Google patents smart cooling for datacentres

The system will direct cool air only where it's needed

Google has submitted a patent for a new method of cooling datacentre servers that could dramatically lower the cost of running large-scale computing systems.

The company, which has some of the largest server farms in the world, has filed for a patent on the system, which uses "wands" that are mounted across each server rack.

The wands have temperature sensors and activate highly localised cooling on the rack where needed. Pipes of cold air would run up the server racks feeding the system.

“The method includes circulating ambient air across a plurality of rack-mounted electronic devices, monitoring the temperature of air in or around a group of devices in the plurality of rack-mounted electronic devices, and providing substantially cooler-than-ambient air to the group of devices when a high cooling load is sensed for one or more of the rack-mounted electronic devices,” the patent application reads.

“The cooler-than-ambient air can be provided by a bank of air distribution wands arrayed upstream from the plurality of rack-mounted electronic devices. Also, the distribution wands can be positioned to provide clearance for wired connections upstream from the rack-mounted electronic devices.

“The method may also include pivoting one or more of the distribution arms to provide access for removal of one or more rack-mounted electronic devices.”

The hope is that by providing spot cooling coverage on a rack the system will only be used where needed, saving the operator from cooling areas of racks that need no temperature control.