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A method and apparatus for the temperature control of a component within a storage system wherein the storage system includes a heat exchanger in thermal communication with the component to control the temperature of the component. One method includes: generating a flow of heat transfer fluid throug

A method and apparatus for the temperature control of a component within a storage system wherein the storage system includes a heat exchanger in thermal communication with the component to control the temperature of the component. One method includes: generating a flow of heat transfer fluid through the heat exchanger to transfer heat to or from the heat exchanger; receiving a set point signal indicative of the desired temperature of the component in the storage system; receiving temperature data regarding the component and the heat transfer fluid, and generating an output signal to control the flow of heat transfer fluid. The heat transfer fluid may be a gas or liquid.

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1. A method comprising: generating a flow of heat transfer fluid past a component present within a storage system, to transfer heat between the component and the heat transfer fluid;receiving a set point signal indicative of a desired temperature of the component;measuring temperature data of the he

1. A method comprising: generating a flow of heat transfer fluid past a component present within a storage system, to transfer heat between the component and the heat transfer fluid;receiving a set point signal indicative of a desired temperature of the component;measuring temperature data of the heat transfer fluid; generating an output signal using a proportional, integral and derivative (“PID”) controller modified to use a factor that depends on the set point signal and the temperature data; andcontrolling the flow of heat transfer fluid past the component based on the output signal. 2. The method according to claim 1, wherein the storage system includes therein a heat exchanger in thermal communication with the component and wherein the heat transfers between the heat transfer fluid and the heat exchanger. 3. The method according to claim 1, in which the temperature data includes a first temperature of the heat transfer fluid upstream of the component and a second temperature of the heat transfer fluid downstream of the component. 4. The method according to claim 3, wherein generating the output signal comprises using a factor that depends on an error signal, on the first temperature, and on the second temperature. 5. The method according to claim 1, wherein generating the output signal comprises determining the output signal based on a flow rate of the heat transfer fluid. 6. The method according to claim 1, wherein the heat transfer fluid is a gas and the flow is generated with a fan. 7. The method according to claim 6, further comprising determining a required fan speed and determining whether the required fan speed is an allowed fan speed; if the required fan speed is an allowed fan speed, then operating the fan at the required fan speed;if the required fan speed is not an allowed fan speed, then operating the fan at a different speed than the required speed. 8. The method according to claim 1, wherein the heat transfer fluid is a liquid and the flow is generated with a liquid pump. 9. The method according to claim 8, further comprising determining a required pump speed and determining whether the required pump speed is an allowed pump speed; if the required pump speed is an allowed pump speed, then operating the liquid pump at the required speed;if the required pump speed is not an allowed pump speed, then operating the liquid pump at a different speed than the required speed. 10. The method according to claim 1, wherein generating the output signal comprises using a factor that depends on a rate of temperature change of the component. 11. The method according to claim 1, further comprising receiving a signal indicative of a temperature of the component, and using the signal to determine the output signal. 12. The method according to claim 11, wherein the signal indicative of the temperature of the component is obtained directly by measuring the temperature of the component using a temperature sensor. 13. The method according to claim 11, wherein the signal indicative of the temperature of the component is estimated from the temperature data. 14. The method according to claim 11, wherein a change δF in the flow rate of the heat transfer fluid is determined in accordance with the equation: δ⁢⁢F=KP⁢2⁢FTO-TI⁢(TC-TS)+KD⁢2⁢M⁡(TC-TI)(TO-TI)2⁢ⅆTCⅆt+KT⁢2⁢FTO-TI⁢δ⁢⁢TIin which,F is a heat transfer fluid flow rate;TC is a measured component temperature;TS is a set point temperature;TI is a first temperature of the heat transfer fluid upstream of a heat exchanger;TO is a second temperature of the heat transfer fluid downstream of the heat exchanger;andKP, KD, KT and M are constants. 15. The method according to claim 1, further comprising having a plurality of components and the component is a control component j. 16. The method according to claim 15, wherein a change δF in the flow rate of the heat transfer fluid is determined in accordance with the equation: δ⁢⁢F=KPj⁢2⁢FTOj-TIj⁢(TCj-TSj)+KDj⁢2⁢Mj⁡(TCj-TIj)(TOj-TIj)2⁢ⅆTCjⅆt+KTj⁢2⁢FTOj-TIj⁢δ⁢⁢TIjin whichF is the heat transfer fluid flow rate at a fan or pump;TCj is a measured temperature for the component j;TSj is a set point temperature for the component j;TIj is a temperature of the heat transfer fluid upstream of the component j;TOj is a temperature of the heat transfer fluid downstream of the component j; andKPj, KDj, KTj and Mj are constants for the component j. 17. A method of cooling a component in a system, the method comprising: providing the component at a temperature Tc, the component having a heat capacity H;providing a coolant in thermal contact with the component at a flow rate, the coolant having a specific heat capacity CA;recording an initial coolant temperature TI upstream of the component;after recording the initial coolant temperature TI, transferring heat from the component to the coolant;measuring with a sensor a heated coolant temperature TO downstream of the component after transferring heat between the component and the coolant;determining by a controller a required change δG in the coolant flow rate G to compensate for the dissipation of heat using the equation: δ⁢⁢G≈2⁢H⁡(TC-TI)CA⁡(TO-TI)2⁢ⅆTCⅆt to determine δG; and modifying the coolant flow rate G by the controller based on the determined δG. 18. The method according to claim 17, comprising, prior to determining the value of δG, determining a value for H using the following steps: allowing the system to stabilize;using a flow rate register, allowing the flow rate register to contain a value FM;noting the values of TI and TO and renaming the values TI and TO TIa and TOa, respectively;changing a power being dissipated in the component by an amount WM; andobserving an immediate rate of change (RC) of the temperature of the component, where the value of H is then given by the equation H=WMRC.