Single rack cold air containment

1. A system for cooling rack mounted equipment, the system comprising:

a rack configured to house rack mounted equipment, the rack providing a front port bordered by a top and two sides; and

a cold-air pipe separable from and attached to the rack about the top and two sides, the cold-air pipe being configured to be in fluid communication with a region adjacent to the cold-air pipe to receive air from the region, the cold-air pipe comprising:

a front member;

a plurality of side members coupled to the front member;

an end member coupled to the plurality of side members and the front member and disposed entirely within the cold-air pipe and at a lowest position of the cold-air pipe, wherein the end member includes louvers and is configured to selectively allow the passage of air through the end member from the region into the cold-air pipe; and

a connector configured to couple the plurality of side members to the rack;

wherein the cold-air pipe is attached to the rack to form a substantially airtight seal between the rack and the cold-air pipe.

2. The system of claim 1 wherein the louvers are movable to adjust the amount of airflow within the structure.

3. The system of claim 1 further comprising a top member, coupled to the plurality of side members and the front member, wherein the top member includes a panel configured to move in response to changes in pressure.

4. The system of claim 3 wherein the panel is configured to respond to a pressure inside the cold-air pipe exceeding a threshold by opening to allow air to pass through the top member.

5. The system of claim 1 wherein the plurality of side members are attached to the rack by hook and loop fasteners.

6. The system of claim 1 further comprising a temperature sensor and a controller communicatively coupled with the temperature sensor and the end member and configured to control the end member in accordance with a temperature indicated by the temperature sensor to regulate air flow through the end member.

7. The system of claim 1 wherein the plurality of side members each have a width about one half a width of the front member.

8. The system of claim 1 further comprising a cold air delivery mechanism configured to deliver cold air via the region to the cold-air pipe.

9. A duct for a rack having rack mounted equipment, the duct comprising:

a front member;

a plurality of side members, wherein the two or more side members are coupled to the front member to form therewith a cold pipe configured to be attached to the front of the rack and retain air between the side members, the front member and the front of the rack when attached to the rack;

an end member coupled to the plurality of side members and the front member and disposed entirely within the cold pipe and at a lowest position of the cold pipe, wherein the end member includes louvers and is configured to selectively allow the passage of air through the end member;

a connector configured to couple the plurality of side members to the rack; and

one or more actuators coupled to the end member and responsive to signals received from a controller, the signals causing the one or more actuators to adjust the louvers of the end member;

wherein the cold pipe is separable from and attachable to the rack about the top and plurality of side members to form a substantially airtight seal between the rack and the cold pipe; and

wherein the cold pipe is configured to be in fluid communication with a region adjacent to the rack and to receive air from the region.

10. The duct of claim 9 , wherein the end member is 30 centimeters in depth.

11. The duct of claim 9 , wherein the end member is 60 centimeters in width.

12. The duct of claim 9 , wherein the one or more actuators and controller comprise a single unit.

13. The duct of claim 9 , wherein the plurality of side members are attached to the rack by hook and loop fasteners.

14. The duct of claim 9 further comprising a top member, coupled to the plurality of side members and the front member, wherein the top member includes a panel configured to move in response to changes in pressure.

15. The duct of claim 14 , wherein the panel is configured to respond to a pressure inside the cold pipe exceeding a threshold by opening to allow air to pass through the top member.

16. The duct of claim 9 , further comprising each of one or more temperature sensors and one or more pressure sensors, wherein the sensors are communicatively coupled to the controller.

17. The duct of claim 16 , wherein the temperature and pressure indicated by the sensors determine the amount of adjustment by the one or more actuators.

18. A method for cooling rack mounted equipment, the method comprising:

attaching a duct, using a connector of the duct, onto a front of a rack configured to house the rack mounted equipment, the duct comprising:

a front member;

a plurality of side members coupled to the front member to form therewith a cold pipe configured to be removably attached to the front of the rack and retain air between the side members, the front member and the front of the rack when attached to the rack; and

an end member coupled to the plurality of side members and the front member and disposed entirely within the cold pipe at a lowest position of the cold pipe, wherein the end member includes louvers and is configured to selectively allow the passage of air through the end member;

supplying cold air into the cold pipe, wherein the air is supplied vertically across the front of the rack through the cold pipe;

substantially containing the cold air within an area between the front of the rack and the cold pipe;

measuring the temperature and the pressure within the contained area; and

adjusting airflow into the contained area of the rack dependent on the measured temperature and pressure within the contained area.