Cooling Module Power Bus Redundancy for Data Center Sensors
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Solution Overview
Problem
Data centers face challenges in efficiently cooling heat-generating computing components, which can lead to performance degradation or component failure if temperatures exceed certain limits, and existing cooling systems may not seamlessly adapt to power failures or sensor malfunctions.
Innovation Solution
A data center cooling system comprising server racks, cooling modules with fans and coils, and a controller that adjusts fan speeds and valve positions based on temperature and differential pressure sensors to maintain optimal cooling, with power redundancy and sensor compensation to ensure continuous operation even in case of failures.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If cooling systems are implemented to maintain proper functioning of computing components, then component reliability is improved, but energy consumption increases due to continuous operation of cooling equipment
Solution Approach 1:
The cooling system dynamically adjusts fan speeds and valve positions based on real-time temperature readings from sensors. The controller modulates cooling equipment operation to match actual thermal conditions, preventing continuous full-power operation and reducing energy consumption while maintaining component reliability.
Solution Approach 2:
Temperature sensors continuously monitor computing component temperatures and feed this information back to the controller. The controller uses this feedback to adjust cooling system operation, ensuring components remain within safe temperature ranges while minimizing energy consumption by operating cooling equipment only when and where needed.
2Reliability
If multiple sensors and redundant power supplies are added to ensure continuous operation during failures, then system reliability is improved, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The system incorporates redundant power supplies and backup sensors that are pre-configured to take over immediately upon failure of primary components. This beforehand cushioning ensures continuous operation during failures without requiring complex real-time decision-making or manual intervention.
Solution Approach 2:
The controller automatically detects sensor failures and power supply issues, and seamlessly switches to backup components without requiring external intervention. The system self-manages the complexity of redundancy configuration and failure response, maintaining simple operation for users while ensuring high reliability.
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 maintains optimal temperatures within data centers, preventing performance degradation and component failure, while ensuring continuous cooling and power to critical components even during power outages or sensor failures, allowing for scalable and reliable operation.
Implementation Method 1
a plurality of cooling modules each including at least one fan and a cooling coil, the cooling modules positioned to circulate a cooling airflow from the human-occupiable workspace, through the server racks, and to the warm air aisle
Implementation Method 2
a plurality of cooling modules each including at least one fan and a cooling coil, the cooling modules positioned to circulate a cooling airflow
Data Source
Figure 1A~1B
Figure 2
Figure 3
AI summary
A data center power system comprises: a plurality of server racks (102) aligned within a row in a human-occupiable workspace (110) of a data center, the server racks (102) supporting a plurality of heat-generating computing devices; a warm air aisle (116) positioned adjacent the server racks (102) opposite the human-occupiable workspace (110) and comprising a warm air inlet adjacent to a back side of the row of server racks (102) and a warm air outlet in fluid communication with a warm air plenum; a plurality of cooling modules (106) positioned to circulate a cooling airflow from the human-occupiable workspace (110), through the server racks (102), and to the warm air aisle (116). Each of the plurality of cooling modules (106) comprises: at least one fan (201-203); a main power bus electrically coupled to the at least one fan and to a main power source to receive alternating current, AC, power; and a transformer electrically coupled with the main power bus. The system further comprises a control power bus electrically coupled to each of the transformers of the plurality of cooling modules to receive direct current, DC, power transformed from the AC power and a controller (108) electrically powered by the control power bus and communicably coupled to each of the plurality of cooling modules (106) to control the plurality of fans in the plurality of cooling modules to operate at a specified fan speed. At least one sensor associated with a first cooling module is electrically coupled to the control power bus to receive DC power from a transformer, through the control power bus, associated with a second cooling module.