Intelligent networked fan assisted tiles for adaptive thermal management of thermally sensitive rooms

Abstract

A technique to provide well-balanced airflow in a computer data center that uses fan assisted tiles coupled to a host computer through a network. In an example embodiment, this is accomplished by disposing the fan tiles, including temperature and airflow sensors and a programmable switch to provide a Network address, in multiple locations in raised floor and ceiling of the computer data center. Further, the example embodiment includes coupling the fan tiles to the host computer through the network to control the fan tiles based on the feedback received from the temperature and airflow sensors to provide adaptive airflow balancing and thermal management in the computer data center.

1 . A system for providing adaptive airflow balancing in a room having heat generating components, the system comprising: 
 means for moving air into the room;    means for moving air out of the room; and    means for controlling the means for moving air into and out of the room to provide adaptive airflow in the room.    
   
   
       2 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the room comprises a computer data center.  
   
   
       3 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the means for moving air into and out of the room comprises fan assisted tiles.  
   
   
       4 . The system of  claim 3  wherein the fan assisted tiles comprise a first array of fan assisted tiles disposed in a floor of the room to bring cool air into the room.  
   
   
       5 . The system of  claim 4  wherein the first array of tiles includes air flow sensors for sensing the amount of air flowing in through different fan assisted tiles in the first array.  
   
   
       6 . The system of  claim 3  wherein the fan assisted tiles comprise a second array of fan assisted tiles disposed in a ceiling of the room to remove air from the room.  
   
   
       7 . The system of  claim 6  wherein the second array of tiles includes temperature sensors for sensing the temperature of air flowing in through different fan assisted tiles in the second array.  
   
   
       8 . The system of  claim 3  wherein the fan assisted tiles comprise: 
 a first array of fan assisted tiles disposed in a floor of the room to bring cool air into the room, the first array of tiles including air flow sensors for sensing the amount of air flowing in through different fan assisted tiles in the first array; and    a second array of fan assisted tiles disposed in a ceiling of the room to remove air from the room, the second array of tiles including temperature sensors for sensing the temperature of air flowing in through different fan assisted tiles in the second array.    
   
   
       9 . The system of  claim 1 , further comprising: 
 a means to indicate a failed fan assisted tile assembly.    
   
   
       10 . A method for providing adaptive thermal management of a room having heat generating components, comprising: 
 providing an adaptive airflow balancing in the room by using an array of fan assisted tiles that are controlled by a remote server based on sensed environmental characteristics in the room.    
   
   
       11 . The method of  claim 10 , wherein the sensed environmental characteristics comprises: 
 sensing environmental characteristics of air coming into and out of the room.    
   
   
       12 . The method of  claim 11 , wherein the sensing environmental characteristics comprises: 
 sensing environmental characteristics selected from the group consisting of airflow, temperature, humidity, and particle density.    
   
   
       13 . A system for controlling airflow in a room having heat generating components, the system comprising: 
 a plurality of fan assisted tiles disposed in a floor of the room;    a plurality of fan assisted tiles disposed in a ceiling of the room;    a plurality of airflow sensors for sensing airflow through the fan assisted tiles disposed in the floor of the room; and    a plurality of temperature sensors for sensing temperature of air flowing through the fan assisted tiles disposed in the ceiling of the room.    
   
   
       14 . The system of  claim 13  and further comprising a controller for controlling airflow through the plurality of fan assisted tiles disposed in the floor of the room, and a network coupling the controller to the fan assisted tiles.  
   
   
       15 . The system of  claim 14  wherein the controller comprises a distributed controller.  
   
   
       16 . The system of  claim 14  wherein the controller comprises a central controller.  
   
   
       17 . The system of  claim 14  wherein the controller varies the speed of a fan in the fan assisted tiles as a function of sensed temperature and flow rates.  
   
   
       18 . The system of  claim 17  wherein the controller adaptively controls airflow in response to varying thermal load distributions within the room.  
   
   
       19 . The system of  claim 17  wherein the controller adaptively controls airflow to accommodate heat generating component modifications, blocked air passages and failed fans.  
   
   
       20 . The system of  claim 14  wherein the network is a hardwired network.  
   
   
       21 . The system of  claim 13  wherein each fan assisted tile comprises a plurality of passage ways for airflow.