Data center and heat recovery system thereof

Abstract

A data center and a heat recovery system thereof. The heat recovery system (100) comprises: an outdoor refrigeration unit (2) connected in a first branch (11) and used for cooling a refrigerant in the first branch (11); an indoor heat recovery unit (3), which is arranged in a hot zone of the data center, is connected in a second branch (12) connected in parallel with the first branch (11), and is used for heating a refrigerant in the second branch (12) by using heat in the hot zone; a four-way valve (7) comprising a first port (71), a second port (72), a third port (73), and a fourth port (74), wherein the first port (71) is connected to a first common end (131) of the first branch (11) and the second branch (12) and can be selectively communicated with the outdoor refrigeration unit (2) or the indoor heat recovery unit (3); a compressor (8), having an air suction port (81) connected to the second port (72) and an exhaust port (82) connected to the third port (73); and a heat exchange unit (9) connected between a second common end (132) of the first branch (11) and the second branch (12) and the fourth port (74), and used for cooling or heating using the refrigerant.

Description

Data centers and their heat recovery systems

[0001] This application claims priority to the Chinese invention patent application with application number 202310912909.3 filed on July 24, 2023 and titled “Data Center and Heat Recovery System Thereof”, the entire contents of which are incorporated by reference into this application. Technical Field

[0002] Embodiments of the present disclosure generally relate to the field of data center cooling technology, and more particularly, to a heat recovery system for a data center and a data center including the heat recovery system. Background Art

[0003] In areas with significant temperature swings year-round, more and more data centers are using indirect evaporative cooling to cool their computer rooms. This cooling solution differs from traditional liquid cooling, which uses a water system to cool the electronic equipment in the computer room. The heat generated by liquid cooling can be recovered using a water-loop heat pump. Since indirect evaporative cooling units lack a water system, there's no effective way to recover the heat they generate. This results in most areas with significant temperature swings year-round requiring additional heating using boilers, electric heating, or VRF systems, resulting in additional energy consumption.

[0004] Summary of the Invention

[0005] Embodiments of the present disclosure provide a heat recovery system for a data center and a data center including the heat recovery system, so as to efficiently recover heat generated by an indirect evaporative cooling unit.

[0006] In a first aspect of the present disclosure, a heat recovery system for a data center is provided, comprising: an outdoor refrigeration unit adapted to be arranged in an outdoor environment, the outdoor refrigeration unit being connected in a first branch and being configured to cool the refrigerant in the first branch; an indoor heat recovery unit adapted to be arranged in a hot zone of the data center, the indoor heat recovery unit being connected in a second branch connected in parallel with the first branch, and being configured to heat the refrigerant in the second branch using heat in the hot zone; a four-way valve comprising a first port, a second port, a third port, and a fourth port, the first port being connected to a first common end of the first branch and the second branch and being capable of selectively communicating with the outdoor refrigeration unit or the indoor heat recovery unit; a compressor, the suction port of the compressor being connected to the second port, and the exhaust port of the compressor being connected to the third port; and a heat exchange unit being connected between the second common end of the first branch and the second branch and the fourth port, and being configured to use the refrigerant for cooling when the first port is connected to the outdoor refrigeration unit, and to use the refrigerant for heating when the first port is connected to the indoor heat recovery unit.

[0007] In a second aspect of the present disclosure, a data center is provided, comprising the heat recovery system of the first aspect of the present disclosure.

[0008] It should be understood that the content described in this content section is not intended to limit the key features or important features of the embodiments of the present disclosure, nor is it intended to limit the scope of the present disclosure. Other features of the present disclosure will become easily understood through the following description. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0009] The above and other features, advantages and aspects of the embodiments of the present disclosure will become more apparent with reference to the following detailed description in conjunction with the accompanying drawings. In the accompanying drawings, the same or similar reference numerals represent the same or similar elements, wherein:

[0010] FIG1 shows a schematic structural diagram of a heat recovery system for a data center according to some embodiments of the present disclosure;

[0011] FIG2 shows the flow direction of the refrigerant in the heat recovery system shown in FIG1 when providing heat;

[0012] FIG3 shows the flow direction of the refrigerant in the heat recovery system shown in FIG1 when providing cooling;

[0013] FIG4 shows a schematic structural diagram of a heat recovery system for a data center according to other embodiments of the present disclosure; and

[0014] FIG5 shows a schematic structural diagram of a heat recovery system for a data center according to still other embodiments of the present disclosure. DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0015] The preferred embodiments of the present disclosure will be described in more detail below with reference to the accompanying drawings. Although preferred embodiments of the present disclosure are shown in the accompanying drawings, it should be understood that the present disclosure can be implemented in various forms and should not be limited by the embodiments set forth herein. Rather, these embodiments are provided to make the present disclosure more thorough and complete, and to fully convey the scope of the present disclosure to those skilled in the art.

[0016] As used herein, the term "including" and its variations represent open inclusion, i.e., "including but not limited to." Unless otherwise stated, the term "or" means "and / or." The term "based on" means "based at least in part on." The terms "one example embodiment" and "an embodiment" mean "at least one example embodiment." The term "another embodiment" means "at least one additional embodiment." The terms "first," "second," etc. may refer to different or identical objects.

[0017] As mentioned above, because indirect evaporative cooling units do not include a water system, there is no effective way to recover the heat generated. This results in most areas with large temperature differences between seasons having to use boilers, electric heating, multi-split units, and other methods to provide heating when heating is needed, resulting in additional energy consumption. The embodiments of the present disclosure provide a heat recovery system for a data center and a data center including the heat recovery system to effectively recover the heat generated by indirect evaporative cooling units. The heat recovery system can provide heating in winter and cooling in summer, and is flexible and convenient to use. The embodiments of the present disclosure will be described below with reference to Figures 1 to 5.

[0018] Figure 1 shows a schematic diagram of a heat recovery system for a data center according to some embodiments of the present disclosure. As shown in Figure 1 , the heat recovery system 100 described herein generally comprises an outdoor refrigeration unit 2, an indoor heat recovery unit 3, a four-way valve 7, a compressor 8, and a heat exchange unit 9. The heat recovery system 100 can operate in both cooling and heating modes. The outdoor refrigeration unit 2 is adapted to be positioned outdoors to provide cooling to the heat exchange unit 9 via the four-way valve 7 and compressor 8 when the heat recovery system 100 is in cooling mode. The indoor heat recovery unit 3 is adapted to be positioned within the hot zone of the data center to provide heat to the heat exchange unit 9 via the four-way valve 7 and compressor 8 when the heat recovery system 100 is in heating mode. In embodiments of the present disclosure, the hot zone of the data center, also referred to as a thermal interlayer, is located between the hot aisle and the cooling unit of the data center. After being heated by electronic equipment, the cold air provided by the cooling unit enters the hot aisle. The hot air in the hot aisle can then be returned to the cooling unit via the hot zone and, after cooling, supplied to the electronic equipment again. Four-way valve 7 is connected to outdoor refrigeration unit 2 and indoor heat recovery unit 3 to selectively connect outdoor refrigeration unit 2 or indoor heat recovery unit 3 to heat exchange unit 9. Compressor 8 compresses refrigerant drawn in through intake port 81 and discharges it through exhaust port 82. Heat exchange unit 9 is used to provide cooling received from outdoor refrigeration unit 2 or heat received from indoor heat recovery unit 3 to any suitable location within or outside the data center, such as offices or operating rooms within the data center, or other buildings outside the data center.

[0019] As shown in Figure 1 , the outdoor refrigeration unit 2 is connected to the first branch 11 to cool the refrigerant in the first branch 11. When the heat recovery system 100 is in cooling mode, the refrigerant in the first branch 11 is cooled while flowing through the outdoor refrigeration unit 2. The cooled refrigerant is then supplied to the heat exchange unit 9.

[0020] As shown in Figure 1 , the indoor heat recovery unit 3 is connected to a second branch 12 in parallel with the first branch 11, utilizing heat from the data center's hot zone to heat the refrigerant in the second branch 12. When the heat recovery system 100 is in heating mode, the refrigerant in the second branch 12 is heated and evaporated as it flows through the indoor heat recovery unit 3. The evaporated refrigerant is then supplied to the heat exchange unit 9 via the compressor 8.

[0021] As shown in FIG1 , the four-way valve 7 includes a first port 71, a second port 72, a third port 73, and a fourth port 74. The first port 71 is connected to the first common end 131 of the first branch 11 and the second branch 12. The first port 71 can selectively communicate with the outdoor refrigeration unit 2 or the indoor heat recovery unit 3 to connect the outdoor refrigeration unit 2 or the indoor heat recovery unit 3 to the heat exchange unit 9. The second port 72 is connected to the intake port 81 of the compressor 8. The third port 73 is connected to the exhaust port 82 of the compressor 8. The fourth port 74 is connected to the heat exchange unit 9.

[0022] As shown in Figure 1, the heat exchange unit 9 is connected between the second common end 132 of the first branch 11 and the second branch 12 and the fourth port 74. When the first port 71 is connected to the outdoor cooling unit 2, the heat exchange unit 9 can use the refrigerant to provide cooling. When the first port 71 is connected to the indoor heat recovery unit 3, the heat exchange unit 9 can use the refrigerant to provide heating.

[0023] In one embodiment, the refrigerant used in the heat recovery system 100 may include Freon. It should be understood that any other type of refrigerant known or available in the future is also feasible, and the embodiments of the present disclosure are not limited thereto.

[0024] When the indoor heat recovery unit 3 is connected to the four-way valve 7, it absorbs heat from the data center's hot zone and transfers it to the heat exchange unit 9 via the four-way valve 7 and compressor 8. This effectively recovers the heat generated by the indirect evaporative cooling scheme. Furthermore, when the outdoor cooling unit 2 is connected to the four-way valve 7, it transfers cooling energy to the heat exchange unit 9 via the four-way valve 7 and compressor 8. This arrangement allows the heat from the data center's hot zone to be used for heating in the winter, while the cooling energy provided by the outdoor cooling unit 2 is used for cooling in the summer.

[0025] In some embodiments, as shown in FIG1 , the heat recovery system 100 further includes a first electric valve 41 and a second electric valve 42. The first electric valve 41 is disposed in the first branch 11 and is connected in series with the outdoor refrigeration unit 2. The first electric valve 41 is configured to connect or disconnect the first branch 11, thereby connecting or disconnecting the outdoor refrigeration unit 2 from the four-way valve 7. The second electric valve 42 is disposed in the second branch 12 and is connected in series with the indoor heat recovery unit 3. The second electric valve 42 is configured to connect or disconnect the second branch 12, thereby connecting or disconnecting the indoor heat recovery unit 3 from the four-way valve 7. When the first electric valve 41 is open and the second electric valve 42 is closed, the outdoor refrigeration unit 2 is connected to the four-way valve 7, while the indoor heat recovery unit 3 is disconnected from the four-way valve 7. When the first electric valve 41 is closed and the second electric valve 42 is open, the outdoor refrigeration unit 2 is disconnected from the four-way valve 7, while the indoor heat recovery unit 3 is connected to the four-way valve 7. By controlling the first electric valve 41 and the second electric valve 42 , the heat recovery system 100 can be switched between the cooling mode and the heating mode conveniently and reliably.

[0026] It should be understood that the first and second electric valves 41, 42 are merely exemplary embodiments for switching the heat recovery system 100 between cooling and heating modes and do not in any way limit the scope of this disclosure. In other embodiments, the heat recovery system 100 may switch between cooling and heating modes in other ways. For example, in some embodiments, instead of the first and second electric valves 41, 42, manual valves or other types of valves may be provided in the first and second branches 11, 12, respectively.

[0027] In some embodiments, as shown in FIG1 , a first electric valve 41 is disposed between the outdoor refrigeration unit 2 and the first common terminal 131, and a second electric valve 42 is disposed between the indoor heat recovery unit 3 and the second common terminal 132. When the first electric valve 41 is closed, the first electric valve 41 can directly disconnect the outdoor refrigeration unit 2 from the four-way valve 7, preventing refrigerant from flowing through the outdoor refrigeration unit 2. When the second electric valve 42 is closed, the second electric valve 42 can disconnect the indoor heat recovery unit 3 from the heat recovery unit 9, preventing refrigerant from flowing between the indoor heat recovery unit 3 and the heat recovery unit 9.

[0028] In some embodiments, the first electric valve 41 can be disposed at other locations on the first branch 11, and can also connect and disconnect the first branch 11. In some embodiments, the second electric valve 42 can be disposed at other locations on the second branch 12, and can also connect and disconnect the second branch 12.

[0029] In some embodiments, as shown in FIG1 , the heat recovery system 100 further includes a first one-way valve 51 and a second one-way valve 52. The first one-way valve 51 is disposed between the outdoor refrigeration unit 2 and the second common port 132 to allow refrigerant to flow from the outdoor refrigeration unit 2 to the second common port 132 and prevent refrigerant from flowing from the second common port 132 to the outdoor refrigeration unit 2. When the heat recovery system 100 is in cooling mode, the first one-way valve 51 allows refrigerant to flow only from the outdoor refrigeration unit 2 to the second common port 132 and not in the reverse direction. The second one-way valve 52 is disposed between the indoor heat recovery unit 3 and the first common port 131 to allow refrigerant to flow from the indoor heat recovery unit 3 to the first common port 131 and prevent refrigerant from flowing from the first common port 131 to the indoor heat recovery unit 3. When the heat recovery system 100 is in heating mode, the second one-way valve 52 allows refrigerant to flow only from the indoor heat recovery unit 3 to the first common port 131 and not in the reverse direction. The first one-way valve 51 and the second one-way valve 52 can allow the refrigerant to flow only in a predetermined direction, so that the heat recovery system 100 can reliably operate in the cooling mode or the heating mode.

[0030] In some embodiments, as shown in FIG. 1 , the heat recovery system 100 further includes a first expansion valve 61 . The first expansion valve 61 is disposed between the second common end 132 and the heat exchange unit 9 to regulate the refrigerant flowing therethrough.

[0031] In some embodiments, as shown in FIG1 , the indoor heat recovery unit 3 includes a plurality of heat pipes 31 connected in parallel, and the plurality of heat pipes 31 allow the refrigerant to flow from the second common end 132 to the first common end 131 when the indoor heat recovery unit 3 is connected to the first port 71. A second expansion valve 62 is connected to one end of each heat pipe 31 away from the first common end 131 for regulating the refrigerant flowing therethrough. In other embodiments, the indoor heat recovery unit 3 may adopt other structural forms for absorbing heat from the hot zone. For example, the indoor heat recovery unit 3 may adopt a single heat pipe 31 of a larger length to absorb heat, or a heat plate to absorb heat from the hot zone, etc.

[0032] In some embodiments, as shown in FIG1 , the outdoor refrigeration unit 2 includes an outdoor condenser 22 and an outdoor fan 21. The outdoor condenser 22 is connected to the first branch 11. The outdoor condenser 22 allows the refrigerant to flow from the first common end 131 to the second common end 132 when the outdoor refrigeration unit 2 is connected to the first port 71. The outdoor fan 21 is disposed near the outdoor condenser 22 to drive air to flow through the outdoor condenser 22. When the heat recovery system 100 is in cooling mode, the refrigerant can flow through the outdoor condenser 22, and the outdoor fan 21 can drive air to flow through the outdoor condenser 22, thereby cooling the refrigerant in the outdoor condenser 22. In other embodiments, the outdoor refrigeration unit 2 can also adopt other structures as long as the refrigerant can be cooled.

[0033] In some embodiments, as shown in FIG1 , the heat exchange unit 9 includes a water-cooled heat exchanger 91 configured to cool or heat water using a refrigerant. When the heat recovery system 100 is in cooling mode, the water-cooled heat exchanger 91 can use the refrigerant to cool the water, thereby providing cold water to the environment. When the heat recovery system 100 is in heating mode, the water-cooled heat exchanger 91 can use the refrigerant to heat the water, thereby providing hot water to the environment.

[0034] The flow direction of the refrigerant in different working modes of the heat recovery system shown in FIG1 will be described below with reference to FIG2 and FIG3 .

[0035] Figure 2 illustrates the refrigerant flow in the heat recovery system shown in Figure 1 during heating. As shown in Figure 2, when the heat recovery system 100 is in heating mode, the first electric valve 41 is closed and the second electric valve 42 is open. At this point, the outdoor refrigeration unit 2 is disconnected from the four-way valve 7, while the indoor heat recovery unit 3 is connected to the four-way valve 7. Refrigerant can flow through the heat pipes 31 in the direction of the arrows, passing through the second check valve 52 and into the first port 71 of the four-way valve 7. The refrigerant then flows from the second port 72 of the four-way valve 7 to the intake port 81 of the compressor 8 in the direction of the arrows. After being compressed in the compressor 8, the refrigerant is discharged through the exhaust port 82 and enters the third port 73 of the four-way valve 7. The refrigerant then flows out of the fourth port 74 of the four-way valve 7 and enters the water-cooled heat exchanger 91. The water-cooled heat exchanger 91 uses the heat absorbed by the refrigerant from the hot zone to heat the water, thereby providing hot water to the outside. Subsequently, the refrigerant flows out of the water-cooled heat exchanger 91 , passes through the first expansion valve 61 , the second electric valve 42 , and the second expansion valves 62 , and returns to the heat pipes 31 to absorb heat again.

[0036] Figure 3 illustrates the refrigerant flow in the heat recovery system shown in Figure 1 during cooling operation. As shown in Figure 3, when the heat recovery system 100 is in cooling mode, the first electric valve 41 is open and the second electric valve 42 is closed. At this point, the outdoor refrigeration unit 2 is connected to the four-way valve 7, while the indoor heat recovery unit 3 is disconnected from the four-way valve 7. The refrigerant can flow through the outdoor condenser 22 in the direction indicated by the arrow. The outdoor fan 21 can drive air through the outdoor condenser 22, thereby cooling the refrigerant in the outdoor condenser 22. The cooled refrigerant can flow through the first check valve 51 and the first expansion valve 61 in the direction indicated by the arrow into the water-cooled heat exchanger 91. The water-cooled heat exchanger 91 uses the refrigerant to cool water, thereby providing cold water to the outside. The refrigerant can then flow out of the water-cooled heat exchanger 91 and into the fourth port 74 of the four-way valve 7. The refrigerant then flows from the second port 72 of the four-way valve 7 in the direction indicated by the arrow to the intake port 81 of the compressor 8. After being compressed in the compressor 8, the refrigerant is discharged through the exhaust port 82 and enters the third port 73 of the four-way valve 7. Subsequently, the refrigerant flows out through the first port 71 of the four-way valve 7 in the direction of the arrow and returns to the outdoor condenser 22 through the first electric valve 41.

[0037] The heat recovery system 100 can effectively recover the heat generated by the indirect evaporative refrigeration unit, and can provide heating in winter and cooling in summer, with flexible and convenient usage.

[0038] Figures 4 and 5 illustrate schematic structural diagrams of heat recovery systems for data centers according to other embodiments of the present disclosure. The structure of the heat recovery system 100 shown in Figures 4 and 5 is similar to the heat recovery system 100 described in conjunction with Figures 1 to 3 , differing only in that the heat exchange unit 9 employs a different structural form. The following description will focus on the differences between the two systems, and will omit any redundant descriptions of the common elements.

[0039] As shown in Figure 4, in some embodiments, the heat exchange unit 9 includes two indoor units 92, which are used to use refrigerant to heat or cool the air, thereby providing cold air or hot air for cooling or heating. The two indoor units 92 are connected in parallel between the second common end 132 and the fourth port 74 of the four-way valve 7. A first expansion valve 61 is provided between each indoor unit 92 and the second common end 132 to regulate the refrigerant flowing therethrough. In other embodiments, the heat exchange unit 9 can include a single indoor unit 92, or include more than three indoor units 92, which can be flexibly adjusted as needed.

[0040] As shown in Figure 5, in some embodiments, the heat exchange unit 9 includes a water-cooled heat exchanger 91 and an indoor unit 92. The water-cooled heat exchanger 91 is used to cool or heat water using a refrigerant, thereby providing cold or hot water for cooling or heating. The indoor unit 92 is used to heat or cool air using a refrigerant, thereby providing cold or hot air for cooling or heating. The water-cooled heat exchanger 91 and the indoor unit 92 are connected in parallel between the second common terminal 132 and the fourth port 74. In some cases, when cooling is required in the summer, the indoor unit 92 can be used to provide cold air, while when heating is required in the winter, the water-cooled heat exchanger 91 can be used to provide hot water. Of course, in other cases, when cooling is required in the summer, the indoor unit 92 can be used to provide cold air while the water-cooled heat exchanger 91 can be used to provide cold water. Similarly, when the engine needs to provide heat, the water-cooled heat exchanger 91 can be used to provide hot water, while the indoor unit 92 can be used to provide hot air.

[0041] It should be understood that the heat exchange unit 9 can adopt any appropriate structural form to provide cooling or heating, and the embodiments of the present disclosure are not limited to this.

[0042] According to an embodiment of the present disclosure, a data center is further provided, comprising any one of the heat recovery systems described above.

[0043] Embodiments of the present disclosure are also embodied in the following examples.

[0044] Example 1. A heat recovery system for a data center, comprising:

[0045] an outdoor refrigeration unit, adapted to be arranged in an outdoor environment, the outdoor refrigeration unit being connected to the first branch and configured to cool the refrigerant in the first branch;

[0046] an indoor heat recovery unit, adapted to be arranged in a hot zone of the data center, the indoor heat recovery unit being connected to a second branch connected in parallel with the first branch and configured to heat the refrigerant in the second branch using heat in the hot zone;

[0047] a four-way valve comprising a first port, a second port, a third port, and a fourth port, wherein the first port is connected to a first common end of the first branch and the second branch and is selectively connectable to the outdoor refrigeration unit or the indoor heat recovery unit;

[0048] a compressor, a suction port of the compressor connected to the second port, and a discharge port of the compressor connected to the third port; and

[0049] A heat exchange unit is connected between the second common end of the first branch and the second branch and the fourth port, and is configured to use the refrigerant for cooling when the first port is connected to the outdoor refrigeration unit, and to use the refrigerant for heating when the first port is connected to the indoor heat recovery unit.

[0050] Example 2. The heat recovery system according to Example 1, further comprising:

[0051] a first electric valve disposed in the first branch and connected in series with the outdoor refrigeration unit, the first electric valve being configured to connect or disconnect the first branch; and

[0052] The second electric valve is provided in the second branch and connected in series with the indoor heat recovery unit, and is configured to connect or disconnect the second branch.

[0053] Example 3. The heat recovery system according to Example 2, wherein the first electric valve is provided between the outdoor refrigeration unit and the first common end, and the second electric valve is provided between the indoor heat recovery unit and the second common end.

[0054] Example 4. The heat recovery system according to Example 1, further comprising:

[0055] a first one-way valve disposed between the outdoor refrigeration unit and the second common end and configured to allow the refrigerant to flow from the outdoor refrigeration unit to the second common end and to prevent the refrigerant from flowing from the second common end to the outdoor refrigeration unit; and

[0056] A second one-way valve is provided between the indoor heat recovery unit and the first common end and is configured to allow the refrigerant to flow from the indoor heat recovery unit to the first common end and to prevent the refrigerant from flowing from the first common end to the indoor heat recovery unit.

[0057] Example 5. The heat recovery system according to Example 1, further comprising:

[0058] The first expansion valve is arranged between the second common end and the heat exchange unit.

[0059] Example 6. A heat recovery system according to Example 1, wherein the indoor heat recovery unit includes a plurality of heat pipes connected in parallel, the plurality of heat pipes allowing the refrigerant to flow from the second common end to the first common end when the indoor heat recovery unit is connected to the first port, and a second expansion valve is connected to an end of each heat pipe away from the first common end.

[0060] Example 7. The heat recovery system of Example 1, wherein the outdoor cooling unit comprises:

[0061] an outdoor condenser connected to the first branch, the outdoor condenser allowing the refrigerant to flow from the first common end to the second common end when the outdoor refrigeration unit is in communication with the first port; and

[0062] The outdoor fan is disposed near the outdoor condenser and is configured to drive air to flow through the outdoor condenser.

[0063] Example 8. The heat recovery system according to Example 1, wherein the heat exchange unit includes a water-cooled heat exchanger configured to cool or heat water using the refrigerant.

[0064] Example 9. The heat recovery system according to Example 1, wherein the heat exchange unit includes an indoor unit configured to heat or cool air using the refrigerant.

[0065] Example 10. The heat recovery system according to Example 9, wherein the heat exchange unit includes a plurality of indoor units, and the plurality of indoor units are connected in parallel between the second common end and the fourth port.

[0066] Example 11. A heat recovery system according to Example 9, wherein the heat exchange unit further comprises a water-cooled heat exchanger, the water-cooled heat exchanger being configured to cool or heat water using the refrigerant, the water-cooled heat exchanger being connected in parallel with the indoor unit between the second common end and the fourth port.

[0067] Example 12. A data center comprising the heat recovery system of any one of Examples 1 to 11.

[0068] While various embodiments of the present disclosure have been described above, the above descriptions are illustrative, non-exhaustive, and not intended to be limiting of the disclosed embodiments. Many modifications and variations will be apparent to those skilled in the art without departing from the scope and spirit of the described embodiments. The terminology used herein is selected to best explain the principles of the embodiments, their practical applications, or technological improvements in the marketplace, or to enable other persons skilled in the art to understand the embodiments disclosed herein.

Claims

1. A heat recovery system (100) for a data center, comprising: An outdoor refrigeration unit (2) is suitable for being arranged in an outdoor environment, the outdoor refrigeration unit (2) is connected to the first branch (11) and is configured to cool the refrigerant in the first branch (11); An indoor heat recovery unit (3) adapted to be arranged in a hot zone of the data center, the indoor heat recovery unit (3) being connected to a second branch (12) connected in parallel with the first branch (11), and being configured to heat the refrigerant in the second branch (12) using heat in the hot zone; A four-way valve (7), comprising a first port (71), a second port (72), a third port (73) and a fourth port (74), wherein the first port (71) is connected to a first common end (131) of the first branch (11) and the second branch (12), and can selectively communicate with the outdoor refrigeration unit (2) or the indoor heat recovery unit (3); A compressor (8), wherein an air intake port (81) of the compressor (8) is connected to the second port (72), and an air discharge port (82) of the compressor is connected to the third port (73); as well as A heat exchange unit (9) is connected between the second common end (132) of the first branch (11) and the second branch (12) and the fourth port (74), and is configured to use the refrigerant for cooling when the first port (71) is connected to the outdoor refrigeration unit (2), and to use the refrigerant for heating when the first port (71) is connected to the indoor heat recovery unit (3).

2. The heat recovery system (100) according to claim 1, further comprising: a first electric valve (41), arranged in the first branch (11) and connected in series with the outdoor refrigeration unit (2), the first electric valve (41) being configured to connect or disconnect the first branch (11); as well as A second electric valve (42) is disposed in the second branch (12) and is connected to the indoor The heat recovery units (3) are connected in series, and the second electric valve (42) is configured to connect or disconnect the second branch (12).

3. The heat recovery system (100) according to claim 2, wherein the first electric valve (41) is arranged between the outdoor refrigeration unit (2) and the first common end (131), and the second electric valve (42) is arranged between the indoor heat recovery unit (3) and the second common end (132).

4. The heat recovery system (100) according to claim 1, further comprising: a first one-way valve (51) disposed between the outdoor refrigeration unit (2) and the second common end (132), and configured to allow the refrigerant to flow from the outdoor refrigeration unit (2) to the second common end (132), and to prevent the refrigerant from flowing from the second common end (132) to the outdoor refrigeration unit (2); as well as A second one-way valve (52) is disposed between the indoor heat recovery unit (3) and the first common end (131), and is configured to allow the refrigerant to flow from the indoor heat recovery unit (3) to the first common end (131), and to prevent the refrigerant from flowing from the first common end (131) to the indoor heat recovery unit (3).

5. The heat recovery system (100) according to claim 1, further comprising: A first expansion valve (61) is arranged between the second common end (132) and the heat exchange unit (9).

6. The heat recovery system (100) according to claim 1, wherein the indoor heat recovery unit (3) comprises a plurality of heat pipes (31) connected in parallel, wherein the plurality of heat pipes (31) allow the refrigerant to flow from the second common end (132) to the first common end (131) when the indoor heat recovery unit (3) is connected to the first port (71), and a second expansion valve (62) is connected to one end of each heat pipe (31) away from the first common end (131).

7. The heat recovery system (100) according to claim 1, wherein the outdoor refrigeration unit (2) comprises: An outdoor condenser (22) is connected to the first branch (11). When the outdoor refrigeration unit (2) is connected to the first port (71), the outdoor condenser (22) allowing the refrigerant to flow from the first common end (131) to the second common end (132); as well as The outdoor fan (21) is disposed near the outdoor condenser (22) and is configured to drive air to flow through the outdoor condenser (22).

8. The heat recovery system (100) according to claim 1, wherein the heat exchange unit (9) comprises a water-cooled heat exchanger (91), and the water-cooled heat exchanger (91) is configured to cool down or heat up water using the refrigerant.

9. The heat recovery system (100) according to claim 1, wherein the heat exchange unit (9) comprises an indoor unit (92), and the indoor unit (92) is configured to increase or decrease the temperature of air by using the refrigerant.

10. The heat recovery system (100) according to claim 9, wherein the heat exchange unit (9) comprises a plurality of indoor units (92), and the plurality of indoor units (92) are connected in parallel between the second common end (132) and the fourth port (74).

11. The heat recovery system (100) according to claim 9, wherein the heat exchange unit (9) further comprises a water-cooled heat exchanger (91), the water-cooled heat exchanger (91) being configured to cool or heat water using the refrigerant, the water-cooled heat exchanger (91) being connected in parallel with the indoor unit (92) between the second common end (132) and the fourth port (74).

12. A data center, comprising the heat recovery system (100) according to any one of claims 1 to 11.

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