Patent · US Expired

Method and apparatus for fan control to achieve enhanced cooling

US5102040A · kind A · utility

78Cited by
6References
8Claims
0Family size

Assignee

Inventor

Key dates

Filing dateMar 28, 1991
Grant dateApr 7, 1992
Priority date
Expiry dateMar 28, 2011

Classification

  • Technology area (CPC Y)Emerging Cross-Sectional Technologies
  • CPC primaryY10S236/09
  • WIPO fieldControl
  • WIPO sectorInstruments

Abstract

Enhanced cooling of electronic equipment (14) within an enclosure (10) is obtained by prescribing the relationship between the maximum allowable temperature difference .DELTA.T.sub.m between the exhaust and inlet air temperatures T.sub.e and T.sub.i versus the actual inlet temperature. Once a relationship between the maximum allowable temperature difference .DELTA.T.sub.m versus inlet temperature T.sub.i has been established, then each fan (22) which draws air through the enclosure is controlled so that the fan's speed is increased when the actual temperature .DELTA.T exceeds the maximum allowable temperature difference .DELTA.T.sub.m by a predetermined tolerance factor. In this way, factors such as increased heat load in the enclosure (10), diminution of the air flow therethrough, as well as an increase in the inlet air temperature, are taken account of in the control of fan speed.

Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.