid is directed into at least one rack unit housed in the IHS rack;

a cooling fluid supply unit coupled to the pressurized plenum and operable to cool a fluid passing through the cooling fluid supply unit and direct the cooled fluid into the pressurized plenum;

a fluid flow control located in the cooling fluid supply unit and coupled to a pressure sensor that is operable to determine a pressure in the pressurized plenum, wherein the fluid flow control is operable to adjust the flow rate of the fluid passing through the cooling fluid supply unit based on the pressure determined by the pressure sensor; and

wherein in response to the at least one ventilator directing the heated fluid such that the heated fluid combines with the cooled fluid into the mixed fluid, the pressure sensor detects a pressure increase in the pressurized plenum and the fluid flow control adjusts the flow rate of the fluid passing through the cooling fluid supply unit to reduce the pressure in the pressurized plenum.

2. The information handling center of claim 1 , further comprising:

a cooling element located in the cooling fluid supply unit and coupled to a temperature sensor that is operable to determine a temperature of the cooling fluid supplied to the pressurized plenum, wherein the cooling element is operable to adjust the temperature of the fluid passing through the cooling fluid supply unit based on the temperature determined by the temperature sensor.

3. The system of claim 2 , further comprising:

a cooling element located in the cooling fluid supply unit and coupled to a temperature sensor that is operable to determine a temperature of the cooling fluid supplied to the cooling fluid supply unit, wherein the cooling element is operable to adjust the temperature of the fluid passing through the cooling fluid supply unit based on the temperature determined by the temperature sensor.

4. The system of claim 1 , wherein the at least one ventilator is operable to direct the heated fluid into a connecting plenum defined by the IHS rack in order to mix the heated fluid with the cooled fluid, and wherein the mixing of the heated fluid and the cooled fluid reduces the amount of cooled fluid drawn from the pressurized plenum.

5. The system of claim 1 , wherein the IHS rack comprises at least one ventilator that is operable to direct an ambient fluid located outside of the IHS rack and the pressurized plenum into a connecting plenum defined by the IHS rack in order to mix the ambient fluid with the cooled fluid drawn from the pressurized plenum, and wherein the mixing of the ambient fluid and the cooled fluid reduces the amount of cooled fluid drawn from the pressurized plenum.

6. The system of claim 1 , wherein the IHS rack defines a connecting plenum and a front plenum that are in fluid communication with the pressurized plenum such that cooled fluid drawn from the pressurized plenum travels through the connecting plenum and the front plenum to at least one IHS located in the IHS rack.

7. The system of claim 1 , further comprising:

an additional cooling fluid supply unit coupled to the pressurized plenum and operable to cool a fluid passing through the additional cooling fluid supply unit and direct the cooled fluid into the pressurized plenum;

a fluid flow control located in the additional cooling fluid supply unit and coupled to a pressure sensor that is operable to determine a pressure in the pressurized plenum, wherein the fluid flow control is operable to adjust the flow rate of the fluid passing through the additional cooling fluid supply unit based on the pressure determined by the pressure sensor; and

wherein in response to the at least one ventilator directing the heated fluid such that the heated fluid combines with the cooled fluid into the mixed fluid, the pressure sensor detects a pressure increase in the pressurized plenum and the fluid flow control adjusts the flow rate of the fluid passing through the additional cooling fluid supply unit to reduce the pressure in the pressurized plenum.

8. The system of claim 1 , further comprising:

an additional IHS rack configured to receive the cooled fluid from the pressurized plenum, wherein the additional IHS rack includes at least one ventilator that is operable to cause the cooled fluid to be drawn from the pressurized plenum into the additional IHS rack, and wherein the additional IHS rack includes at least one ventilator that is operable to direct a heated fluid that has been heated through the additional IHS rack such that the heated fluid is combined with the cooled fluid into a mixed fluid and the mixed fluid is directed into at least one rack unit housed in the additional IHS rack; and

wherein in response to the at least one ventilator directing the heated fluid such that the heated fluid combines with the cooled fluid into the mixed fluid, the pressure sensor detects a pressure increase in the pressurized plenum and the fluid flow control adjusts the flow rate of the fluid passing through the cooling fluid supply unit to reduce the pressure in the pressurized plenum.

9. A method for cooling an information handling center, comprising:

providing a cooling fluid supply unit coupled to an information handling system (IHS) rack by a pressurized plenum;

pressurizing the pressurized plenum with a cooled fluid by cooling a fluid passing through the cooling fluid supply unit and directing the cooled fluid into the pressurized plenum using the cooling fluid supply unit;

drawing the cooled fluid from the pressurized plenum into the IHS rack;

directing a heated fluid that has been heated through the IHS rack such that the heated fluid is combined with the cooled fluid into a mixed fluid and the mixed fluid is directed into at least once rack unit housed in the IHS rack;

detecting a pressure increase in the pressurized plenum in response to directing the heated fluid such that the heated fluid is combined with the cooled fluid into a mixed fluid; and

adjusting a fluid flow rate of the fluid passing through the cooling fluid supply unit in response to detecting the pressure increase in order to reduce the pressure in the pressurized plenum.

10. The method of claim 9 , further comprising:

detecting a temperature of the fluid as the fluid is supplied to the cooling fluid supply unit; and

adjusting the temperature of the fluid as the fluid passes through the cooling fluid supply unit in response to the detected temperature.

11. The method of claim 9 , further comprising:

detecting a temperature of the cooled fluid as the cooled fluid is supplied to the pressurized plenum from the cooling fluid supply unit; and

adjusting the temperature of the fluid as the fluid passes through the cooling fluid supply unit in response to the detected temperature.

12. The method of claim 9 ,

wherein the mixing of the heated fluid and the cooled fluid into the mixed fluid reduces the amount of cooled fluid drawn from the pressurized plenum.

13. The method of claim 9 , further comprising:

mixing ambient fluid drawn from outside of the IHS rack and the pressurized plenum with the cooled fluid drawn from the pressurized plenum, wherein the mixing of the ambient fluid and the cooled fluid reduces the amount of cooled fluid drawn from the pressurized plenum.

14. The method of claim 9 , further comprising:

directing the cooled fluid drawn from the pressurized plenum with a connecting plenum and a front plenum such that substantially all of the cooled fluid drawn from pressurized plenum flows through the IHS rack.

Assignments (15)
RELEASE OF SECURITY INTEREST IN PATENTS PREVIOUSLY RECORDED AT REEL/FRAME (053546/0001) Recorded Jun 23, 2022
From: THE BANK OF NEW YORK MELLON TRUST COMPANY, N.A., AS NOTES COLLATERAL AGENT
To: DELL MARKETING L.P. (ON BEHALF OF ITSELF AND AS SUCCESSOR-IN-INTEREST TO CREDANT TECHNOLOGIES, INC.); DELL INTERNATIONAL L.L.C.; DELL PRODUCTS L.P.; DELL USA L.P.; EMC CORPORATION; DELL MARKETING CORPORATION (SUCCESSOR-IN-INTEREST TO FORCE10 NETWORKS, INC. AND WYSE TECHNOLOGY L.L.C.); EMC IP HOLDING COMPANY LLC
Reel/Frame 071642/0001 →
RELEASE OF SECURITY INTEREST IN PATENTS PREVIOUSLY RECORDED AT REEL/FRAME (045455/0001) Recorded May 20, 2022
From: THE BANK OF NEW YORK MELLON TRUST COMPANY, N.A., AS NOTES COLLATERAL AGENT
To: DELL MARKETING CORPORATION (SUCCESSOR-IN-INTEREST TO ASAP SOFTWARE EXPRESS, INC.); DELL MARKETING L.P. (ON BEHALF OF ITSELF AND AS SUCCESSOR-IN-INTEREST TO CREDANT TECHNOLOGIES, INC.); DELL USA L.P.; DELL INTERNATIONAL L.L.C.; DELL PRODUCTS L.P.; DELL MARKETING CORPORATION (SUCCESSOR-IN-INTEREST TO FORCE10 NETWORKS, INC. AND WYSE TECHNOLOGY L.L.C.); EMC CORPORATION (ON BEHALF OF ITSELF AND AS SUCCESSOR-IN-INTEREST TO MAGINATICS LLC); EMC IP HOLDING COMPANY LLC (ON BEHALF OF ITSELF AND AS SUCCESSOR-IN-INTEREST TO MOZY, INC.); SCALEIO LLC
Reel/Frame 061753/0001 →
RELEASE OF SECURITY INTEREST IN PATENTS PREVIOUSLY RECORDED AT REEL/FRAME (040136/0001) Recorded Apr 26, 2022
From: THE BANK OF NEW YORK MELLON TRUST COMPANY, N.A., AS NOTES COLLATERAL AGENT
To: DELL MARKETING CORPORATION (SUCCESSOR-IN-INTEREST TO ASAP SOFTWARE EXPRESS, INC.); DELL MARKETING L.P. (ON BEHALF OF ITSELF AND AS SUCCESSOR-IN-INTEREST TO CREDANT TECHNOLOGIES, INC.); DELL USA L.P.; DELL INTERNATIONAL L.L.C.; DELL PRODUCTS L.P.; DELL MARKETING CORPORATION (SUCCESSOR-IN-INTEREST TO FORCE10 NETWORKS, INC. AND WYSE TECHNOLOGY L.L.C.); EMC CORPORATION (ON BEHALF OF ITSELF AND AS SUCCESSOR-IN-INTEREST TO MAGINATICS LLC); EMC IP HOLDING COMPANY LLC (ON BEHALF OF ITSELF AND AS SUCCESSOR-IN-INTEREST TO MOZY, INC.); SCALEIO LLC
Reel/Frame 061324/0001 →
RELEASE OF SECURITY INTEREST Recorded Nov 3, 2021
From: CREDIT SUISSE AG, CAYMAN ISLANDS BRANCH
To: ASAP SOFTWARE EXPRESS, INC.; AVENTAIL LLC; CREDANT TECHNOLOGIES, INC.; DELL USA L.P.; DELL INTERNATIONAL, L.L.C.; DELL MARKETING L.P.; DELL PRODUCTS L.P.; DELL SOFTWARE INC.; DELL SYSTEMS CORPORATION; EMC CORPORATION; EMC IP HOLDING COMPANY LLC; FORCE10 NETWORKS, INC.; MAGINATICS LLC; MOZY, INC.; SCALEIO LLC; WYSE TECHNOLOGY L.L.C.
Reel/Frame 058216/0001 →
SECURITY AGREEMENT Recorded Apr 22, 2020
From: CREDANT TECHNOLOGIES INC.; DELL INTERNATIONAL L.L.C.; DELL MARKETING L.P.; DELL PRODUCTS L.P.; DELL USA L.P.; EMC CORPORATION; FORCE10 NETWORKS, INC.; WYSE TECHNOLOGY L.L.C.; EMC IP HOLDING COMPANY LLC
To: THE BANK OF NEW YORK MELLON TRUST COMPANY, N.A.
Reel/Frame 053546/0001 →
SECURITY AGREEMENT Recorded Mar 21, 2019
From: CREDANT TECHNOLOGIES, INC.; DELL INTERNATIONAL L.L.C.; DELL MARKETING L.P.; DELL PRODUCTS L.P.; DELL USA L.P.; EMC CORPORATION; FORCE10 NETWORKS, INC.; WYSE TECHNOLOGY L.L.C.; EMC IP HOLDING COMPANY LLC
To: THE BANK OF NEW YORK MELLON TRUST COMPANY, N.A.
Reel/Frame 049452/0223 →
SECURITY AGREEMENT Recorded Sep 21, 2016
From: ASAP SOFTWARE EXPRESS, INC.; AVENTAIL LLC; CREDANT TECHNOLOGIES, INC.; DELL USA L.P.; DELL INTERNATIONAL L.L.C.; DELL MARKETING L.P.; DELL PRODUCTS L.P.; DELL SOFTWARE INC.; DELL SYSTEMS CORPORATION; EMC CORPORATION; EMC IP HOLDING COMPANY LLC; FORCE10 NETWORKS, INC.; MAGINATICS LLC; MOZY, INC.; SCALEIO LLC; SPANNING CLOUD APPS LLC; WYSE TECHNOLOGY L.L.C.
To: CREDIT SUISSE AG, CAYMAN ISLANDS BRANCH, AS COLLATERAL AGENT
Reel/Frame 040134/0001 →
SECURITY AGREEMENT Recorded Sep 21, 2016
From: ASAP SOFTWARE EXPRESS, INC.; AVENTAIL LLC; CREDANT TECHNOLOGIES, INC.; DELL USA L.P.; DELL INTERNATIONAL L.L.C.; DELL MARKETING L.P.; DELL PRODUCTS L.P.; DELL SOFTWARE INC.; DELL SYSTEMS CORPORATION; EMC CORPORATION; EMC IP HOLDING COMPANY LLC; FORCE10 NETWORKS, INC.; MAGINATICS LLC; MOZY, INC.; SCALEIO LLC; SPANNING CLOUD APPS LLC; WYSE TECHNOLOGY L.L.C.
To: THE BANK OF NEW YORK MELLON TRUST COMPANY, N.A., AS NOTES COLLATERAL AGENT
Reel/Frame 040136/0001 →
RELEASE OF SECURITY INTEREST Recorded Sep 14, 2016
From: BANK OF AMERICA, N.A., AS COLLATERAL AGENT
To: DELL MARKETING L.P.; ASAP SOFTWARE EXPRESS, INC.; APPASSURE SOFTWARE, INC.; COMPELLENT TECHNOLOGIES, INC.; CREDANT TECHNOLOGIES, INC.; DELL INC.; DELL PRODUCTS L.P.; DELL USA L.P.; DELL SOFTWARE INC.; FORCE10 NETWORKS, INC.; PEROT SYSTEMS CORPORATION; SECUREWORKS, INC.; WYSE TECHNOLOGY L.L.C.
Reel/Frame 040040/0001 →
RELEASE OF SECURITY INTEREST Recorded Sep 14, 2016
From: BANK OF NEW YORK MELLON TRUST COMPANY, N.A., AS COLLATERAL AGENT
To: DELL MARKETING L.P.; ASAP SOFTWARE EXPRESS, INC.; APPASSURE SOFTWARE, INC.; COMPELLENT TECHNOLOGIES, INC.; CREDANT TECHNOLOGIES, INC.; DELL INC.; DELL PRODUCTS L.P.; DELL USA L.P.; DELL SOFTWARE INC.; FORCE10 NETWORKS, INC.; PEROT SYSTEMS CORPORATION; SECUREWORKS, INC.; WYSE TECHNOLOGY L.L.C.
Reel/Frame 040065/0618 →
RELEASE OF SECURITY INTEREST Recorded Sep 13, 2016
From: BANK OF AMERICA, N.A., AS ADMINISTRATIVE AGENT
To: DELL MARKETING L.P.; ASAP SOFTWARE EXPRESS, INC.; APPASSURE SOFTWARE, INC.; COMPELLANT TECHNOLOGIES, INC.; CREDANT TECHNOLOGIES, INC.; DELL INC.; DELL PRODUCTS L.P.; DELL USA L.P.; DELL SOFTWARE INC.; FORCE10 NETWORKS, INC.; PEROT SYSTEMS CORPORATION; SECUREWORKS, INC.; WYSE TECHNOLOGY L.L.C.
Reel/Frame 040065/0216 →
PATENT SECURITY AGREEMENT (ABL) Recorded Jan 2, 2014
From: DELL INC.; APPASSURE SOFTWARE, INC.; ASAP SOFTWARE EXPRESS, INC.; BOOMI, INC.; COMPELLENT TECHNOLOGIES, INC.; CREDANT TECHNOLOGIES, INC.; DELL MARKETING L.P.; DELL PRODUCTS L.P.; DELL SOFTWARE INC.; DELL USA L.P.; FORCE10 NETWORKS, INC.; GALE TECHNOLOGIES, INC.; PEROT SYSTEMS CORPORATION; SECUREWORKS, INC.; WYSE TECHNOLOGY L.L.C.
To: BANK OF AMERICA, N.A., AS ADMINISTRATIVE AGENT
Reel/Frame 031898/0001 →
PATENT SECURITY AGREEMENT (TERM LOAN) Recorded Jan 2, 2014
From: DELL INC.; APPASSURE SOFTWARE, INC.; ASAP SOFTWARE EXPRESS, INC.; BOOMI, INC.; COMPELLENT TECHNOLOGIES, INC.; CREDANT TECHNOLOGIES, INC.; DELL MARKETING L.P.; DELL PRODUCTS L.P.; DELL SOFTWARE INC.; DELL USA L.P.; FORCE10 NETWORKS, INC.; GALE TECHNOLOGIES, INC.; PEROT SYSTEMS CORPORATION; SECUREWORKS, INC.; WYSE TECHNOLOGY L.L.C.
To: BANK OF AMERICA, N.A., AS COLLATERAL AGENT
Reel/Frame 031899/0261 →
PATENT SECURITY AGREEMENT (NOTES) Recorded Jan 2, 2014
From: APPASSURE SOFTWARE, INC.; ASAP SOFTWARE EXPRESS, INC.; BOOMI, INC.; COMPELLENT TECHNOLOGIES, INC.; CREDANT TECHNOLOGIES, INC.; DELL INC.; DELL MARKETING L.P.; DELL PRODUCTS L.P.; DELL SOFTWARE INC.; DELL USA L.P.; FORCE10 NETWORKS, INC.; GALE TECHNOLOGIES, INC.; PEROT SYSTEMS CORPORATION; SECUREWORKS, INC.; WYSE TECHNOLOGY L.L.C.
To: BANK OF NEW YORK MELLON TRUST COMPANY, N.A., AS FIRST LIEN COLLATERAL AGENT
Reel/Frame 031897/0348 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Dec 3, 2008
From: MOSS, DAVID LYLE
To: DELL PRODUCTS L.P.
Reel/Frame 021919/0018 →
Continuity (2)
Continuation In Part 1224751300 · Oct 8, 2008
Related Publication 20100134972A1 · Jun 3, 2010