Air-conditioning system for data center
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing air-cooled data centers face challenges with insufficient heat dissipation, leading to the need for more efficient cooling solutions, while conventional liquid cooling systems are complex and energy-intensive.
Innovation Solution
The proposed air-conditioning system combines gravity-assisted heat pipe technology with cold plate liquid cooling, eliminating the need for a conventional water pump and reducing primary heat exchange, thereby simplifying the system and improving energy efficiency.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Temperature
If conventional liquid cooling system with water pump is used, then heat dissipation capability is improved, but pumping power consumption increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces the mechanical water pump with a gravity-based refrigerant circulation system. The refrigerant circulates through the cold plate and heat exchange unit driven by gravity and phase change, eliminating the need for mechanical pumping while maintaining effective heat dissipation capability.
Solution Approach 2:
The system utilizes phase transition of refrigerant (evaporation and condensation) to drive circulation and transfer heat. The refrigerant evaporates at the cold plate absorbing heat from servers, then condenses at the heat exchange unit releasing heat, creating a self-sustaining circulation cycle without mechanical pumps.
2Loss of energy
If two-stage heat exchange system is used, then heat dissipation efficiency is improved, but system structural complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent merges the primary and secondary heat exchange functions into a single integrated stage. The cold plate directly contacts server components to absorb heat, and the refrigerant circulates through this single heat exchange unit to transfer heat to ambient air, eliminating the need for separate primary and secondary heat exchange stages.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent extracts and eliminates the intermediate heat exchange stage (heat exchange unit between primary and secondary loops) from the conventional two-stage system. By using refrigerant that can directly exchange heat with both server components and ambient air, the system removes the complex intermediate cooling loop while maintaining heat dissipation effectiveness.
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
This solution reduces pumping power consumption, enhances energy utilization ratio, and simplifies the structural complexity of the air-conditioning system, while also improving heat dissipation capabilities for high-power density servers.
Implementation Method 1
circulation of a refrigerant is completed by means of the gravity assisted heat pipe technology
Implementation Method 2
circulation of a refrigerant is completed by means of the gravity assisted heat pipe technology
Implementation Method 3
an evaporative liquid cooled cooling plate
Implementation Method 4
heat from a server is transferred to the liquid cooling coolant by means of a cold plate
Implementation Method 5
the thermal conductive coating is arranged between the heating element of the server and the cold plate, which can enhance heat exchange
Data Source
AI summary
Embodiments of the present disclosure provide an air-conditioning system for a data center, belonging to the field of air-conditioning technology. The air-conditioning system for the data center includes a heat exchange unit, a flow distribution unit, an evaporative liquid cooling cold plate, and an air-cooled air conditioner. The heat exchange unit is arranged outside a data center computer room, and the flow distribution unit and the air-cooled air conditioner are arranged inside the data center computer room. The heat exchange unit is connected to the flow distribution unit by means of a refrigerant pipe and is mounted higher than the flow distribution unit. The evaporative liquid cooling cold plate is contact-mounted on a computer device in the data center computer room.