Patent · US Active

Reducing maximum power consumption using environmental control settings

US8140195B2 · kind B2 · utility

21Cited by
11References
17Claims
0Family size

Assignee

Inventors

Key dates

Filing dateMay 30, 2008
Grant dateMar 20, 2012
Priority date
Expiry dateFeb 17, 2029

Classification

  • Technology area (CPC Y)Emerging Cross-Sectional Technologies
  • CPC primaryY02D10/00
  • WIPO fieldAudio-visual technology
  • WIPO sectorElectrical engineering

Abstract

A fan controller causes a fan assembly to flow air through a computer system at a variable airflow rate to cool the computer system. The ambient air temperature to the computer system is detected, and the controller varies the airflow rate as a function of the ambient temperature within an ambient temperature range having an upper limit. The upper limit on the defined ambient temperature range that is used by a fan speed control algorithm may be selectively reduced from a default value in response to electronic input, such from a user or a software object. Correspondingly, the controller limits the air flow rate to a reduced value corresponding to the reduced upper limit. The reduction in stranded power that results from reducing the upper limit on the ambient temperature may be re-allocated, such as to other racks in the data center.

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