US 7,591,302 B1
Pump and fan control concepts in a cooling system
Daniel J. Lenehan, Los Altos Hills, Calif. (US); Kenneth Goodson, Belmont, Calif. (US); Thomas W. Kenny, San Carlos, Calif. (US); Mark Munch, Los Altos, Calif. (US); and Saroj Sahu, Fremont, Calif. (US)
Assigned to Cooligy Inc., Mountain View, Calif. (US)
Filed on Dec. 08, 2003, as Appl. No. 10/731,674.
Claims priority of provisional application 60/489730, filed on Jul. 23, 2003.
Int. Cl. F24F 11/06 (2006.01)
U.S. Cl. 165—247  [165/104.33] 10 Claims
OG exemplary drawing
 
1. A method of controlling a fluid flow rate and an air flow rate, for cooling at least one heat-generating device in a cooling system comprising a controller, at least one sensor, at least one fan for generating an air flow, and a fluid loop comprising at least one pump for generating a fluid flow, a heat rejector, a heat exchanger mechanically and thermally coupled with the at least one heat-generating device, and a thermally conductive fluid, the method comprising the steps of:
measuring a first temperature using the at least one sensor, wherein the at least one sensor is a first temperature sensor coupled to the heat exchanger and positioned to measure the temperature within the heat exchanger;
pumping the thermally conductive fluid through the fluid loop;
controlling the fluid flow rate and the air flow rate based on the first temperature such that the first temperature is maintained below a maximum allowable temperature, wherein the controller controls the at least one fan and the at least one pump to set the fluid flow rate and the air flow rate.