Flow-path controllers and related systems
An observed operational state can include an operational state of one or more system devices. A sensor can emit, in response to a detected observable condition reflective of a given operational state, a simulated signal reflective of a different operational state as a proxy for the detected condition. A controller receiving such a proxy signal can, at least partially responsively to the proxy signal, issue a command corresponding to the given operational state. An electro-mechanical actuator can be selectively activatable responsive to the command.
1. A liquid-based cooling system for cooling one or more servers, the liquid cooling system configured to circulate a coolant through a plurality of segments of a closed cooling loop and comprising:
a sensor circuit configured to detect a leak of the coolant from the cooling system;
a spring-loaded valve biased toward a closed arrangement, wherein the spring-loaded valve in the closed arrangement isolates a first segment of the closed cooling loop from a second segment of the closed cooling loop;
a retainer configured to maintain the spring-loaded valve in an open arrangement to permit the coolant to flow between the first segment and the second segment;
an electro-mechanical actuator configured to selectively move the retainer; and
a controller configured to selectively actuate the electro-mechanical actuator responsive to a signal from the sensor circuit indicative of a detected leak of the coolant from the cooling system.
2. The liquid-based cooling system according to claim 1 , wherein the spring-loaded valve is configured to isolate the first segment from the second segment when the spring-loaded valve is in the closed arrangement.
3. The liquid-based cooling system according to claim 1 , wherein the spring-loaded valve is configured to assume the closed arrangement when the retainer is released.
4. The liquid-based cooling system according to claim 3 , wherein the spring-loaded valve is configured to isolate the first segment from the second segment when the spring-loaded valve is in the closed arrangement.
5. The liquid-based cooling system according to claim 1 , wherein the controller is configured to isolate the first segment from the second segment by actuating the electromechanical actuator to release the retainer responsive to receiving the signal from the sensor circuit.
6. The liquid-based cooling system according to claim 1 , wherein the spring-loaded valve is a proportional valve.
7. The liquid-based cooling system according to claim 1 , wherein the spring-loaded valve is a first spring-loaded valve, wherein the first segment and the second segment correspond to the first valve, wherein the cooling system further comprises a second spring-loaded valve configured to isolate two other segments of the cooling loop from each other, wherein the retainer is a first retainer, wherein the liquid-based cooling system further comprises a second retainer configured to maintain the second spring-loaded valve in an open arrangement to permit the coolant to flow between the two other segments of the cooling loop.
8. The liquid cooling system according to claim 7 , wherein the controller in cooperation with the sensor circuit is further configured to determine whether to activate the first spring-loaded valve or the second spring-loaded valve, or neither or both, responsive to a detected leak of the coolant.
9. The liquid cooling system according to claim 7 , wherein the leak detection circuit comprises a first leak detection sensor corresponding to a region of the cooling loop associated with the first segment, the second segment, or both, and a second leak detection sensor corresponding to a region of the cooling loop associated one or both of the two other segments, wherein the electro-mechanical actuator is a first electro-mechanical actuator, the liquid cooling system further comprising a second electro-mechanical actuator corresponding to the second retainer.
10. The liquid cooling system according to claim 9 , wherein the controller is configured to actuate the first electro-mechanical actuator to release the first retainer responsive to receiving a signal from the leak detection circuit corresponding to the first leak detection sensor.
11. The liquid cooling system according to claim 10 , wherein the controller is further configured to actuate the second electro-mechanical actuator to release the second retainer responsive to receiving a signal from the leak detection circuit corresponding to the second leak detection sensor.
12. The liquid cooling system according to claim 1 , further comprising a distribution manifold for distributing the coolant among a plurality of servers and a collection manifold for collecting the coolant from among the plurality of servers.
13. The liquid cooling system according to claim 12 , wherein the first segment of the closed cooling loop comprises a cooling branch for cooling a server and the second segment of the cooling loop is in the distribution manifold or in the collection manifold, the liquid cooling system further comprising a coupling between the first segment and the second segment.
14. The liquid cooling system according to claim 13 , wherein the spring-loaded valve is positioned within the coupling between the first segment and the second segment.
15. The liquid cooling system according to claim 13 , wherein the coupling comprises the retainer.
16. The liquid cooling system according to claim 15 , wherein the electro-mechanical actuator is so coupled with the retainer that, on actuation by the controller, the electro-mechanical actuator urges the retainer to move through a threshold displacement, wherein the spring-loaded valve is configured to assume the closed arrangement when the retainer moves through the threshold displacement.
17. A liquid-based cooling system for cooling a plurality of servers by circulating a liquid coolant among the plurality of servers, the cooling system comprising:
a cooling loop having a segment corresponding to each server;
a distribution manifold configured to distribute the coolant among the plurality of segments of the cooling loop and a collection manifold configured to collect the coolant from among the plurality of servers;
a decouplable coupling corresponding to each segment of the cooling loop, each decouplable coupling comprising an electro-mechanically actuatable valve, wherein each decouplable coupling fluidically couples the respective segment of the cooling loop with the distribution manifold or the collection manifold;
a sensor circuit configured to observe an operating condition of the cooling system and to emit a signal containing information pertaining to the observed operating condition of the cooling system; and
a controller configured to selectively operate each respective electro-mechanically actuatable valve independently of the other electro-mechanically actuatable valves in response to information contained in the signal emitted by the sensor circuit.
18. The liquid-based cooling system according to claim 17 , wherein each electro-mechanically actuatable valve comprises a biasing member configured to urge the valve into a closed configuration.
19. The liquid-based cooling system according to claim 17 , wherein the information contained in the signal reflects an identifier corresponding to a segment of the cooling loop and wherein the controller is configured to select one or more of the electro-mechanically actuatable valves for the selective operation in response to the identifier.