Cooling Fan Control Using Intake and Part Temperature Feedback
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional server installations face challenges in reducing power consumption and noise associated with cooling heat-generating parts, as they rely solely on controlling cooling fan speed based on intake air temperature, leading to excessive cooling and inefficiency.
Innovation Solution
A cooling controlling apparatus that includes a cooling fan, intake air temperature detector, part temperature detector, and fan controller, which adjusts fan rotation based on both intake air and part temperatures to optimize cooling efficiency and reduce unnecessary power consumption and noise.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Device complexity
If the number of rotation of cooling fan is controlled based only on intake air temperature, then the control is simple, but excessive cooling occurs leading to increased power consumption and noise
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements feedback control by detecting the actual temperature of electronic parts with temperature detectors and using this information to adjust cooling fan rotation. The controller receives temperature information from detectors and dynamically adjusts fan speed to match actual cooling needs, preventing excessive cooling and reducing power consumption while maintaining adequate cooling.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent changes the control parameter from solely intake air temperature to a combination of intake air temperature and electronic part temperature. By monitoring multiple temperature parameters and using them together for control decisions, the system achieves more precise cooling control that adapts to actual thermal conditions, thereby reducing unnecessary power consumption.
2Device complexity
If the number of rotation of cooling fan is controlled based only on intake air temperature, then the control is simple, but excessive cooling occurs leading to increased noise
Solution Approach 1:
The feedback mechanism uses temperature detector information to adjust fan speed according to actual cooling requirements. When electronic parts are within acceptable temperature ranges, the controller reduces fan rotation speed or stops the fan, thereby significantly reducing noise generation while maintaining adequate cooling through feedback-driven adaptation.
Solution Approach 2:
The system transitions from static control based solely on intake air temperature to dynamic control that continuously adapts to changing thermal conditions of electronic parts. By making the cooling system dynamic and responsive to real-time temperature data, the fan operates at appropriate speeds only when necessary, reducing noise during low-thermal-load conditions.
3Temperature
If fan-attached heatsink is adopted for each heat generating part, then cooling precision is improved, but device complexity and space requirements increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies a universal cooling approach where a single cooling fan serves multiple electronic parts simultaneously. Instead of implementing fan-attached heatsinks for each component, the system uses one or more cooling fans that cool multiple parts through shared airflow paths. This multi-functional cooling system achieves adequate temperature control for all components without the complexity of individual cooling solutions.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent merges multiple cooling functions into a unified system. Rather than having separate fan-attached heatsinks for each heat-generating part, the system combines cooling resources and uses shared cooling infrastructure with centralized temperature monitoring and control. This merging approach reduces system complexity while maintaining effective cooling through integrated management.
4Temperature
If fan-attached heatsink is adopted for each heat generating part, then cooling precision is improved, but space requirements increase
Solution Approach 1:
The universal cooling fan system serves multiple electronic parts with a single cooling resource, eliminating the need for multiple fan-attached heatsinks. This approach significantly reduces the space required for cooling components while still achieving adequate temperature control for all heat-generating parts through shared airflow and centralized management.
Solution Approach 2:
By merging multiple cooling functions into a unified system, the patent reduces the total volume occupied by cooling components. Instead of having separate fan-attached heatsinks for each component, the system combines cooling resources into shared infrastructure, thereby reducing space requirements while maintaining effective cooling through integrated design.
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
This approach allows for precise control of cooling fan speed, minimizing excessive cooling, reducing power consumption and noise, while preventing overheating and ensuring continuous operation of electronic apparatuses.
Implementation Method 1
a cooling fan that discharges air in an inside of the electronic apparatus to an outside of the electronic apparatus
Implementation Method 2
an intake air temperature detector that detects a temperature of air taken into the electronic apparatus by the cooling fan; a part temperature detector that detects a temperature of an electronic part
Data Source
AI summary
A cooling controlling apparatus that cools an electronic apparatus includes a cooling fan that discharges air in an inside of the electronic apparatus to an outside of the electronic apparatus; an intake air temperature detector that detects a temperature of air taken into the electronic apparatus by the cooling fan; a part temperature detector that detects a temperature of an electronic part arranged inside the electronic apparatus; and a fan controller that controls a rotation number of the cooling fan based on the detected temperature of the electronic part and the detected intake air temperature.