An extreme refrigeration data center
By dividing the AHU units into rooftop and exterior wall sections within the data center building and adopting a stepped layout and enclosed hot aisle design, the problems of poor flexibility, high energy consumption, and uneven airflow in traditional data centers are solved, achieving efficient and energy-saving cooling and stable operation.
Patent Information
- Authority / Receiving Office
- CN · China
- Patent Type
- Utility models(China)
- Current Assignee / Owner
- ZHONGLIAN YUNGANG DATA TECH CO LTD
- Filing Date
- 2025-05-27
- Publication Date
- 2026-06-05
AI Technical Summary
Traditional data centers suffer from poor flexibility, high energy consumption, and uneven airflow, leading to long construction cycles, energy waste, and equipment overheating.
The data center building is divided into two sub-projects using expansion joints. The AHU units are located on the roof and the exterior wall respectively, and are connected by headers and ducts to achieve linear and vertical air supply. Combined with the stepped exhaust airflow, the supply and return air paths are optimized to form a closed thermal aisle, reducing airflow interference and energy consumption.
It achieves highly efficient and energy-saving cooling, shortens the construction cycle, reduces energy consumption, ensures stable equipment operation, improves IT output, and saves energy.
Smart Images
Figure CN224329794U_ABST
Abstract
Description
Technical Field
[0001] This utility model belongs to, but is not limited to, the field of data center technology, and particularly relates to an extreme cooling data center. Background Technology
[0002] In recent years, with the rapid development of data center facilities, centralization has gradually become an important direction for industry development. Centralization is not only reflected in the professional integration and optimization of data centers, but also in the deep integration of existing hardware equipment to effectively reduce energy consumption, improve operating efficiency, and thus help enterprises achieve rapid business development.
[0003] During the integration of hardware equipment, data centers, through rational planning and layout, maximize the energy-saving effects of equipment and significantly improve power utilization efficiency, thereby saving enterprises substantial energy costs. Simultaneously, modular data center construction planning greatly shortens the construction cycle, providing strong support for enterprises to rapidly deploy and expand.
[0004] The selection and process design of air conditioning equipment largely determine the form and planning of data center buildings. Indirect evaporative chillers, often referred to as AHUs (Air Handling Units), are particularly important in data centers because data center equipment is densely packed and generates a large amount of heat, requiring efficient air handling systems to maintain a suitable operating environment. The proper layout of AHUs has a direct impact on the energy consumption, operational stability, and equipment lifespan of the data center.
[0005] Domestic traditional data centers often have the following problems: (1) poor flexibility and limited growth, large initial investment and long construction period, which seriously restricts the capacity growth of IT infrastructure due to site and space constraints; (2) high energy consumption, the cooling equipment cannot be allocated according to the actual equipment needs, resulting in high overall energy waste and local overheating; (3) uneven airflow: the indirect evaporation cooling scheme is adopted but the airflow organization is uneven, which may lead to poor heat dissipation of some equipment or even overheating.
[0006] This utility model discloses a data center layout based on an indirect evaporative cooling scheme. Through innovative layout, it achieves an ultimate cooling effect, thereby shortening the construction cycle, simplifying the operation and maintenance process, and improving the IT output of a single data center. Utility Model Content
[0007] In view of the problems existing in the prior art, this utility model provides an ultimate cooling data center.
[0008] This utility model is implemented as follows: an ultimate cooling data center, characterized in that the data center building is divided into two building sub-projects by expansion joints, with AHU units located on the roof and exterior wall respectively. The roof-side AHU units are divided into two areas by power distribution and auxiliary facilities; the AHU units are set close to the exterior wall and roof respectively according to the location of the computer room module, so that the AHU unit equipment and the rack rows are close and have a good correspondence; the exterior wall-side AHUs are connected to the exterior wall through headers; the roof-side AHUs are connected to the air intake shaft and return air shaft respectively through air ducts; the outdoor AHU units are arranged in a stepped manner, with heat dissipation in stages, so that the exhaust airflow does not interfere with each other. The extreme cooling data center includes: a data center building, divided into two sub-buildings by an expansion joint; multiple air handling units (AHUs) located on the roof and exterior walls of the building, with the roof-side AHUs divided into two areas by power distribution and ancillary facilities; the exterior-wall-side AHUs connected to the exterior walls via headers, and connected to air intake and return shafts via ductwork; a hot aisle structure between the AHUs and the server racks, comprising a combined ceiling, server rack hot aisles, roof, exterior walls, and / or polycarbonate panels; the outdoor AHUs are arranged in a stepped configuration, with the first, second, and third rows of airflow arranged in a tiered manner. The expansion joint is located between the building structures. The exterior-wall-side AHUs are connected to the exterior walls via headers and are located on the outer perimeter of the building. The roof-side AHUs are connected to the air intake and return shafts via ductwork. The hot aisle structure includes polycarbonate panels located in the top area between the AHUs and the server racks. The first, second, and third exhaust airflows are arranged in a stepped spatial configuration, with the exhaust airflows adjacent to each other but not overlapping.
[0009] Based on the above technical solutions and the technical problems solved, the advantages and positive effects of the technical solution to be protected by this utility model are as follows: The data center building is divided into two building sub-projects by expansion joints, which is conducive to phased delivery of the building. The AHU units are located on the roof and the exterior wall side respectively. The AHU units on the roof side are divided into two areas by power distribution and auxiliary facilities, which reduces airflow interference between units and improves the heat dissipation efficiency of the data center. The AHU units are set close to the exterior wall side and the roof side according to the different locations of the computer room modules on the computer room floor, so that the AHU unit equipment and the rack rows are close and have a good correspondence, realizing the direct air supply of the air conditioning equipment to the rack rows, thereby reducing energy consumption and ensuring the stable operation of the equipment. The supply and return air paths of the AHU units are optimized to ensure that the airflow can circulate evenly and quickly to achieve the best cooling effect. The outdoor heat dissipation equipment is arranged in a stepped manner to dissipate heat step by step, effectively avoiding mutual influence of airflow between units, and allowing the equipment to more fully distribute the hot airflow into the atmosphere. The exterior wall-side AHU is connected to the exterior wall via headers, enabling direct air supply and return to the modular computer rooms near the exterior wall. The roof-side AHU is connected to the intake and return air shafts via ducts, enabling vertical air supply to the modular computer rooms in the middle of the building. Both locations minimize bends and resistance in the air supply and return paths, ensuring uniform and rapid airflow for optimal cooling performance. The outdoor AHU units are arranged in a stepped configuration for tiered heat dissipation, preventing interference between the first, second, and third exhaust airflows and effectively avoiding mutual influence between units. This allows for more efficient distribution of hot air into the atmosphere. The separation of hot and cold aisles reduces the data center's power consumption, saving energy. The AHU located on the exterior wall and the server rack are enclosed by a combination of suspended ceiling, server rack hot aisle, roof, and exterior wall; the AHU located on the roof and the server rack are enclosed by a combination of suspended ceiling, server rack hot aisle, polycarbonate panel, roof, and building partition wall. Both locations of the AHU and its corresponding modular server room achieve hot aisle enclosure, and make full use of building roof, walls, suspended ceiling and other components. This is reliable and reasonably combined, reduces the power consumption ratio of the data center and saves energy.
[0010] The overall layout of this utility model has the following characteristics: ① It is logically clear, easy to phase, reduces investment costs, and facilitates operation and maintenance management; ② It realizes the stepped arrangement of heat dissipation equipment, heat dissipation at each level, thereby achieving the ultimate cooling effect and making the system highly efficient and energy-saving; ③ It also realizes the straight supply and return air of AHUs on the exterior wall side and roof side, improving the IT output of a single data center building. Attached Figure Description
[0011] Figure 1 This is a schematic diagram of the data center building structure provided in an embodiment of the present utility model; Figure 2 This is a schematic diagram of the AHU unit location provided in this embodiment of the utility model; Figure 3This is a schematic diagram of the outdoor AHU unit layout provided in this embodiment of the utility model;
[0012] Figure 1 In the middle: 1. Roof; 2. Exterior wall; 3. Expansion joint; 4. Power distribution and ancillary facilities space; 5. Air intake shaft; 6. Return air shaft; 7. AHU unit; 8. Exterior wall-side AHU unit; 9. Roof-side AHU unit; 10. Roof power distribution and ancillary facilities space; 11. Machine room floor power distribution and ancillary facilities space; 12. Server rack; 13. Combined ceiling; 14. Server rack hot aisle; 15. Polycarbonate panel; 16. First exhaust airflow; 17. Second exhaust airflow; 18. Third exhaust airflow. Detailed Implementation
[0013] To make the objectives, technical solutions, and advantages of this utility model clearer, the following detailed description is provided in conjunction with embodiments. It should be understood that the specific embodiments described herein are merely illustrative and not intended to limit the scope of this utility model.
[0014] This utility model embodiment provides an extreme cooling data center, such as Figure 1 As shown, the data center building is divided into two building sub-projects by expansion joint 3, which is conducive to phased delivery of the building. AHU units 7 are located on the roof and the exterior wall respectively. The roof-side AHU units 9 are divided into two areas by the power distribution and auxiliary facilities space 4, which reduces airflow interference between units and improves the heat dissipation efficiency of the data center.
[0015] like Figure 1 , 2 As shown, AHU unit 7 is set close to the outer wall and the roof depending on the location of the computer room module, so that the AHU unit 7 equipment is close to and has a good correspondence with the 12 rows of cabinets, so that the air conditioning equipment can directly supply air to the 12 rows of cabinets, thereby reducing energy consumption and ensuring the stable operation of the equipment.
[0016] like Figure 2 As shown, the AHU on the exterior wall is connected to the exterior wall 2 via a header, enabling direct air supply and return to the module room near the exterior wall 2; the AHU on the roof is connected to the air inlet shaft and return air shaft 6 via ducts, enabling vertical air supply to the module room in the middle of the building; the air supply and return paths of the AHU chiller units in both locations have minimized bends and resistance, ensuring that the airflow can be uniform and rapid, achieving the ultimate cooling effect.
[0017] like Figure 3 As shown, the outdoor AHU unit has a 7-step arrangement for heat dissipation, which prevents the exhaust airflow from interfering with each other and effectively avoids mutual influence between the airflows of the units, allowing the equipment to more fully distribute the hot airflow into the atmosphere.
[0018] like Figure 2 As shown, the AHU and cabinet 12 located on the outer wall are connected by a combined suspended ceiling 13, cabinet hot aisle 14, roof 1, and outer wall 2 to form a closed hot aisle.
[0019] The AHU and cabinet 12 located on the roof side are connected by a combined suspended ceiling 13, cabinet hot aisle 14, polycarbonate sheet 15, roof 1, and building partition wall to form a closed hot aisle.
[0020] Both types of AHUs and their corresponding modular machine rooms have achieved hot aisle enclosure and make full use of building components such as roof, walls, and ceilings. They are reliable and reasonably combined, reducing the power consumption ratio of the data center and saving energy.
[0021] The data center utilizes expansion joint 3 to divide the overall building into two independent sub-projects, facilitating phased construction and delivery and enhancing construction flexibility. The roof-side air handling units (AHUs) are further divided into two zones via power distribution and ancillary facilities, reducing airflow interference between units and optimizing cooling performance. This modular design not only improves the building's adaptability but also facilitates future expansion and maintenance.
[0022] Based on the location of the server room modules, AHU units 7 are positioned near the exterior wall 2 and the roof, respectively. The AHUs on the exterior wall side are connected to exterior wall 2 via headers, enabling direct air supply and return to the server rooms near exterior wall 2. The AHUs on the roof side are connected to the intake and return air shafts 6 via ducts, enabling vertical air supply to the server rooms in the middle of the building. This layout ensures close alignment between the air conditioning equipment and the 12 rows of server racks, achieving direct air supply to the 12 rows of racks, reducing energy consumption, and ensuring stable equipment operation. To improve cooling efficiency, the system forms closed thermal aisles between the AHUs on the exterior wall side and the server racks 12 via combined suspended ceilings 13, server rack thermal aisles 14, and building components such as roof 1, exterior wall 2, or polycarbonate panels 15. This closed structure effectively isolates the flow paths of cold and hot air, reduces airflow short-circuiting and energy loss, ensures effective utilization of cooling air, and further reduces the energy consumption ratio of the data center.
[0023] The outdoor AHU unit 7 adopts a stepped layout for tiered heat dissipation, ensuring that the first exhaust airflow 16, the second exhaust airflow 17, and the third exhaust airflow 18 do not interfere with each other. This design effectively avoids mutual influence of airflow between units, allowing the equipment to distribute hot air more fully into the atmosphere and improving overall heat dissipation efficiency. By optimizing the exhaust path and airflow organization, the system achieves ultimate cooling performance, ensuring the stability and energy efficiency of the data center under high load operation.
[0024] This data center achieves a high-efficiency, energy-saving cooling system through innovative building structure design, refined AHU unit layout, and efficient airflow organization strategy, meeting the dual requirements of high performance and sustainability for modern data centers.
[0025] The above description is only a specific embodiment of this utility model, but the protection scope of this utility model is not limited thereto. Any modifications, equivalent substitutions and improvements made by those skilled in the art within the technical scope disclosed in this utility model, and within the spirit and principles of this utility model, should be included within the protection scope of this utility model.
Claims
1. An extreme cooling data center, characterized in that, include: A data center building, which is divided into two building sub-items by an expansion joint; Multiple air handling units (AHUs) are installed on the roof and exterior walls of the building. The roof-side AHUs are divided into two areas by power distribution and auxiliary facilities. The exterior wall-side AHUs are connected to the exterior wall via headers, and the roof-side AHUs are connected to the air intake shaft and return air shaft via ducts. A hot aisle structure is provided between the AHUs and the cabinet rows. The hot aisle is composed of a combined suspended ceiling, cabinet hot aisle, roof, exterior wall and / or polycarbonate panels. The outdoor AHU units are arranged in a stepped manner, with the first, second and third exhaust airflows arranged in a stepped manner.
2. The data center according to claim 1, characterized in that, The expansion joint is located between building structures.
3. The data center according to claim 1, characterized in that, The external wall-side AHU is connected to the external wall via a header and is located on the outer perimeter of the building.
4. The data center according to claim 1, characterized in that, The roof-side AHU is connected to the air intake shaft and the air return shaft via air ducts.
5. The data center according to claim 1, characterized in that, The thermal aisle structure includes a polycarbonate panel located in the top area between the AHU and the rack row.
6. The data center according to claim 1, characterized in that, The first, second, and third exhaust airflows are arranged in a stepped spatial configuration, with the exhaust airflows adjacent to each other but not overlapping.