Waste heat resource recovery and utilization method
By introducing thermoelectric conversion modules and thermal energy storage modules into the liquid cooling system, using server heat to drive the coolant circulation, the problems of high energy consumption and untreated waste heat in the liquid cooling system are solved, and efficient recycling and utilization of waste heat is achieved, reducing energy consumption and thermal pollution.
Patent Information
- Application Number
- CN202510895969.8
- Authority / Receiving Office
- CN · China
- Patent Type
- Applications(China)
- Current Assignee / Owner
- Filing Date
- 2025-06-30
- Publication Date
- 2025-08-01
- Estimated Expiration
- 2045-06-30
AI Technical Summary
The existing liquid cooling systems consume high energy in data centers and other places and the waste heat has not been effectively processed, resulting in energy waste and thermal pollution problems.
By setting up a thermoelectric conversion module and a thermal energy storage module in the waste heat recovery system, the heat generated by the server drives the coolant circulation, and the thermal resistance and flow resistance values of the cold plate are monitored and recorded in real time, ensuring the full recycling and utilization of waste heat resources and meeting the heat dissipation needs.
It reduces the energy consumption of the liquid cooling system, reduces the dependence on external power, realizes the effective recycling and utilization of waste heat, improves energy utilization efficiency, and reduces thermal pollution.
Smart Images

Figure CN120406697A_ABST
Abstract
Description
Technical Field
[0001] This application relates to the technical field of server energy-saving heat dissipation, and particularly to a method for recycling and utilizing waste heat resources. Background Art
[0002] In current server-intensive places such as data centers and cloud computing centers, the heat dissipation efficiency and energy utilization efficiency are directly related to the operating cost and sustainable development ability.
[0003] With the rapid development of information technology, large-scale server deployment scenarios such as data centers and cloud computing centers have emerged continuously. The number of servers has increased exponentially, and the computing tasks have become more complex and heavy, which has caused the heat generated by the servers to rise sharply. The liquid cooling system has been widely used in the server heat dissipation field due to its high heat dissipation performance. However, there are many problems to be solved in the existing liquid cooling system.
[0004] In terms of energy consumption, the existing liquid cooling system mainly relies on electricity to drive the coolant circulation pump, so that the coolant circulates inside the server, absorbs heat and takes it away, but this process requires a large amount of electric energy. According to authoritative statistics, in some large data centers, the energy consumption of the liquid cooling system accounts for a relatively high proportion of the total energy consumption, which undoubtedly greatly increases the operating cost of the data center.
[0005] In addition, a large amount of waste heat generated during the operation of the server is usually not effectively treated and is directly discharged into the environment, which not only causes a huge waste of energy, but also causes the problem of heat pollution, having a negative impact on the surrounding ecological environment. Summary of the Invention
[0006] This application provides a method for recycling and utilizing waste heat resources to at least solve the problem that a large amount of waste heat generated during the operation of the server in the related art is usually not effectively treated and is directly discharged into the environment, which not only causes a huge waste of energy, but also causes the problem of heat pollution, having a negative impact on the surrounding ecological environment.
[0007] The present application provides a method for recovering and utilizing waste heat resources, including before starting the waste heat recovery system, respectively initializing the first working parameters of the thermoelectric conversion module and the second working parameters of the thermal energy storage module according to the expected heat generation of the heat-generating components of the server and the power demand of the circulation pump, and monitoring and recording the initial temperature and energy storage state of the thermal energy storage module; starting the waste heat recovery system, recording in real time the flow value of the liquid flowing through the cold plate, and obtaining the thermal resistance value of the cold plate and the flow resistance value of the liquid flowing through the cold plate; based on the thermal resistance value and the flow resistance value, and using the flow value of the liquid flowing through the cold plate as the abscissa and the thermal resistance value and the flow resistance value as the ordinate, plotting the thermal performance curve and the flow resistance curve of the cold plate; if the measured maximum case temperature value supported by the cold plate is lower than the maximum case temperature value required by the design of the heat-generating components, it indicates that the waste heat recovery system is operating normally, so as to fully recover and utilize the waste heat resources to meet the heat dissipation requirements of the server.
[0008] In an exemplary embodiment, during the operation of the waste heat recovery system, the case temperature value and power consumption value of the heat-generating components and the liquid temperature at the inlet of the cold plate are recorded in real time; the thermal resistance value of the cold plate is calculated according to the first formula R = (Tc - TL) / Q, where R represents the thermal resistance value of the cold plate, the unit is °C / W; Tc represents the case temperature value of the heat-generating components, the unit is °C; TL represents the liquid temperature at the inlet of the cold plate, the unit is °C; Q represents the power consumption value of the heat-generating components, the unit is W.
[0009] In an exemplary embodiment, during the operation of the waste heat recovery system, the inlet pressure value of the cold plate, the outlet pressure value of the cold plate, the case temperature value and power consumption value of the heat-generating components, the liquid temperature at the inlet of the cold plate, and the flow value of the liquid flowing through the cold plate are recorded in real time; the flow resistance value of the liquid flowing through the cold plate is calculated according to the second formula ΔP = P1 - P2, where ΔP represents the flow resistance value of the liquid flowing through the cold plate, the unit is KPa; P1 represents the inlet pressure value of the cold plate, the unit is KPa; P2 represents the outlet pressure value of the cold plate, the unit is KPa.
[0010] In an exemplary embodiment, the first working parameters at least include the working voltage and the working current.
[0011] In an exemplary embodiment, the second working parameters at least include the energy storage capacity.
[0012] In an exemplary embodiment, the method for recovering and utilizing waste heat resources further includes an assembly method for the waste heat recovery system. The assembly method for the waste heat recovery system includes arranging the thermoelectric conversion module on the coolant circulation pipeline of the liquid cooling device of the server and connecting the thermoelectric conversion module to the circulation pump to convert the heat generated by the heat-generating components into electrical energy of the circulation pump to drive the coolant to circulate; arranging the thermal energy storage module on the coolant circulation pipeline to store the excess heat generated by the heat-generating components.
[0013] In an exemplary embodiment, the assembly method of the waste heat recovery system further includes connecting the thermoelectric conversion module with the thermal energy storage module, so that when the thermal energy in the coolant circulation pipeline is insufficient, the thermal energy storage module provides thermal energy to the thermoelectric conversion module.
[0014] In an exemplary embodiment, the assembly method of the waste heat recovery system further includes connecting the outlet of the cold plate with the input circulation main line of the cabinet, and connecting the inlet of the cold plate with the output circulation main line of the cabinet; connecting the input circulation main line with the first inlet of the cold quantity distribution module, and connecting the output circulation main line with the first outlet of the cold quantity distribution module.
[0015] In an exemplary embodiment, the assembly method of the waste heat recovery system further includes connecting the second outlet of the cold quantity distribution module with the inlet of the closed cooling tower located outside the computer room, and connecting the second inlet of the cold quantity distribution module with the outlet of the closed cooling tower.
[0016] In an exemplary embodiment, the assembly method of the waste heat recovery system further includes arranging a circulation pump on the pipeline between the first outlet of the cold quantity distribution module and the output circulation main line.
[0017] The method for recovering and utilizing waste heat resources in this application includes, before starting the waste heat recovery system, respectively performing initial settings on the first working parameter of the thermoelectric conversion module and the second working parameter of the thermal energy storage module according to the expected heat generation of the heat generating components of the server and the power requirement of the circulation pump, and monitoring and recording the initial temperature and energy storage state of the thermal energy storage module; starting the waste heat recovery system, recording in real time the flow value of the liquid flowing through the cold plate, and obtaining the thermal resistance value of the cold plate and the flow resistance value of the liquid flowing through the cold plate; based on the thermal resistance value and the flow resistance value, and using the flow value of the liquid flowing through the cold plate as the abscissa and the thermal resistance value and the flow resistance value as the ordinate, plotting the thermal performance curve of the cold plate and the flow resistance curve of the cold plate; if the measured shell temperature value that the cold plate can support is lower than the maximum shell temperature value required by the design of the heat generating components, it indicates that the waste heat recovery system is operating normally, so that the waste heat resources can be fully recovered and utilized to meet the heat dissipation requirements of the server.
[0018] The method for recovering and utilizing waste heat resources of the present application adaptively initializes the first working parameters of the thermoelectric conversion module and the second working parameters of the thermal energy storage module according to the expected calorific value of the heating component and the power requirement of the circulation pump, so that the waste heat recovery system can effectively recover and utilize the heat generated by the heating component. Of course, the utilization here refers to converting part of the thermal energy into electrical energy that can drive the circulation pump to operate, without an external power system, which is beneficial to the energy conservation of the server. In addition, by plotting the thermal performance curve of the cold plate and the flow resistance curve of the cold plate, it is possible to compare the measured case temperature value of the heating component with the maximum case temperature value required by the design of the heating component to determine the normal reliability of the operation of the waste heat recovery system, so that the waste heat resources can be fully recovered and utilized, and further meet the heat dissipation requirements of the server, converting the heat generated by itself into electrical energy to provide power for the circulation pump to circulate the coolant. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0019] To more clearly illustrate the embodiments of the present application, the following will briefly introduce the drawings required in the embodiments. Obviously, the drawings in the following description are only some embodiments of the present application. For those of ordinary skill in the art, without creative efforts, other drawings can be obtained based on these drawings.
[0020] Figure 1 It is a schematic diagram of the thermal performance curve of a cold plate and the flow resistance curve of the cold plate provided by an embodiment of the present application;
[0021] Figure 2 It is a schematic layout diagram of a waste heat recovery system provided by an embodiment of the present application;
[0022] Figure 3 For Figure 2 the internal structure diagram of the cold quantity distribution module of the waste heat recovery system in
[0023] Figure 4 For Figure 3 the internal structure diagram of the cold quantity distribution module from another perspective in
[0024] Among them, the above-mentioned drawings include the following reference numerals:
[0025] 1. Server; 2. Circulation pump;
[0026] 3. Cabinet; 301. Input circulation main line; 302. Output circulation main line;
[0027] 4. Cold quantity distribution module; 401. Automatic exhaust valve; 402. Primary side stop valve; 403. Plate heat exchanger; 404. Primary side filter; 405. Liquid level sensor; 406. Secondary side filter; 407. Drain valve; 408. Primary side electric ball valve; 409. Controller; 410. Ambient temperature and humidity sensor; 420. Frequency converter; 430. Make-up water pump; 440. Make-up water bag; 450. Secondary water pump; 460. Pressure stabilizing tank; 470. Secondary side flow sensor; 480. Primary side flow sensor; 490. Secondary water pump ball valve;
[0028] 5. Closed cooling tower; 501. Fan; 6. Wall. Specific embodiments
[0029] The technical solutions in the embodiments of the present application will be clearly and completely described below with reference to the accompanying drawings in the embodiments of the present application. Obviously, the described embodiments are only a part of the embodiments of the present application, rather than all the embodiments. All other embodiments obtained by those of ordinary skill in the art based on the embodiments of the present application without creative efforts shall fall within the protection scope of the present application.
[0030] It should be noted that the orientation or positional relationship indicated by terms such as "center", "longitudinal", "lateral", "length", "width", "thickness", "upper", "lower", "front", "rear", "left", "right", "vertical", "horizontal", "top", "bottom", "inner", "outer", "clockwise", "counterclockwise", "axial", "radial", "circumferential", etc. is based on the orientation or positional relationship shown in the drawings. It is only for the convenience of describing the present application and simplifying the description, rather than indicating or implying that the device or element referred to must have a specific orientation, be constructed and operated in a specific orientation. Therefore, it should not be construed as a limitation to the present application. The terms "mounted", "connected", "coupled" should be understood in a broad sense. For example, it can be a fixed connection, a detachable connection, or an integral connection; it can be a mechanical connection, an electrical connection; it can be directly connected, or indirectly connected through an intermediate medium, and it can be the communication inside two elements. The terms "parallel", "perpendicular", "equal" include the described situations and situations similar to the described situations, and the range of the similar situations is within the acceptable deviation range, where the acceptable deviation range is determined by those of ordinary skill in the art considering the measurements being discussed and the errors associated with the measurements of specific quantities (i.e., the limitations of the measurement system). For example, "parallel" includes absolute parallel and approximate parallel, where the acceptable deviation range of approximate parallel can be, for example, within 5° deviation; "perpendicular" includes absolute perpendicular and approximate perpendicular, where the acceptable deviation range of approximate perpendicular can also be, for example, within 5° deviation. "Equal" includes absolute equality and approximate equality, where the acceptable deviation range of approximate equality can be, for example, that the difference between the two equal ones is less than or equal to 5% of either one. For those of ordinary skill in the art, the specific meanings of the above terms in the present application can be understood according to specific situations.
[0031] In order to enable those skilled in the art of the present technology to better understand the solution of the present application, the present application will be further described in detail below with reference to the drawings and specific embodiments.
[0032] The embodiments of the present application provide a method for recovering and utilizing waste heat resources. In combination with the working principle of the method for recovering and utilizing waste heat resources, the device will be described in detail (technical terms involved must be explained).
[0033] Such as Figures 1 to 4As shown, the method for recovering and utilizing waste heat resources includes, before starting the waste heat recovery system, respectively performing initial settings on the first working parameters of the thermoelectric conversion module and the second working parameters of the heat energy storage module according to the expected heat generation of the heat generating components of server 1 and the power demand of the circulation pump 2, and monitoring and recording the initial temperature and energy storage state of the heat energy storage module; starting the waste heat recovery system, recording in real time the flow value of the liquid flowing through the cold plate, and obtaining the thermal resistance value of the cold plate and the flow resistance value of the liquid flowing through the cold plate; based on the thermal resistance value and the flow resistance value, and using the flow value of the liquid flowing through the cold plate as the abscissa and the thermal resistance value and the flow resistance value as the ordinate, plotting the thermal performance curve and the flow resistance curve of the cold plate; if the measured maximum case temperature value that the cold plate can support is lower than the maximum case temperature value required by the design of the heat generating components, it indicates that the waste heat recovery system is operating normally, so that the waste heat resources can be fully recovered and utilized to meet the heat dissipation requirements of server 1.
[0034] The method for recovering and utilizing waste heat resources of the present application adaptively performs initial settings on the first working parameters of the thermoelectric conversion module and the second working parameters of the heat energy storage module respectively according to the expected heat generation of the heat generating components and the power demand of the circulation pump 2, so that the waste heat recovery system can effectively recover and utilize the heat generated by the heat generating components. Of course, the utilization here means converting part of the heat energy into electrical energy that can drive the operation of the circulation pump 2, without the need for an external power system, which is beneficial to the energy conservation of the server. In addition, by plotting the thermal performance curve and the flow resistance curve of the cold plate, it is possible to compare the measured case temperature value of the heat generating components with the maximum case temperature value required by the design of the heat generating components to determine the normal operation reliability of the waste heat recovery system, so that the waste heat resources can be fully recovered and utilized, and further meet the heat dissipation requirements of server 1, converting the heat generated by itself into electrical energy to provide power for the circulation of the coolant by the circulation pump 2.
[0035] It should be noted that in the present application, during the operation of the waste heat recovery system, the case temperature value and power consumption value of the heat generating components and the liquid temperature at the inlet of the cold plate are recorded in real time; the thermal resistance value of the cold plate is calculated according to the first formula R = (Tc - TL) / Q, where R represents the thermal resistance value of the cold plate, with the unit of °C / W; Tc represents the case temperature value of the heat generating components, with the unit of °C; TL represents the liquid temperature at the inlet of the cold plate, with the unit of °C; and Q represents the power consumption value of the heat generating components, with the unit of W.
[0036] Further, during the operation of the waste heat recovery system, the inlet pressure value of the cold plate, the outlet pressure value of the cold plate, the case temperature value and power consumption value of the heat-generating component, the liquid temperature at the inlet of the cold plate, and the flow rate value of the liquid flowing through the cold plate are recorded in real time; the flow resistance value of the liquid flowing through the cold plate is calculated according to the second formula △P = P1 - P2, where ΔP represents the flow resistance value of the liquid flowing through the cold plate, with the unit of KPa; P1 represents the inlet pressure value of the cold plate, with the unit of KPa; and P2 represents the outlet pressure value of the cold plate, with the unit of KPa.
[0037] It should be noted that in this application, based on the thermal resistance value and flow resistance value, with the flow rate value of the liquid flowing through the cold plate as the abscissa and the thermal resistance value and flow resistance value as the ordinate, the thermal performance curve of the cold plate and the flow resistance curve of the cold plate are plotted, referring to Figure 1 .
[0038] In an exemplary embodiment, for a GPU with a rated power consumption of 1000W and a maximum case temperature requirement of 90°C in the design, at a certain flow rate, the measured liquid temperature at the inlet of the cold plate is 40°C, and the thermal resistance value of the cold plate is 0.03°C / W. The temperature rise is Q×R = 1000W×0.03°C / W = 30°C, and the case temperature of this chip is 40 + 30 = 70°C, meeting the server heat dissipation requirements.
[0039] In an exemplary embodiment, the first working parameter at least includes the working voltage and working current.
[0040] In an exemplary embodiment, the second working parameter at least includes the energy storage capacity.
[0041] Through the above embodiments, the waste heat recovery-driven liquid cooling system technology of this application can effectively solve the problems existing in the existing liquid-cooled servers in terms of safety, high-density heat dissipation, energy conservation, convenience, etc., providing an innovative solution for the development of server heat dissipation technology.
[0042] As Figure 2 shown, the method for recovering and utilizing waste heat resources further includes the assembly method of the waste heat recovery system. The assembly method of the waste heat recovery system includes arranging the thermoelectric conversion module on the coolant circulation pipeline of the liquid cooling device of the server 1 and connecting the thermoelectric conversion module to the circulation pump 2 to convert the heat generated by the heat-generating component into electrical energy of the circulation pump 2 to drive the coolant to circulate; arranging the heat energy storage module on the coolant circulation pipeline to store the excess heat generated by the heat-generating component.
[0043] Further, in an embodiment not shown in this application, the assembly method of the waste heat recovery system further includes connecting the thermoelectric conversion module and the heat energy storage module so that when the heat energy in the coolant circulation pipeline is insufficient, the heat energy storage module provides heat energy to the thermoelectric conversion module.
[0044] As Figure 2 shown, the assembly method of the waste heat recovery system further includes connecting the outlet of the cold plate to the input circulation main path 301 of the cabinet 3, and connecting the inlet of the cold plate to the output circulation main path 302 of the cabinet 3; connecting the input circulation main path 301 to the first inlet of the cold quantity distribution module 4, and connecting the output circulation main path 302 to the first outlet of the cold quantity distribution module 4.
[0045] As Figures 2 to 4 shown, the assembly method of the waste heat recovery system further includes connecting the second outlet of the cold quantity distribution module 4 to the inlet of the closed cooling tower 5 located outside the computer room, and connecting the second inlet of the cold quantity distribution module 4 to the outlet of the closed cooling tower 5.
[0046] As Figure 2 shown, the closed cooling tower 5 further includes a fan 501. After part of the heat of the heat-generating components is brought into the closed cooling tower 5, the heat generated by the heat-generating components can also be converted into the driving force for the rotation of the fan 501.
[0047] As Figure 2 shown, the assembly method of the waste heat recovery system further includes arranging the circulation pump 2 on the pipeline between the first outlet of the cold quantity distribution module 4 and the output circulation main path 302.
[0048] As Figure 2 shown, during the operation of the server, the heat generated by the heat-generating components inside it is transferred to the cooling liquid in the closed circulation pipeline through the cold plate. The cooling liquid carries the heat and flows to the cold quantity distribution module 4, where the cooling liquid exchanges heat with the closed cooling tower 5 outside the wall 6 of the computer room. In this way, the effective dissipation of heat and the recycling of the cooling liquid are realized.
[0049] Furthermore, the energy conversion and circulation driving process shows that the main heat-generating components such as the CPU, GPU, and memory in the server exchange heat with the liquid in the cold plate during operation, and the liquid absorbs heat and then flows out of the server. These liquids carrying heat flow through the flow control system in the cold quantity distribution module 4, and then transfer the heat to the primary side cooling water through the plate heat exchanger. The primary side cooling water enters the cold source equipment, and under the action of the cooling water pump, the heat generated by the server is converted into the driving force for driving the coolant to circulate. This process realizes using the heat generated during the operation of the server as kinetic energy to drive the coolant to circulate without a pump for heat and cold, thereby reducing the energy consumption of the circulation pump in the traditional liquid cooling system.
[0050] As Figure 3 and Figure 4As shown in the figure, the internal components of the cooling capacity distribution module 4 are presented: The cooling capacity distribution module 4 (CDU) is one of the key components of the entire system. Its most important component is the plate heat exchanger for liquid-liquid heat exchange, which undertakes the core task of heat exchange. Secondly, it is the secondary side pump for circulating and transporting the process refrigerant, providing power for the flow of the process refrigerant. In addition, various devices for regulating, constant pressure, water replenishment, exhaust, etc. required by the process refrigerant system (i.e., the secondary side) are configured, including electric ball valves, constant pressure tanks, water replenishment tanks / bags, automatic exhaust valves, etc. At the same time, the cooling water system (i.e., the primary side) is also equipped with corresponding devices, as well as sensors for monitoring relevant parameters such as temperature, pressure, flow rate, and liquid leakage, and related electrical control devices.
[0051] As Figure 3 and Figure 4 As shown in the figure, the cooling capacity distribution module 4 includes an automatic exhaust valve 401, a primary side stop valve 402, a plate heat exchanger 403, a primary side filter 404, a liquid level sensor 405, a secondary side filter 406, a drain valve 407, a primary side electric ball valve 408, a controller 409, an ambient temperature and humidity sensor 410, a frequency converter 420, a makeup water pump 430, a makeup water bag 440, a secondary water pump 450, a constant pressure tank 460, a secondary side flow sensor 470, a primary side flow sensor 480, and a secondary water pump ball valve 490.
[0052] It should be noted that in this application, for the internal flow channels of the cold plate: For the cold plate design of low-power devices, relatively simple solutions such as machined flow channels and metal tube inlays can be directly adopted. For cold plates of high-power devices (generally with a power greater than 100W), the shovel tooth process is usually adopted. The tooth thickness of the shovel tooth process is generally controlled between 0.1 - 1.0 mm, and the tooth gap is set according to the filtration accuracy, generally 2 - 10 times the filtration accuracy. Taking the secondary side filtration accuracy of 50 μm as an example, the tooth gap is usually set between 0.1 - 0.5 mm. Such a design can effectively prevent impurities from blocking the flow channels while ensuring the heat dissipation efficiency, and ensure the smooth flow of the coolant.
[0053] It should be noted that in this application, for the internal flow velocity of the cold plate: In order to ensure the stable and efficient flow of the coolant in the internal flow channels and pipelines of the cold plate, and at the same time avoid excessive resistance and pressure loss, the flow velocity in the internal flow channels and pipelines of the cold plate needs to be controlled within a range less than 1.5 m / s. This flow velocity can not only ensure that the coolant fully absorbs heat but also maintain the stable operation of the system.
[0054] It should be noted that in this application, the rated flow rate: on the basis of meeting the chip heat dissipation requirements, the smaller the flow rate, the lower the energy consumption of the system and the lower the operating cost. According to a large number of laboratory test data, the rated flow rate of a single cold plate assembly is 0.7 L / min. This flow rate value can optimize the system energy consumption while ensuring good heat dissipation effect of the chip.
[0055] It should be noted that in this application, the cold plate thermal resistance: the cold plate thermal resistance is an important indicator to measure the heat dissipation performance of the cold plate. It is defined as the ratio of the difference between the chip surface temperature and the secondary side supply liquid temperature to the chip power consumption. In actual applications, it is only necessary to meet the chip heat dissipation requirements. Laboratory test data shows that when the flow rate of the cold plate assembly is 0.7 L / min, the thermal resistance is 0.033 °C / W. This thermal resistance value indicates that the cold plate can effectively transfer the heat generated by the chip and ensure that the chip works at an appropriate temperature.
[0056] The waste heat recovery system provided by this application includes: a thermal energy storage device for storing and releasing the waste heat generated during the operation of the server; a thermoelectric conversion module connected to the high-efficiency thermal energy storage device to convert the heat dissipated by the server into electrical energy to drive the coolant circulation; a cold plate module connected to the thermoelectric conversion module, including a cold plate and a heat-conducting medium, for indirectly transferring the heat generated by the heat-generating device to the cooling liquid; a coolant circulation path connecting the cold plate module and the cold quantity distribution unit to achieve the dispersion of heat and the closed circulation of the coolant; a plate heat exchanger in the cold quantity distribution unit connected to the coolant circulation path for liquid-liquid heat exchange between the secondary side process refrigerant and the primary side cooling water; a primary side cooling water circulation system including a primary side pump, a cooling tower and related pipelines, connected to the thermoelectric conversion module and the plate heat exchanger in the cold quantity distribution unit to provide working conditions for the thermoelectric conversion module. The high-efficiency thermal energy storage device drives the circulation of the coolant in the coolant circulation path through the thermoelectric conversion module, so as to significantly reduce the operating energy consumption of the liquid-cooled server, improve the recovery rate and utilization rate of waste heat. The principle of this technical solution is based on the second law of thermodynamics, using the thermoelectric effect to convert the waste heat generated by the server into electrical energy, and then driving the coolant circulation through the electrical energy to achieve the effective recovery and reuse of heat. The implementation effect is to significantly reduce the power consumption of the data center, improve the energy utilization efficiency, and reduce environmental heat pollution. The application scenarios are mainly concentrated in server-intensive places such as large data centers and cloud computing centers. Through this solution, these places can achieve a more green and economical operation mode.
[0057] In an exemplary embodiment, the cold plate in the liquid cooling system of the waste heat recovery system has a specific flow channel design inside. The flow channel adopts the shovel tooth process, and the tooth thickness and tooth gap are optimized to ensure that the thermal resistance at a low flow rate (0.7 L / min) is 0.033 °C / W. The design of the cold plate adopts an advanced shovel tooth process. Through precise control of the tooth thickness and tooth gap, efficient heat exchange at a lower flow rate is achieved, the thermal resistance is reduced, and the cooling efficiency is improved. The implementation effect is that good heat dissipation performance can be maintained even at a low flow rate, the usage amount of the coolant is reduced, and the system operation cost is lowered. The application scenario is in high-power servers, such as high-performance computing servers, graphics workstations, etc. These servers generate a large amount of heat during operation, and the server temperature can be effectively controlled through this solution to ensure the stable operation of the equipment.
[0058] In an exemplary embodiment, in the cold plate module, the flow rate of the coolant inside the cold plate is controlled not to exceed 1.5 m / s to reduce the pressure loss and ensure the stable operation of the system. The flow rate control is achieved through a precise flow regulating device to ensure that the flow rate of the coolant inside the cold plate not only meets the heat dissipation requirements but also does not cause excessive pressure loss. The implementation effect is to improve the stability of the system, reduce the energy consumption of the coolant circulation, and extend the service life of the system. The application scenario is in data centers that require long-term stable operation. Through flow rate control, the system can be effectively prevented from malfunctioning due to excessive pressure, ensuring the continuous and reliable operation of the data center.
[0059] In an exemplary embodiment, the cold plate module has a rated flow rate to maintain the heat dissipation efficiency of the system. The rated flow rate refers to the optimal flow rate value designed by the system on the premise of meeting the heat dissipation requirements. By setting a reasonable rated flow rate, the system can be ensured to operate in an optimal state, improving the heat dissipation efficiency and reducing the energy consumption. The implementation effect is that the system operates more efficiently and has a better heat dissipation effect. The application scenario is in various servers, whether standard servers or high-power servers. By setting an appropriate rated flow rate, the best heat dissipation effect can be achieved, improving the operation efficiency and stability of the server.
[0060] In an exemplary embodiment, the cold plate of the cold plate module is made of a metal material, such as copper or aluminum, to improve the heat conduction efficiency. The choice of the metal material is based on its excellent heat conduction performance. Especially for copper and aluminum, they have a high thermal conductivity coefficient and can quickly transfer the heat of the heat-generating device to the coolant, improving the heat exchange efficiency. The implementation effect is to improve the heat dissipation efficiency of the system, reduce the thermal resistance, enable the server to operate at a lower temperature, and improve the performance and service life of the equipment. The application scenario is in various servers that require efficient heat dissipation. By selecting a metal material with a high thermal conductivity coefficient, the heat dissipation effect can be significantly improved, the operating temperature of the server can be lowered, and the stability and reliability of the equipment can be improved.
[0061] In an exemplary embodiment, in the primary side cooling water circulation system of the system, the secondary side pump and the primary side pump work together, rationally configuring the power and flow rate to ensure the smooth flow of the coolant and reduce energy consumption. The coordinated operation of the pumps is achieved through precise flow rate and power matching, ensuring the smooth flow of the coolant in the system while reducing energy consumption. The implementation effect is that the system runs more smoothly and has lower energy consumption. The application scenario is in the cooling system of a data center. By rationally configuring the power and flow rate of the pumps, efficient circulation of the coolant can be achieved, reducing the operating cost of the system and improving the energy utilization efficiency.
[0062] In an exemplary embodiment, the system supports an online plug-and-play maintenance design. The server and the cooling system are connected through quick connectors, facilitating the operation of installing and removing the equipment on the rack and simplifying the operation and maintenance process. The online plug-and-play maintenance design is achieved through quick connectors, enabling the server to be installed and removed on the rack without shutting down the cooling system, simplifying the operation and maintenance process and improving the operation and maintenance efficiency. The implementation effect is that the operation of the operation and maintenance personnel is more convenient and the maintenance cost is lower. The application scenario is in a data center where servers need to be frequently replaced. Through the online plug-and-play maintenance design, the time for server replacement can be greatly shortened, improving the operation efficiency of the data center.
[0063] In an exemplary embodiment, the system can stably operate in a low-temperature environment, support server overclocking, and improve the data processing speed and efficiency. The low-temperature operation of the system is achieved through advanced cooling technology, enabling the server to maintain stable operation even in a low-temperature environment. Supporting server overclocking is achieved by improving the heat dissipation efficiency and reducing the operating temperature, allowing the server to operate at a higher frequency and improving the data processing speed and efficiency. The implementation effect is that the performance of the server is stronger and the data processing ability is higher. The application scenario is in places that require high-performance computing, such as scientific research institutions, financial companies, etc. By supporting server overclocking, the high requirements for data processing speed and efficiency in these places can be met.
[0064] In an exemplary embodiment, the system includes a secondary side cooling water temperature monitoring and control device to ensure the cooling efficiency of the cold plate. The secondary side cooling water temperature monitoring and control device is achieved through precise temperature sensors and control devices, which can real-time monitor the temperature of the cooling water and perform control according to needs to ensure the cooling efficiency of the cold plate. The implementation effect is that the system runs more stably and the cooling effect is better. The application scenario is in places that require precise control of the cooling water temperature, such as precision instrument manufacturing workshops, biological laboratories, etc. By monitoring and controlling the cooling water temperature, it can be ensured that the equipment operates at an appropriate temperature, improving the performance and lifespan of the equipment.
[0065] In an exemplary embodiment, the coolant circulation method utilizes the heat generated by the operation of the server as power to drive the circulation of the coolant, reducing the energy consumption of the cooling system. The innovation of the coolant circulation method lies in using the heat generated by the server operation as power instead of relying on electric drive, achieving true green energy conservation. The implementation effect is manifested as a significant reduction in the energy consumption of the cooling system and a greatly improved energy utilization efficiency. The application scenarios are in places pursuing green and low-carbon, such as environmental protection organizations, green data centers, etc. By using the heat generated by the server to drive the coolant circulation, the green operation of the cooling system can be achieved, reducing the impact on the environment.
[0066] Beneficial effects and technical advantages of this application:
[0067] Most traditional waste heat recovery methods use air as the heat dissipation medium. By sending low-temperature air into the server to conduct heat exchange with the heat-generating electronic components, the heat is then taken away. However, this method has problems such as low heat dissipation efficiency and high energy consumption. The present invention adopts a brand-new heat dissipation concept, using liquid as the heat dissipation medium. Compared with air cooling, liquid has a higher specific heat capacity and convective heat transfer coefficient. Only providing medium-temperature liquid can meet the heat dissipation requirements of the components, significantly improving the heat dissipation efficiency and being more energy-efficient.
[0068] Furthermore, the heat dissipation of the waste heat resource recovery and utilization method provided by this application is more efficient. Specifically, liquid has natural advantages in heat dissipation. From the perspective of specific heat capacity, the volume specific heat capacity of liquid is 1000 - 3500 times that of air, which means that when absorbing the same amount of heat, the temperature rise of the liquid is much smaller than that of air, and it can absorb a large amount of heat without a significant increase in its own temperature. In terms of the convective heat transfer coefficient, the convective heat transfer coefficient of liquid is 10 - 40 times that of air. Under the same space conditions, the cooling capacity of liquid cooling is much higher than that of air cooling. In practical applications, replacing the original heat dissipation kit of the CPU with a liquid cooling cold plate kit, through the forced convection of the process refrigerant in the cold plate, the heat in the equipment can be quickly taken away, greatly improving the heat dissipation efficiency.
[0069] Furthermore, the refrigeration accuracy of the waste heat resource recovery and utilization method provided by this application is high. Specifically, the cold plate kit can directly penetrate into the server to achieve more precise component-level refrigeration. By precisely controlling the flow rate, velocity, and temperature of the coolant inside the cold plate, the core temperature of the CPU can be stably controlled at about 65°C. This precise refrigeration method creates a more stable and suitable working temperature environment for the components, effectively improving the working reliability of the components and reducing the probability of failures caused by temperature fluctuations.
[0070] Furthermore, the method for recovering and utilizing waste heat resources provided by this application supports high-power deployment. Specifically, the cold plate liquid cooling technology, with its excellent heat dissipation efficiency, can meet the deployment requirements of a single cabinet with a power of up to 60 kW. In the scenario of high-density server deployment, this technology can effectively solve the heat dissipation problem, while reducing the floor area of the cabinet and the construction and operation costs of the data center.
[0071] Furthermore, the method for recovering and utilizing waste heat resources provided by this application is easy to maintain. Specifically, in the system design, the convenience of maintenance is fully considered. The server and the cabinet are connected by quick connectors. When the server is installed or removed, the cooling system can be plugged and unplugged online without affecting the normal operation of other servers. In addition, the original form and maintenance method of the server are retained, which maximally conforms to the usage habits of customers and reduces the learning cost and operation difficulty of the operation and maintenance personnel.
[0072] Furthermore, the method for recovering and utilizing waste heat resources provided by this application supports overclocking. Specifically, since this system can effectively reduce the operating temperature of the server, it provides favorable conditions for the server to overclock. In a stable low-temperature environment, the server can be allowed to overclock appropriately to tap the computing power potential of the server, improve the data processing speed and efficiency, and meet the growing high-performance computing requirements.
[0073] Furthermore, the method for recovering and utilizing waste heat resources provided by this application is more energy-efficient. Specifically, the entire cooling system uses medium-high temperature water as the cooling medium, abandoning the traditional method of relying on low-temperature water or air for heat dissipation. This design enables the cooling system to make full use of natural cold sources and reduces the energy consumption of the cooling system itself. Through actual tests, the cold plate liquid cooling CLF can be as low as below 0.1. Compared with the traditional air-cooled computer room, the energy-saving effect is remarkable, and energy savings of more than 20% can be achieved.
[0074] Furthermore, the method for recovering and utilizing waste heat resources provided by this application supports waste heat recovery. Specifically, the return water temperature on the primary side of the system is about 38°C - 45°C. Although it belongs to low-grade waste heat, considering the large scale of the data center, the amount of waste heat generated is considerable, stable, and continuous. Different waste heat recovery methods can be flexibly selected and set according to different waste heat utilization scenarios. For example, the waste heat can be used for office and domestic heating, pool heating, greenhouse heating in facility agriculture, etc., to achieve the nearby consumption of waste heat resources and improve the comprehensive energy utilization rate.
[0075] The above has introduced in detail a method for recycling and utilizing waste heat resources. Specific examples are used in this article to elaborate on the principle and implementation manner of this application. The description of the above embodiments is only used to help understand the method and its core idea of this application. It should be noted that for those of ordinary skill in the art, without departing from the principle of this application, several improvements and modifications can be made to this application, and these improvements and modifications also fall within the protection scope of the claims of this application.
Claims
1. A method for recovering and utilizing waste heat resources, characterized in that, Including: Before starting the waste heat recovery system, respectively perform initial settings on the first working parameters of the thermoelectric conversion module and the second working parameters of the thermal energy storage module according to the expected heat generation of the heat generating components of the server (1) and the power demand of the circulation pump (2), and monitor and record the initial temperature and energy storage state of the thermal energy storage module; Start the waste heat recovery system, record the flow value of the liquid flowing through the cold plate in real time, and obtain the thermal resistance value of the cold plate and the flow resistance value of the liquid flowing through the cold plate; Based on the thermal resistance value and the flow resistance value, and using the flow value of the liquid flowing through the cold plate as the abscissa and the thermal resistance value and the flow resistance value as the ordinates, plot the thermal performance curve of the cold plate and the flow resistance curve of the cold plate; If the measured maximum case temperature value that the cold plate can support is lower than the maximum case temperature value required by the design of the heat generating components, it indicates that the waste heat recovery system is operating normally, so that waste heat resources can be fully recovered and utilized to meet the heat dissipation requirements of the server (1).
2. The method for recovering and utilizing waste heat resources according to claim 1, wherein During the operation of the waste heat recovery system, record the case temperature value and power consumption value of the heat generating components, and the liquid temperature at the inlet of the cold plate in real time; Calculate the thermal resistance value of the cold plate according to the first formula R = (Tc - TL) / Q, where R represents the thermal resistance value of the cold plate, with the unit of °C / W; Tc represents the case temperature value of the heat generating components, with the unit of °C; TL represents the liquid temperature at the inlet of the cold plate, with the unit of °C; Q represents the power consumption value of the heat generating components, with the unit of W.
3. The method for recovering and utilizing waste heat resources according to claim 1, wherein During the operation of the waste heat recovery system, record the inlet pressure value of the cold plate, the outlet pressure value of the cold plate, the case temperature value and power consumption value of the heat generating components, the liquid temperature at the inlet of the cold plate, and the flow value of the liquid flowing through the cold plate in real time; Calculate the flow resistance value of the liquid flowing through the cold plate according to the second formula ΔP = P1 - P2, where ΔP represents the flow resistance value of the liquid flowing through the cold plate, with the unit of KPa; P1 represents the inlet pressure value of the cold plate, with the unit of KPa; P2 represents the outlet pressure value of the cold plate, with the unit of KPa.
4. The method for recovering and utilizing waste heat resources according to claim 1, wherein The first working parameters at least include working voltage and working current.
5. The method for recovering and utilizing waste heat resources according to claim 1, wherein The second working parameters at least include energy storage capacity.
6. The method for recovering and utilizing waste heat resources according to claim 5, characterized in that, The method for recovering and utilizing waste heat resources further includes an assembly method of the waste heat recovery system, and the assembly method of the waste heat recovery system includes: Set the thermoelectric conversion module on the coolant circulation pipeline of the liquid cooling device of the server (1), and connect the thermoelectric conversion module to the circulation pump (2) to convert the heat generated by the heat generating components into electrical energy of the circulation pump (2) to drive the coolant to circulate; Set the thermal energy storage module on the coolant circulation pipeline to store the excess heat generated by the heat generating components.
7. The method for recovering and utilizing waste heat resources according to claim 6, wherein, The assembly method of the waste heat recovery system further includes: The thermoelectric conversion module is connected to the thermal energy storage module so that when there is insufficient thermal energy in the coolant circulation pipeline, the thermal energy storage module provides thermal energy to the thermoelectric conversion module.
8. The method for recovering and utilizing waste heat resources according to claim 6, characterized in that, The assembling method of the waste heat recovery system further includes: Connect the outlet of the cold plate to the input circulation main pipeline (301) of the cabinet (3), and connect the inlet of the cold plate to the output circulation main pipeline (302) of the cabinet (3); Connect the input circulation main pipeline (301) to the first inlet of the cold quantity distribution module (4), and connect the output circulation main pipeline (302) to the first outlet of the cold quantity distribution module (4).
9. The method for recycling and utilization of waste heat resources according to claim 8, characterized in that, The assembling method of the waste heat recovery system further includes: Connect the second outlet of the cold quantity distribution module (4) to the inlet of the closed cooling tower (5) located outside the computer room, and connect the second inlet of the cold quantity distribution module (4) to the outlet of the closed cooling tower (5).
10. The method for recovering and utilizing waste heat resources according to claim 8, characterized in that, The assembling method of the waste heat recovery system further includes: Arrange the circulation pump (2) on the pipeline between the first outlet of the cold quantity distribution module (4) and the output circulation main pipeline (302).
Citation Information
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