Server Cooling Fan Control via Location-Based Lookup Tables
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing server devices face challenges in efficiently cooling the inside of a chassis while reducing power consumption, as they require complex processes to determine which blade servers to start based on cooling fan power calculations.
Innovation Solution
A server device with a control unit that decides which server modules and cooling fans to operate based on location information, optimizing airflow and fan rotation to promote efficient cooling and minimize power usage.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Loss of energy
If power supplied to cooling fan is calculated for each blade server to decide which server to start, then cooling efficiency is improved, but device complexity and operational complexity increase due to complicated calculation processes
Solution Approach 1:
The patent pre-calculates and stores the relationship between blade server configurations and optimal cooling fan selections in a table structure. When a blade server needs to be started, the control unit simply queries this pre-prepared table based on the server's ID or configuration parameters, rather than performing complex power calculations in real-time. This preliminary preparation of data structures transforms a complex computational problem into a simple lookup operation.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent creates a simplified representation of the complex cooling optimization problem by generating a lookup table that copies the essential relationships between server configurations and optimal fan selections. This table serves as a simplified model that captures the outcomes of complex calculations without requiring the complex calculation processes to be repeated, enabling fast decision-making through table queries.
2Loss of energy
If complex calculation processes are executed to decide blade server startup, then cooling efficiency is improved, but productivity decreases due to time-consuming calculations
Solution Approach 1:
The patent pre-calculates and stores the relationship between blade server configurations and optimal cooling fan selections in a table structure. When a blade server needs to be started, the control unit simply queries this pre-prepared table based on the server's ID or configuration parameters, rather than performing complex power calculations in real-time. This preliminary preparation of data structures transforms a complex computational problem into a simple lookup operation.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent divides the complex cooling optimization problem into discrete, pre-calculated scenarios that are stored in a tabular format. Each row in the table represents a specific configuration scenario with its optimal solution, allowing the system to segment the continuous optimization problem into discrete, easily queryable units that can be rapidly accessed without complex computation.
3Loss of energy
If cooling fan operation is optimized for each server module, then cooling efficiency is improved, but device complexity increases due to position-based control requirements
Solution Approach 1:
The patent assigns specific cooling fan control strategies to different spatial positions or regions within the server rack. Instead of applying a uniform control approach, the system determines the optimal cooling fan based on the local characteristics of each blade server's position, such as proximity to heat-generating components or airflow patterns in specific zones. This localized approach optimizes cooling for each position while maintaining manageable system complexity.
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 reduced power consumption and improved cooling efficiency by ensuring only necessary fans are operational and optimizing fan rotation based on server module placement and temperature, thereby enhancing overall system performance.
Implementation Method 1
a plurality of cooling fans 3 in a chassis 1, a control unit 52 configured to control server modules 2 and cooling fans 3
Data Source
AI summary
A server device having a plurality of server modules and a plurality of cooling fans in a chassis includes: a control unit configured to control the server modules and the cooling fans, which can be placed in predetermined positions. The control unit is configured to decide a server module and a cooling fan to become targets of operation status control from among the server modules and the cooling fans, on a basis of location information showing locations of the server modules and the cooling fans.