Air-Based Data Center Rack Cooling via Pneumatic Conduits
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current data center cooling systems, such as CRAC units, are inefficient in addressing hotspots and pose hazards due to water leakage, and are difficult to reconfigure with complex cabling and plumbing requirements.
Innovation Solution
An air-based cooling system using a closed-loop circuit with low-pressure, high-velocity air as the coolant, which can be easily reconfigured and expanded by modular units, and includes specialized conduits and connectors to manage airflow and prevent leakage.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Temperature
If water cooling systems are used to address hotspots, then cooling efficiency is improved, but the risk of leakage damage and system complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies pneumatic cooling by using compressed air instead of water as the coolant medium. The system delivers high-velocity compressed air through conduits directly to hotspot areas, achieving effective cooling without the leakage hazards associated with water-based systems. The compressed air is contained within sealed pneumatic conduits that can be routed through the data center infrastructure.
2Temperature
If conventional water cooling plumbing is installed, then cooling capacity is increased, but device complexity and reconfiguration difficulty increase
Solution Approach 1:
The system replaces complex water plumbing with a pneumatic delivery network using compressed air conduits. These conduits can be integrated with existing data center infrastructure such as raised floors and cable trays, significantly reducing installation and reconfiguration complexity compared to traditional water cooling plumbing systems.
Solution Approach 2:
The cooling system is divided into modular components including compressed air generation units, distribution manifolds, and individual cooling nozzle assemblies. This segmentation allows for flexible configuration and easy reconfiguration of cooling capacity to match changing data center thermal loads and layouts.
3Device complexity
If CRAC units are used for general cooling, then system simplicity is maintained, but cooling efficiency for hotspots deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The system provides localized cooling by delivering compressed air directly to specific hotspot areas through targeted conduit connections and cooling nozzles. This local quality approach allows different regions of the data center to receive cooling on demand, rather than uniform cooling from CRAC units, significantly improving hotspot cooling efficiency while maintaining overall system simplicity.
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
The air-based cooling system effectively reduces the risk of damage from coolant leakage, enhances cooling efficiency, and allows for flexible configuration and expansion to meet changing data center needs without the hazards of water-based systems.
Implementation Method 1
heat is extracted from the equipment via convection
Implementation Method 2
Heat is then exchanged between the closed loop coolant circuit and ambient air
Data Source
AI summary
A high-velocity low-pressure cooling system (100), especially suited for data center applications, includes an air coolant loop (102), a non-air coolant loop (104) and a cooler unit (126) for heat transfer between the loops (102 and 104). The air loop (102) is used to chill ambient air that is blown across heat transfer surfaces of equipment mounted in data center racks (110). In this manner, effective cooling is provided using a coolant that is benign in data center environments.