Thermal load locator

Abstract

A centralized cooling system can selectively deliver individualized cooling to individual electrical load units. The system can provide direct cooling from a manifold of cooling outlets in a controlled manner based on the sensed electrical loads of particular load units. A branch monitoring system monitors the load on electrical feeds that are coupled to electrical load units. A controller is coupled to the branch monitoring system and provides output to control a cooling unit. At least one control valve is further coupled to the controller downstream of the cooling unit generally at each cooling outlet to control an amount of cooling fluid, such as air or liquid, directed to one or more of the units. If a load changes for a given unit, the controller can actuate a cooling valve coupled to a corresponding cooling outlet and alter the amount of cooling fluid flowing into or around the unit(s).

1 . A system to cool a plurality of electrical load units with a central cooling unit, comprising:
 at least two electrical load sensors coupled to at least two of the electrical load units, each of the at least two electrical load units being coupled to at least one of the electrical load sensors, the electrical load sensors being adapted to sense electrical loads on the electrical load units;   a controller coupled to the electrical load sensors and adapted to receive data from the load sensors;   a central flow conduit coupled to the central cooling unit and adapted to provide cooling fluid to the at least two electrical load units, the central flow conduit being coupled to at least two cooling outlets and the at least two cooling outlets being coupled to the at least two electrical load units, each of the at least two electrical load units being coupled to at least one of the cooling outlets; and   at least two control valves coupled to the at least two cooling outlets, each of the at least two cooling outlets being coupled to at least one of the control valves, and the controller being adapted to control proportional flows of the cooling fluid from the central flow conduit in the at least two cooling outlets to the at least two electrical load units based on the sensed electrical loads.   
   
   
       2 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the sensed electrical load is electrical current. 
   
   
       3 . The system of  claim 1 , further comprising a branch control monitor coupled to the at least two electrical load sensors, the load sensors being coupled to a plurality of electrical feeds, and the electrical feeds being coupled to the electrical load units. 
   
   
       4 . The system of  claim 3 , further comprising a data communication link coupled between the branch control monitor and the controller. 
   
   
       5 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the cooling fluid comprises a gas, a liquid, or a combination thereof. 
   
   
       6 . The system of  claim 1 , further comprising a control bus coupled between the controller and the control valves. 
   
   
       7 . The system of  claim 1 , further comprising at least two thermal sensors adapted to sense thermal conditions of the at least two electrical load units and provide thermal data to the controller. 
   
   
       8 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the electrical load units comprise an electrical cabinet, a rack in the cabinet, or an electrical device. 
   
   
       9 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the controller is coupled to the cooling unit. 
   
   
       10 . A method of cooling a plurality of electrical load units with a central cooling unit, comprising:
 delivering electrical current to at least two of the electrical load units;   sensing electrical loads on the at least two electrical load units;   flowing a cooling fluid through a central flow conduit coupled to the central cooling unit into at least two cooling outlets coupled between the central flow conduit and the at least two electrical load units; and   controlling the flow of the cooling fluid proportionately from the central flow conduit in the at least two cooling outlets to the at least two electrical load units based on the sensed electrical loads.   
   
   
       11 . The method of  claim 10 , wherein sensing the electrical loads comprises sensing electrical currents to the at least two electrical load units. 
   
   
       12 . The method of  claim 10 , further comprising sensing the electrical loads on the at least two electrical load units from a branch monitoring system. 
   
   
       13 . The method of  claim 10 , further comprising sensing thermal conditions of the at least two electrical load units and at least partially controlling the flow of the cooling fluid to the electrical load units based on the sensed thermal conditions. 
   
   
       14 . The method of  claim 13 , further comprising controlling the flow of the cooling fluid based on the sensed electrical loads prior to sensing changes in the thermal conditions. 
   
   
       15 . The method of  claim 10 , wherein sensing the electrical loads comprises sensing an electrical load on an electrical cabinet, a rack of one or more cabinets, an electrical device, or a combination thereof.