Patent attributes
Some embodiments of the present invention provide a system that determines a flow rate of air along an airflow path in a computer system. During operation the system monitors a first temperature profile from a first temperature sensor located in a first position in the airflow path, and monitors a second temperature profile from a second temperature sensor located in a second position in the airflow path, wherein the first position is upstream in the airflow path from the second position, and wherein the first position and the second position are separated by a predetermined distance along the airflow path. Next, the system computes a cross-power spectral density based on the first temperature profile and the second temperature profile. Then, the system determines a flow rate of air in the computer system based on the cross-power spectral density.
