The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document.
The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge covers the following: Patent number, Date patent was issued, Date patent was filed, Title of the patent, Applicant, Inventor, Assignee, Attorney firm, Primary examiner, Assistant examiner, CPCs, and Abstract. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document (in Adobe Acrobat format, aka pdf). To download or print any patent click here.
Patent No.:
Date of Patent:
Apr. 03, 2007
Filed:
Dec. 09, 2003
Robert J. Von Gutfeld, New York, NY (US);
Michael T. Prikas, North Valley Stream, NY (US);
Robert J. Von Gutfeld, New York, NY (US);
Michael T. Prikas, North Valley Stream, NY (US);
International Business Machines Corporation, Armonk, NY (US);
Abstract
In one embodiment, the invention is a method and apparatus for recycling exhaust air expelled from a computer server (e.g., a unit including microprocessors such as a standard server or a mainframe). In one embodiment, at least one windmill (e.g., a standard windmill or a wind turbine) is driven by the exhaust air from at least one server unit, and the at least one windmill in turn drives a generator. Therefore, energy previously wasted in the form of exhaust is harnessed and reused to provide power to the server system. The method and apparatus also reduce the demand placed on ventilation systems needed to cool server environments, further reducing the amount of energy consumed and/or wasted in the operation of a server system. In one embodiment, the electric power from the generator unit is either recycled into the power grid. In another embodiment, the recycled air is used to charge batteries that might be available as power standby units.