Computer Server Heat Regulation Utilizing Integrated Precision Air Flow
Disclosed is system, method, and rack stand portion for the advantageous cooling of computer equipment. The rack stand includes a hollow body that may be formed of cartridges. Gas from an airflow source is guided into the rack stand body and then into a sealed case of the computer equipment. Air flow is then guided out of the computer equipment for recirculation, exhaust, or other purpose.
1 . A processor-readable medium comprising instructions to cause a processor to:
receive a signal indicative of a measurement of a sensor;
select an action based on the measurement of the sensor; and
send, to a valve, a signal indicative of the action to cause the valve, in response to the signal, to be in a position to define an airflow through the valve,
the valve having a range of motion between an opened position and a closed position, the valve in the opened position defining an airflow inlet opening having a size and a shape substantially corresponding to a size and a shape, respectively, of an airflow inlet opening of a case of a server when the server is disposed with the sensor.
2 . The processor-readable medium of claim 1 , wherein:
the position is a second position,
the sensor is a temperature sensor,
the measurement is a temperature associated with an interior of the case of the server, and
the signal indicative of the action causes the valve to change from a first position to the second position based on the temperature associated with the interior of the case of the server.
3 . The processor-readable medium of claim 1 , wherein:
the position is a second position,
the sensor is a photodetector,
the signal indicative of the action causes the valve to change from a first position to the second position based on the photodetector not detecting light, indicating the server has been added, and
the first position corresponds to the closed position, the second position is not the closed position.
4 . The processor-readable medium of claim 1 , wherein the sensor is a temperature sensor, the measurement is a rate of temperature change associated with an interior of the case of the server, the processor-readable medium further comprising instructions to cause a processor to:
detect a possible fire event within an interior of the case of the server when the rate of temperature change exceeds a threshold; and
send an alarm signal in response to the possible fire event being detected.
5 . The processor-readable medium of claim 1 , wherein the sensor is a temperature sensor, the measurement is a rate of temperature change associated with an interior of the case of the server, the processor-readable medium further comprising instructions to cause a processor to:
detect a possible fire event within an interior of the case of the server when the rate of temperature change exceeds a threshold; and
send, in response to the possible fire event being detected, a control signal to cause a fire suppressant to be released into the interior of the case.
6 . The processor-readable medium of claim 1 , wherein:
the position is the closed position,
the sensor is a photodetector, and
the signal indicative of the action causes the valve to maintain the closed position based on the photodetector detecting light, indicating the server is not present.
7 . The processor-readable medium of claim 1 , wherein the sensor is a first sensor, the server is a first server, the valve is a first server, the action is a first action, the processor-readable medium further comprising instructions to cause the processor to:
receive a signal indicative of a measurement of a second sensor;
select a second action based on the measurement of the second sensor; and
send, to a second valve, a signal indicative of the second action to cause the second valve, in response to the signal indicative of the second action, to be in a position to define an airflow through the second valve,
the second valve having a range of motion between an opened position and a closed position, the second valve in its opened position defining an airflow inlet opening having a size and a shape substantially corresponding to a size and a shape, respectively, of an airflow inlet opening of a case of a second server when the second server is disposed with the second sensor.
8 . The processor-readable medium of claim 7 , wherein the first server, the second server and the processor-readable medium are located with a common rack.
9 . The processor-readable medium of claim 7 , wherein:
the first server is located with a first rack,
the second server is located with a second rack, and
the processor-readable medium is located at neither the first rack or the second rack.
10 . The processor-readable medium of claim 1 , the processor-readable medium further comprising instructions to cause a processor to:
send, to a computer remote from the processor-readable medium, a signal indicating the measurement and the position of the valve; and
receive, from the computer remote from the processor-readable medium, a control signal associated with at least one of the processor-readable medium or the valve.
11 . A processor-readable medium comprising instructions to cause a processor to:
receive a plurality of signals from a plurality of temperature sensors, each temperature sensor from the plurality of temperature sensors being located with a unique server from a plurality of servers, each signal from the plurality of signals indicating a temperature of a unique server from the plurality of servers;
select an action based on the plurality of signals; and
send, to a valve from a plurality of valves, a signal indicative of the action to cause the valve, in response to the signal, to change from a first position to a second position to define an airflow through the valve,
each valve from the plurality of valves being positioned with a unique server from the plurality of servers, each valve from the plurality of valves having a range of motion between an opened position and a closed position, each valve from the plurality of valves in the opened position defining an airflow inlet opening having a size and a shape substantially corresponding to a size and a shape, respectively, of an airflow inlet opening of a case of the server uniquely associated with that valve and from the plurality of servers.
12 . The processor-readable medium of claim 11 , wherein the plurality of servers and the processor-readable medium are located with a common rack.
13 . The processor-readable medium of claim 11 , wherein:
a first subset of servers from the plurality of servers is located with a first rack,
a second subset of servers from the plurality of servers is mutually exclusive from the first subset of servers and located with a second rack, and
the processor-readable medium is located at neither the first rack or the second rack.
14 . The processor-readable medium of claim 11 , further comprising instructions to cause a processor to:
send, to a computer remote from the processor-readable medium, a signal indicating the temperature of each server from the plurality of servers and indicating a position of each valve from the plurality of valves; and
receive, from the computer remote from the processor-readable medium, a control signal associated with at least one of the processor-readable medium or a valve from the plurality of valves.
15 . A processor-readable medium comprising instructions to cause a processor to:
receive a plurality of signals from a plurality of photodetectors, each photodetector from the plurality of photodetectors being located with a unique server slot from a plurality of server slots within at least one rack, each signal from the plurality of signals indicating whether a light is detected at a photodetector from the plurality of photodetectors and uniquely associated with a server slot from the plurality of server slots;
select an action based on the plurality of signals; and
send, to a valve from a plurality of valves, a signal indicative of the action to cause the valve, in response to the signal, to be in a position to define an airflow through the valve,
each valve from the plurality of valves being positioned with a unique server slot from the plurality of server slots, each valve from the plurality of valves having a range of motion between an opened position and a closed position, each valve from the plurality of valves in the opened position defining an airflow inlet opening having a size and a shape substantially corresponding to a size and a shape, respectively, of an airflow inlet opening of a case of the server uniquely associated with that valve and from the plurality servers when that server is disposed in the server slot from the plurality of server slots and for that server.
16 . The processor-readable medium of claim 15 , wherein:
each light source from a plurality of light sources is located with a unique server slot from the plurality of server slots, and
each photodetector from the plurality of photodetectors detects a light output from the light source from the plurality of light sources and is uniquely associated with the server slot for that photodetector, when a server from the plurality of servers is not present in that server slot.
17 . The processor-readable medium of claim 15 , wherein:
each light source from a plurality of light sources is located with a unique server slot from the plurality of server slots, and
each photodetector from the plurality of photodetectors not detecting a light output from the light source from the plurality of light sources and uniquely associated with the server slot for that photodetector when a server from the plurality of servers is present in that server slot.
18 . The processor-readable medium of claim 15 , wherein the plurality of server slots and the processor-readable medium are located with a common rack.
19 . The processor-readable medium of claim 15 , wherein:
a first subset of server slots from the plurality of server slots is located with a first rack,
a second subset of server slots from the plurality of server slots is mutually exclusive from the first subset of servers and located with a second rack, and
the processor-readable medium is located at neither the first rack or the second rack.
20 . The processor-readable medium of claim 15 , further comprising instructions to cause a processor to:
send, to a computer remote from the processor-readable medium, a signal indicating the temperature of each server from the plurality of servers and indicating a position of each valve from the plurality of valves; and
receive, from the computer remote from the processor-readable medium, a control signal associated with at least one of the processor-readable medium or the plurality of valves.