Cooling distribution system and method of operating the same

Abstract

A coolant distribution system is disclosed for supplying coolant to at least one server system via piping. The coolant distribution system includes multiple coolant distribution units and a controller. Each coolant distribution unit drives a pump to circulate coolant between the piping and the server system. The controller determines whether the pump speed is within the optimal operating range. When the pump speed deviates from the optimal operating range, the controller gradually controls the coolant distribution units to enter standby mode until only one coolant distribution unit is operating, or gradually controls the coolant distribution units to switch from standby mode to operating mode until all coolant distribution units are operating, thereby maintaining the pump speed within the optimal operating range.

Claims

1. A coolant distribution system for supplying coolant to at least one server system via a pipeline, the coolant distribution system comprising: Multiple coolant distribution units, each including a pump in fluid communication with the pipeline, the pump driving the coolant to circulate between the pipeline and the at least one server system; and a controller connected to the coolant distribution units, the controller determining whether a speed of the pump is within an optimal operating range; wherein, when the speed is continuously below the optimal operating range, the controller gradually controls the coolant distribution units to enter a standby mode until only one coolant distribution unit is operating.

2. The coolant distribution system as described in claim 1, further comprising: A flow meter is installed in the pipeline to detect the flow rate of the coolant; wherein the controller is used to adjust the rotation speed according to the flow rate and to determine whether the rotation speed is within the optimal operating range.

3. The coolant distribution system as described in claim 2, wherein each coolant distribution unit further comprises: A primary inlet, in fluid communication with the pump, is used to receive the coolant returning from the pipeline; A flow outlet, in fluid communication with the pump, is provided for discharging the coolant into the pipeline; and a heat exchanger is provided for heat exchange between the coolant and an external coolant; wherein the pump is used to drive the coolant from the inlet to the outlet to drive the coolant to circulate in the pipeline, and the pump includes a motor; the controller adjusts the speed of the motor by adjusting a duty cycle of a control signal provided to the motor, thereby adjusting the flow rate by adjusting the speed.

4. The coolant distribution system as described in claim 1, wherein when only one coolant distribution unit is in operation and its speed still needs to be reduced, the controller gradually adjusts the speed of the coolant distribution unit to a lower limit speed.

5. The coolant distribution system as claimed in claim 1, wherein when the rotational speed is continuously higher than the optimal operating range, the controller gradually controls the coolant distribution units to adjust from the standby mode to an operating mode until all coolant distribution units are in operation.

6. The coolant distribution system as claimed in claim 5, wherein when all coolant distribution units are operating and the speed still needs to be increased, the controller gradually adjusts the speed of the coolant distribution units to an upper limit speed.

7. The coolant distribution system as claimed in claim 5, wherein the controller sets an activation sequence for the coolant distribution units, and when the rotational speed is continuously higher than the optimal operating range, the controller gradually controls the coolant distribution units in the standby mode to switch from the standby mode to the operating mode according to the activation sequence.

8. The coolant distribution system as claimed in claim 5, wherein the controller records an operating time of each of the coolant distribution units and controls the coolant distribution units to be activated in rotation based on the operating time.

9. The coolant distribution system as claimed in claim 1, wherein the controller sets a backup sequence for the coolant distribution units, and when the rotational speed is continuously below the optimal operating range, the controller gradually controls the coolant distribution units in an operating mode to enter the standby mode according to the backup sequence.

10. The coolant distribution system as claimed in claim 9, wherein the controller records a standby time for each of the coolant distribution units and controls the coolant distribution units to take turns in standby mode based on the standby time.

11. A method of operating a coolant distribution system, the coolant distribution system being used to supply coolant to at least one server system through a pipeline, the method of operating the coolant distribution system comprising the following steps: controlling a pump of a plurality of coolant distribution units respectively to drive the coolant to circulate between the pipeline and the at least one server system; determining whether a speed of the pump is within an optimal operating range; and, based on the fact that the speed is continuously lower than the optimal operating range, gradually controlling the coolant distribution units to enter a standby mode until only one coolant distribution unit is operating.

12. The method of operating the coolant distribution system as described in claim 11 further includes the following steps: detecting a flow rate of the coolant; and adjusting the rotation speed according to the flow rate, and determining whether the rotation speed is within the optimal operating range.

13. A method of operating a coolant distribution system as claimed in claim 12, wherein the pump includes a motor, and the method of operating the coolant distribution system further includes the following steps: providing a control signal to the motor to control the rotational speed of the motor; driving the coolant to circulate in the pipeline according to the rotational speed; and adjusting the rotational speed by adjusting a duty cycle of the control signal to adjust the flow rate by the rotational speed.

14. The method of operating the coolant distribution system as described in claim 11 further includes the following steps: determining that only one coolant distribution unit is still operating and that the speed of the coolant distribution unit still needs to be reduced; and gradually adjusting the speed of the coolant distribution unit to a lower limit speed.

15. The method of operating the coolant distribution system as described in claim 11 further includes the following steps: based on the fact that the rotational speed is continuously higher than the optimal operating range, gradually controlling the coolant distribution units to adjust from the standby mode to an operating mode until all coolant distribution units are operating.

16. The method of operating the coolant distribution system as described in claim 15 further includes the following steps: determining that all coolant distribution units are operating and that the speed needs to be increased; and gradually adjusting the speed of these coolant distribution units to an upper limit speed.

17. The method of operating the coolant distribution system as described in claim 15 further includes the following steps: setting an activation sequence for the coolant distribution units; and, based on the activation sequence, gradually controlling the coolant distribution units in the standby mode to switch from the standby mode to the operating mode, since the rotational speed is continuously higher than the optimal operating range.

18. The method of operating the coolant distribution system as described in claim 15 further includes the following steps: recording an operating time of the coolant distribution units respectively; and controlling the coolant distribution units to be activated in rotation according to the operating time.

19. The method of operating the coolant distribution system as described in claim 11 further includes the following steps: setting a backup sequence for the coolant distribution units; and, based on the backup sequence, gradually controlling the coolant distribution units in an operating mode to enter the standby mode, according to the fact that the rotational speed is continuously lower than the optimal operating range.

20. The method of operating the coolant distribution system as described in claim 19 further includes the following steps: recording a standby time for each of the coolant distribution units; and controlling the coolant distribution units to take turns in standby mode based on the standby time.

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