Blended Water Cooling System for Data Centers
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Solution Overview
Problem
Data centers face increasing cooling demands due to growing electrical usage and heat generation, with existing cooling systems being inefficient and costly, particularly in varying weather conditions.
Innovation Solution
A cooling system that alternates routing warm return water from data centers through chillers or radiators based on load levels, using control valves to modulate the proportion of water flow, allowing for free cooling on cool days and chiller-cooling on high-load days, and staging operations to match cooling needs.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Temperature
If traditional chiller cooling systems are used continuously, then cooling capacity is sufficient, but power consumption and operational costs increase
Solution Approach 1:
The system dynamically switches between free cooling and chiller cooling modes based on outdoor temperature conditions and cooling load requirements. Control valves modulate water flow distribution between radiators and chillers in real-time, optimizing the balance between cooling capacity and energy consumption
Solution Approach 2:
The system utilizes free cooling by allowing outdoor air to cool the chiller condenser water through radiators when outdoor temperatures are low, eliminating the need for chiller operation during these periods and significantly reducing power consumption
2Use of energy by moving object
If free cooling mode is used on cool days, then power consumption is reduced, but cooling capacity may be insufficient on high-load days
Solution Approach 1:
The control system dynamically adjusts the operating mode based on real-time monitoring of cooling load requirements and outdoor conditions. When cooling load increases or outdoor temperatures rise, the system transitions from free cooling to chiller cooling or a blended mode to ensure sufficient cooling capacity
Solution Approach 2:
The radiators serve dual functions: cooling condenser water from chillers when chillers are operating, and providing free cooling directly to data center water when chillers are shut down, maximizing system versatility and efficiency across different operating conditions
3Temperature
If chiller cooling is used on warm days, then cooling capacity is sufficient, but operational costs increase
Solution Approach 1:
The system employs periodic cycling of chiller operation combined with continuous radiator cooling. By alternating between chiller-on and chiller-off periods based on outdoor temperature fluctuations and cooling load variations, the system reduces overall energy consumption while maintaining adequate cooling capacity
Solution Approach 2:
The system changes operating parameters by adjusting water flow temperatures and flow rates through control valves. By optimizing these parameters to match outdoor conditions and cooling load requirements, the system minimizes energy consumption while maintaining effective cooling
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 approach reduces power consumption and operational costs by optimizing cooling methods across different weather conditions, providing efficient and cost-effective cooling for data centers.
Implementation Method 1
warm return water from the data center can be run alternatively to chilled water sides of chillers that service the data center, and also to radiators that service the chillers
Implementation Method 2
chilled water sides of chillers that service the data center
Data Source
Figure 1A
Figure 1B
Figure 2
AI summary
A method of providing cooling by a cooling system to a computer data center. The method includes providing a plurality of air-and-water radiators and one or more chillers, the chillers each having a first side in fluid communication with a chilled water loop and a second side in communication with a condenser water loop. The method also includes circulating a first portion of return water coming from the computer data center to a first subset of the air-and-water radiators and through the condenser water loop, circulating a second portion of the return water from the computer data center to a second subset of the air-and-water radiators and through the chilled water loop, and circulating the first portion and the second portion of the return water to the computer data center as cooled supply water.