Patent ID: 7864527
Filing Date: 2011-01-04
Classification: F28D,F28F,H05K

Abstract:
1. A system for cooling electronic components, comprising: a rack defining a plurality of slots, the rack holding a plurality of computer boards in the plurality of slots that support heat-generating computer components, the rack having open first and second sides that are opposed to each other and are open to circulation of ambient air from a computing workspace during operation of the system so as to permit fluid communication across the computer boards to an exterior of the rack, wherein the rack is one of a plurality of racks that are arranged to form a pair of rows on each side of a central aisle of the computing workspace, the computer boards each in a particular slot accessible through at least one of the open first and second sides through the central aisle of the computing workspace during cooling of the computer components in the particular slot by air cooled through one or more cooling coils corresponding to the particular slot, and wherein the rack has third and fourth opposed sides between the first and second sides, the third and fourth opposed sides not open to circulation of ambient air from the computing workspace; a plurality of air circulation fans adjacent one of the open first or second sides, wherein each of the circulation fans is located near an edge of one of the computer boards and positioned to circulate cooling air across an associated board, wherein the air circulation fans provide cooling air over the computer boards, wherein cooling air circulated over a first computer board is separate from cooling air circulated over a second computer board adjacent the first computer board; the one or more cooling coils associated with each of the plurality of boards and located near one, but not both, of the first or second sides of the rack; and a fan controller corresponding to each air circulation fan to control the speed of the corresponding fan according to a temperature sensed around a board corresponding to the air circulation fan.