Auxiliary refrigeration system suitable for data center and data center

Abstract

The utility model provides an auxiliary refrigeration system suitable for a data center and the data center, and the auxiliary refrigeration system comprises a coil pipe which is arranged in an air return pipeline of a refrigeration system of the data center, and a refrigerant is stored in the coil pipe; the cooling tower is arranged outside the building where the data center is located, and cooling water is stored in the cooling tower; the heat exchanger comprises a heating medium pipe and a refrigerant pipe, the heating medium pipe is communicated with the coil pipe, and the refrigerant pipe is communicated with the cooling tower; and the refrigerant is configured to absorb heat of return air in the coil pipe to be changed into a gas state from a liquid state and enter the heating medium pipe, and the gas-state refrigerant exchanges heat with cooling water in the refrigerant pipe to be converted into the liquid state and flows back to the coil pipe. According to the auxiliary refrigerating system, the seasonal temperature of the external environment of the data center can be utilized, the cooling tower and the heat exchanger are matched to modify an existing cooling system of the data center, and the energy consumption of the cooling system is reduced by reducing the temperature of return air entering the cooling system.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] The utility model relates to the field of heat dissipation in data centers, and in particular to an auxiliary refrigeration system suitable for data centers and a data center. Background Art

[0002] Data center, also known as Internet Data Center (IDC), refers to a platform with complete equipment (including high-speed Internet access bandwidth, high-performance local area network, safe and reliable computer room environment, etc.), professional management, and complete application service platform. Based on this platform, IDC service providers provide customers with Internet basic platform services (server hosting, virtual hosting, mail cache, virtual mail, etc.) and various value-added services (site rental services, domain name system services, load balancing systems, database systems, data backup services, etc.).

[0003] With the rise of e-commerce, enterprise users will process more and more business through the Internet or Intranet, which allows enterprises to save costs and improve efficiency. However, if an enterprise builds such a platform by itself, it needs to build a computer room, build a system, and hire a lot of development and maintenance personnel. Not only does it require a large amount of capital investment, but it is also difficult to achieve professional-level service quality. IDC can provide enterprises with this series of support, eliminating the worries of enterprises.

[0004] With the continuous development of the information industry and social economy, the construction scale and number of data centers are growing rapidly. Data centers consume a lot of energy. According to relevant data, the total electricity consumption of data centers in 2020 exceeded 200 billion kWh, accounting for 2.7% of the total electricity consumption of the whole society, and it is increasing every year.

[0005] In some data centers built in the early days, the terminal mostly used N+1 configured chilled water type precision air conditioners to cool the computer room. This cooling method requires high-power chillers to continuously provide low-temperature water for the terminal air conditioners. In addition, a series of auxiliary equipment such as cooling towers and water pumps are required to ensure the continuous and stable operation of the refrigeration system, and the HVAC system has high energy consumption.

[0006] In view of the above situation, how to reduce the energy consumption of existing data centers is an urgent problem to be solved. In the total energy consumption of data centers, the power consumption of the refrigeration system accounts for more than 15%. Therefore, the energy-saving and efficient operation of the HVAC system is of great significance to reducing the energy consumption of data centers. Utility Model Content

[0007] In view of this, the utility model provides an auxiliary refrigeration system suitable for a data center, comprising:

[0008] A coil, arranged in a return air duct of a refrigeration system of the data center, wherein a refrigerant is stored in the coil;

[0009] a cooling tower, disposed outside the building where the data center is located, wherein cooling water is stored in the cooling tower; and

[0010] A heat exchanger, comprising a heat medium pipe and a refrigerant pipe, wherein the heat medium pipe is connected to the coil, and the refrigerant pipe is connected to the cooling tower;

[0011] The refrigerant is configured to absorb the heat of the return air in the coil, change from liquid to gas and enter the heat medium pipe. The gaseous refrigerant exchanges heat with the cooling water in the refrigerant pipe, changes to liquid and flows back to the coil.

[0012] According to some embodiments of the present invention, the auxiliary refrigeration system further includes:

[0013] A coolant evaporation tube, one end of which is connected to the coil and the other end of which is connected to the inlet of the heat medium tube, the coolant evaporation tube being suitable for circulating gaseous refrigerant; and

[0014] A coolant return pipe has one end connected to the outlet of the heat medium pipe and the other end connected to the coil. The coolant return pipe is suitable for returning the refrigerant liquefied in the heat medium pipe to the coil.

[0015] According to some embodiments of the present invention, the auxiliary refrigeration system further includes:

[0016] A reflux pump is arranged on the coolant reflux pipe.

[0017] According to some embodiments of the present invention, the height of the location of the heat exchanger is higher than the height of the location of the coil, and the auxiliary refrigeration system further includes:

[0018] A gravity heat pipe is connected to the coil at one end and to the heat medium pipe at the other end.

[0019] According to some embodiments of the present invention, the auxiliary refrigeration system further includes:

[0020] Temperature sensors are arranged on the coolant evaporation pipe and the coolant return pipe to obtain temperature information of the gaseous refrigerant and the liquid refrigerant respectively;

[0021] A pressure sensor is provided on the coolant evaporation pipe and the coolant return pipe to obtain pressure information of the gaseous refrigerant and the liquid refrigerant respectively; and

[0022] A valve assembly is provided on the coolant evaporation pipe and the coolant return pipe, and the valve assembly is configured to adjust the opening of a valve based on the temperature information and / or the pressure information.

[0023] According to some embodiments of the present invention, there are multiple coils.

[0024] According to some embodiments of the present invention, the coil is a fin coil.

[0025] According to some embodiments of the present invention, the refrigerant includes R134a.

[0026] According to another aspect of the invention, a data center is provided, including:

[0027] A return air duct is arranged in the computer room, and the return air duct is suitable for returning hot air generated by heat exchange with the IT cabinet to the air conditioning component; and

[0028] Auxiliary refrigeration system as described above.

[0029] According to some embodiments of the present invention, the machine room includes a closed cold channel, and the return air duct is connected to the return air outlet of the machine room; or

[0030] The machine room comprises a closed hot channel, and the return air duct is in communication with the closed hot channel.

[0031] According to the auxiliary refrigeration system suitable for a data center according to the embodiment of the utility model, it is possible to effectively utilize the seasonal temperature of the external environment of the data center, and to transform the cooling system of the existing data center in conjunction with a cooling tower and a heat exchanger, thereby reducing the energy consumption of the cooling system by lowering the temperature of the return air entering the cooling system. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0032] The above and other purposes, features and advantages of the present invention will become more apparent through the following description of the embodiments of the present invention with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which:

[0033] Figure 1 A schematic structural block diagram of an auxiliary cooling system applicable to a data center according to an embodiment of the utility model is schematically shown;

[0034] Figure 2 A schematic structural block diagram of an auxiliary cooling system applicable to a data center according to another embodiment of the utility model is schematically shown;

[0035] Figure 3 A schematic diagram of a data center structure according to an embodiment of the present invention is shown; and

[0036] Figure 4The structural block diagram of a data center according to another embodiment of the utility model is schematically shown.

[0037] In the above drawings, the meanings of the reference numerals are as follows:

[0038] 1- Coil;

[0039] 2-Return air duct;

[0040] 3-Cooling tower;

[0041] 4-Heat exchanger;

[0042] 5-Coolant evaporation pipe;

[0043] 6-Coolant return pipe;

[0044] 7- Gravity heat pipe;

[0045] 8- Raised floor;

[0046] 9-Cold air;

[0047] 10-Hot air;

[0048] 11-IT cabinet;

[0049] 12- Close the cold aisle;

[0050] 13-Precision air conditioning;

[0051] 14-Seal off the hot aisle. DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0052] In order to make the purpose, technical solutions and advantages of the present invention more clearly understood, the present invention is further described in detail below in conjunction with specific embodiments and with reference to the accompanying drawings.

[0053] The terms used herein are only for describing specific embodiments and are not intended to limit the present invention. The terms "include", "comprises", etc. used herein indicate the existence of the features, steps, operations and / or components, but do not exclude the existence or addition of one or more other features, steps, operations or components.

[0054] All terms used herein, including technical and scientific terms, have the meanings commonly understood by those skilled in the art, unless otherwise defined. It should be noted that the terms used herein should be interpreted as having a meaning consistent with the context of this specification, and should not be interpreted in an idealized or overly rigid manner.

[0055] When using expressions such as "at least one of A, B, and C, etc.", it should generally be interpreted as the meaning of the expression generally understood by those skilled in the art. For example, "a system having at least one of A, B, and C" should include but not be limited to a system having A alone, B alone, C alone, A and B, A and C, B and C, and / or A, B, C, etc. When using expressions such as "at least one of A, B, or C, etc.", it should generally be interpreted as the meaning of the expression generally understood by those skilled in the art. For example, "a system having at least one of A, B, or C" should include but not be limited to a system having A alone, B alone, C alone, A and B, A and C, B and C, and / or A, B, C, etc.

[0056] It should also be noted that the directional terms mentioned in the embodiments, such as "upper", "lower", "front", "back", "left", "right", etc., are only for reference to the drawings and are not intended to limit the scope of protection of the present invention. Throughout the drawings, the same elements are represented by the same or similar reference numerals. Conventional structures or constructions will be omitted when they may cause confusion in the understanding of the present invention.

[0057] In the relevant technologies, some data centers built in the early stage have quite different supporting facilities from those of newly built modern data centers due to many factors such as design level and cost considerations during the construction period. They have poor energy-saving effects and high energy consumption.

[0058] In the utility model, for data centers built in mid-latitudes (33°N~53°N) and mid-to-high latitudes, an independent auxiliary refrigeration system is added on the basis of the original refrigeration system of the data center. In the transition season and winter, the outdoor natural cold can be fully utilized to reduce the operating time of the compressor, assist the original refrigeration system in energy-saving operation, reduce the return air temperature of the source system, reduce the energy consumption of the HVAC system, and the impact on the original refrigeration system can effectively reduce the power consumption of the refrigeration system.

[0059] Figure 1 A schematic structural block diagram of an auxiliary cooling system applicable to a data center according to an embodiment of the utility model is schematically shown; Figure 2 A schematic structural block diagram of an auxiliary cooling system applicable to a data center according to another embodiment of the utility model is schematically shown.

[0060] According to the inventive concept of one aspect of the utility model, an auxiliary refrigeration system suitable for a data center is provided, comprising: a coil 1, a cooling tower 3 and a heat exchanger 4. The coil 1 is arranged in the return air duct 2 of the refrigeration system of the data center, and a refrigerant is stored in the coil 1. The cooling tower 3 is arranged outside the building where the data center is located, and cooling water is stored in the cooling tower 3. The heat exchanger 4 includes a heat medium pipe and a refrigerant pipe, the heat medium pipe is connected to the coil 1, and the refrigerant pipe is connected to the cooling tower 3. Among them, the refrigerant is configured to absorb the heat of the return air in the coil 1, change from liquid to gas and enter the heat medium pipe, and the gaseous refrigerant exchanges heat with the cooling water in the refrigerant pipe to become liquid and flow back to the coil 1.

[0061] In this embodiment, the auxiliary cooling system can effectively utilize the seasonal temperature of the external environment of the data center and is suitable for mid-latitude and mid-high latitude regions. It cooperates with cooling towers and heat exchangers to transform the cooling system of the existing data center. By lowering the temperature of the return air entering the cooling system, the energy consumption of the cooling system is reduced without affecting the existing refrigeration system.

[0062] According to some embodiments of the present invention, an elevated floor is generally used in a computer room, and the space under the elevated floor is used for wiring or installing pipes. Air outlets are opened on the elevated floor, and the refrigeration system transports cold air from the air outlet to the inside of the computer room through the space under the elevated floor (or in conjunction with the pipes). Alternatively, the IT cabinet is arranged above the air outlet, and the cold air is directly transported to the IT cabinet and the electronic equipment for heat exchange, and the hot air generated by the heat exchange is transported to the refrigeration system through the return air duct 2.

[0063] According to some embodiments of the utility model, the return air duct 2 is provided with a plurality of return air ports, and a shutter is optionally provided on the return air port; further, the coil 1 is optionally provided behind the shutter. After the hot air in the computer room passes through the shutter and exchanges heat with the coil 1, the temperature is reduced and then transported back to the refrigeration system, thereby achieving the purpose of reducing the energy consumption of the data center.

[0064] According to some optional embodiments of the present invention, the coil 1 is a spiral coil, and the spiral coil is evenly arranged in the space behind the blinds.

[0065] According to some alternative embodiments of the present invention, the coil 1 is a serpentine array coil, and hot air passes through the gaps between the coils 1 to complete heat exchange.

[0066] According to some embodiments of the utility model, the coil 1 is connected to the heat medium pipe through the coolant evaporation pipe 5 and the coolant return pipe 6, wherein the liquid coolant in the coil 1 becomes gaseous in the process of heat exchange with hot air, and enters the heat medium pipe through the coolant evaporation pipe 5. In the heat exchanger 4, the refrigerant pipe is connected to the cooling tower 3, and the low-temperature cooling water in the cooling tower 3 circulates into the refrigerant pipe and performs countercurrent heat exchange with the gaseous coolant in the heat medium pipe, and the gaseous refrigerant becomes liquid and flows back to the coil 1 from the coolant return pipe 6. The return air temperature of the computer room of the data center is generally maintained at 28℃~34℃, and the temperature range in the transition season and winter at mid-latitudes and mid-high latitudes includes -10℃~30℃. The cooling tower 3 exchanges heat with the external environment, thereby ensuring that the temperature of the cooling water therein is maintained at 0~25℃. Based on this, the return air temperature of the computer room can be reduced by the auxiliary refrigeration system in the transition season and winter, thereby reducing the energy consumption of the data center.

[0067] According to some embodiments of the present invention, the auxiliary refrigeration system further comprises a reflux pump, which is disposed on the coolant reflux pipe 6 and pumps the liquefied refrigerant back into the coil 1 through the reflux pump.

[0068] According to some embodiments of the utility model, the auxiliary refrigeration system further includes a temperature sensor, a pressure sensor and a valve assembly. The temperature sensor is arranged on the coolant evaporation pipe and the coolant return pipe to obtain the temperature information of the gaseous refrigerant and the liquid refrigerant respectively; the pressure sensor is arranged on the coolant evaporation pipe and the coolant return pipe to obtain the pressure information of the gaseous refrigerant and the liquid refrigerant respectively. The valve assembly is arranged on the coolant evaporation pipe and the coolant return pipe, and the valve assembly is configured to adjust the opening of the valve based on the temperature information and / or the pressure information.

[0069] According to some optional embodiments of the utility model, the auxiliary refrigeration system also includes a heat preservation component, which includes a temperature sensor and a heat preservation sleeve. The heat preservation sleeve is detachable. When the ambient temperature is lower than 0°C, the heat preservation sleeve is wrapped on the pipe between the cooling tower 3 and the refrigerant pipe to prevent the cooling water in the pipe from freezing. Further optional, it also includes an electric heating strip, which is arranged in the heat preservation sleeve. When the external ambient temperature is lower than a preset temperature (for example, -5°C, -8°C, -10°C, -12°C or -15°C), the electric heating strip is activated.

[0070] According to some optional embodiments of the utility model, the height of the location of the heat exchanger 4 is higher than the height of the location of the coil 1, and the auxiliary refrigeration system also includes a gravity heat pipe 7, one end of the gravity heat pipe 7 is connected to the coil 1, and the other end is connected to the heat medium pipe.

[0071] In this embodiment, the coil 1 is equivalent to the evaporation section, the gravity heat pipe 7 is covered with an insulation sleeve, which is equivalent to the insulation section, and the heat medium pipe is equivalent to the condensation section. The coil 1 stores liquid refrigerant, which becomes gaseous after heat exchange with hot air and rises through the gravity heat pipe 7 until it enters the heat medium pipe and condenses back into liquid. The condensed liquid refrigerant falls back into the coil 1 under the action of gravity.

[0072] According to some embodiments of the present invention, there are multiple coils 1 , and the number of coils 1 matches the number of openings of the return air duct 2 .

[0073] According to some embodiments of the present invention, the coil 1 is a fin coil so as to better perform heat exchange with hot air.

[0074] According to some optional embodiments of the utility model, the refrigerant includes R134a, and the refrigerant R134a (tetrafluoroethane) is one of the main refrigerants. In the present application, the heat pipe is pressurized. For example, when the pressure in the heat pipe is increased to about 685Kpa, the saturation temperature of the refrigerant R134a is about 26°C. Among them, the temperature range of the cooling tower in the middle and high latitudes is 5-30°C throughout the year, and the return air temperature of the machine room is generally 28-34°C. Based on this, the requirements of the refrigeration cycle can be met.

[0075] Figure 3 The structural block diagram of a data center according to an embodiment of the utility model is schematically shown; Figure 4 The structural block diagram of a data center according to another embodiment of the utility model is schematically shown.

[0076] According to another aspect of the invention, a data center is provided, including a return air duct and the auxiliary cooling system as described above. The return air duct 2 is arranged in the machine room, and the return air duct 2 is suitable for returning the hot air 10 generated by heat exchange with the IT cabinet 11 to the air conditioning component.

[0077] According to some embodiments of the present invention, the machine room includes a closed cold channel 12, and the return air duct 2 is connected to the return air outlet of the machine room.

[0078] In this embodiment, the precision air conditioner 13 inhales hot air 10 and outputs cold air 9, which is transported to the closed cold channel 12 through the raised floor 8 of the machine room. The cold air 9 exchanges heat with the equipment in the TT cabinet 11 and generates hot air 10. After the hot air 10 enters the space in the machine room, it enters from the air inlet on the ventilation duct 2. The hot air 10 exchanges heat with the coil 1 in the ventilation duct 2, and the temperature of the hot air 10 drops, thereby reducing the energy consumption of the precision air conditioner 13. The working principle of the refrigerant in the coil 1 has been described in detail in the previous paragraph, so it will not be repeated here.

[0079] According to some replaceable embodiments of the utility model, the computer room includes a closed hot channel 14, and the return air duct 2 is connected to the closed hot channel 14. The difference from the above embodiment is that the cold air 9 prepared by the precision air conditioner 13 is directly transported to the computer room space through the raised floor 8, and then enters the IT cabinet from the computer room to exchange heat with the electronic equipment inside to generate hot air 10, and the hot air 10 enters the closed hot channel 14, and the closed hot channel 14 is connected to the return air duct 2. The subsequent work flow is consistent with the above embodiment, and no excessive elaboration is given here.

[0080] So far, the embodiments of the present disclosure have been described in detail in conjunction with the accompanying drawings. It should be noted that the implementation methods not shown or described in the drawings or the body of the specification are all forms known to ordinary technicians in the relevant technical field and are not described in detail. In addition, the above definitions of each component are not limited to the various specific structures, shapes or methods mentioned in the embodiments, and ordinary technicians in the field can simply change or replace them.

[0081] It should also be noted that, in the specific embodiments of the present disclosure, unless otherwise indicated, the numerical parameters in the present specification and the attached claims are approximate values ​​and can be changed according to the desired characteristics obtained through the content of the present disclosure. Specifically, all numbers used in the specification and claims to express the size, range conditions, etc. of the composition should be understood to be modified by the term "about" in all cases. In general, the meaning of the expression refers to the change of ±10% in some embodiments, ±5% in some embodiments, ±1% in some embodiments, and ±0.5% in some embodiments by a specific number.

[0082] It will be appreciated by those skilled in the art that the features described in the various embodiments and / or claims of the present disclosure may be combined and / or combined in a variety of ways, even if such combinations and / or combinations are not explicitly described in the present disclosure. In particular, the features described in the various embodiments and / or claims of the present disclosure may be combined and / or combined in a variety of ways without departing from the spirit and teachings of the present disclosure. All of these combinations and / or combinations fall within the scope of the present disclosure.

[0083] The specific embodiments described above further illustrate the purpose, technical solutions and beneficial effects of the present disclosure. It should be understood that the above description is only a specific embodiment of the present disclosure and is not intended to limit the present disclosure. Any modifications, equivalent substitutions, improvements, etc. made within the spirit and principles of the present disclosure should be included in the protection scope of the present disclosure.

Claims

1. Auxiliary cooling system for data center, characterized in that: include: A coil, arranged in a return air duct of a refrigeration system of the data center, wherein a refrigerant is stored in the coil; a cooling tower, disposed outside the building where the data center is located, wherein cooling water is stored in the cooling tower; and A heat exchanger, comprising a heat medium pipe and a refrigerant pipe, wherein the heat medium pipe is connected to the coil, and the refrigerant pipe is connected to the cooling tower; The refrigerant is configured to absorb the heat of the return air in the coil, change from liquid to gas and enter the heat medium pipe. The gaseous refrigerant exchanges heat with the cooling water in the refrigerant pipe, changes to liquid and flows back to the coil.

2. The auxiliary refrigeration system according to claim 1, characterized in that: Also includes: A coolant evaporation tube, one end of which is connected to the coil and the other end of which is connected to the inlet of the heat medium tube, and the coolant evaporation tube is suitable for circulating gaseous refrigerant; as well as A coolant return pipe has one end connected to the outlet of the heat medium pipe and the other end connected to the coil. The coolant return pipe is suitable for returning the refrigerant liquefied in the heat medium pipe to the coil.

3. The auxiliary refrigeration system according to claim 2, characterized in that: Also includes: A reflux pump is arranged on the coolant reflux pipe.

4. The auxiliary refrigeration system according to claim 1, characterized in that: The height of the location of the heat exchanger is higher than the height of the location of the coil, and the auxiliary refrigeration system further includes: A gravity heat pipe is connected to the coil at one end and to the heat medium pipe at the other end.

5. The auxiliary refrigeration system according to claim 2, characterized in that: Also includes: Temperature sensors are arranged on the coolant evaporation pipe and the coolant return pipe to obtain temperature information of the gaseous refrigerant and the liquid refrigerant respectively; A pressure sensor is arranged on the coolant evaporation pipe and the coolant return pipe to obtain pressure information of gaseous refrigerant and liquid refrigerant respectively; as well as A valve assembly is provided on the coolant evaporation pipe and the coolant return pipe, and the valve assembly is configured to adjust the opening of a valve based on the temperature information and / or the pressure information.

6. The auxiliary refrigeration system according to claim 1, characterized in that: The number of the coils is multiple.

7. The auxiliary refrigeration system according to claim 1, characterized in that: The coil is a fin coil.

8. The auxiliary refrigeration system according to claim 1, characterized in that: The refrigerant includes R134a.

9. A data center, characterized in that: include: A return air duct is arranged in the computer room, and the return air duct is suitable for returning hot air generated by heat exchange with the IT cabinet to the air conditioning component; as well as The auxiliary refrigeration system according to any one of claims 1 to 8.

10. The data center according to claim 9, characterized in that: The machine room includes a closed cold channel, and the return air duct is connected to the return air outlet of the machine room; or The machine room comprises a closed hot channel, and the return air duct is in communication with the closed hot channel.

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