Chimney Heat Exchanger for Data Center Cooling
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current data center cooling systems are inefficient in removing heat from server racks, particularly through chimney systems, as they require significant power and are costly to cool the warmed air, which is often warmer than outside temperatures.
Innovation Solution
A cooling system comprising a first heat exchanger installed in the server cabinet's chimney, which pre-cools the heated air using a working fluid that can change phase, reducing the need for additional cooling equipment and improving heat removal efficiency by increasing the surface area for heat exchange.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Use of energy by stationary object
If a standard cooling system delivers cool air to the front of server racks and uses an air handler to cool warm air from the back, then the heat is removed by a chilled water system, but the air in the chimney is often warmer than outside air temperature or wet bulb temperature and is expensive to cool
Solution Approach 1:
The heat exchanger unit is installed in the chimney to pre-cool the warm air before it enters the air handler. This preliminary cooling action reduces the temperature of the chimney air, thereby reducing the energy required by the air handler and chilled water system to cool the air further.
Solution Approach 2:
A heat exchanger unit serves as an intermediary device between the chimney air and the cooling system. The heat exchanger transfers heat from the warm chimney air to a coolant, pre-cooling the air before it reaches the main cooling system, thus reducing the overall cooling cost.
2Use of energy by stationary object
If a heat exchanger is installed in the chimney to pre-cool air, then the energy required for cooling is reduced, but the heat exchanger may obstruct access to the servers
Solution Approach 1:
The heat exchanger unit is designed as a separate, modular component that can be independently installed and removed from the chimney without affecting the server rack structure. This segmentation allows maintenance personnel to access servers by removing only the heat exchanger unit rather than dismantling the entire rack system.
Solution Approach 2:
The heat exchanger unit is designed to be dynamically removable and reinstallable. The unit can be easily detached from the chimney when server access is required and reattached when cooling is needed, providing flexibility in system operation and maintenance.
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 system effectively reduces the energy required for cooling by pre-cooling the air within the chimney, enhancing the heat removal capacity and reducing the size of the cooling system, while maintaining unobstructed access to the servers.
Implementation Method 1
The first heat exchanger also has an upstream surface receiving waste heat generated by one or more servers and a downstream surface that discharges air cooled by the first heat exchanger
Implementation Method 2
A cooling system comprising a first heat exchanger installed in the server cabinet's chimney, which pre-cools the heated air using a working fluid that can change phase
Data Source
AI summary
A cooling system configured to remove heat from a chimney of a server cabinet. The cooling system including a first chimney portion adjacent to the server cabinet, a second chimney portion extending from a top of the first chimney portion, wherein the second chimney portion is disposed above the server cabinet, a chimney heat exchanger disposed in the second chimney portion and above the server cabinet, a fluid inlet for providing a working fluid to the chimney heat exchanger, a fluid outlet for discharging the working fluid from the chimney heat exchanger, and an air handler heat exchanger connected to the chimney heat exchanger by a return air plenum, wherein the chimney heat exchanger has an upstream surface that receives waste heat generated by a server disposed in the server cabinet and a downstream surface that discharges air to the return air plenum.