Cooling system and data center

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing cooling systems in data centers face cooling capacity attenuation due to reverse heating issues when outdoor temperatures exceed indoor temperatures, leading to inefficient heat dissipation.

Innovation Solution

A cooling system incorporating a heat exchanger, a cooling supplement component, a bypass vent valve, and a controller that adjusts the bypass vent valve's opening degree based on temperature differences to prevent reverse heating, combined with a spraying apparatus to cool outdoor air before it enters the heat exchanger.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Temperature

If indirect evaporative cooling is used to cool indoor air, then cooling capacity is improved, but when outdoor temperature exceeds indoor temperature, reverse heating occurs and cooling capacity attenuates

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveindoor air temperatureVSAvoidcooling capacity
Core Design Contradiction:
TemperatureVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

A bypass vent valve is introduced as an intermediary component to control the mixing of outdoor and indoor air streams. When reverse heating is detected (outdoor temperature exceeds indoor temperature), the bypass vent valve opens to allow outdoor air to bypass the heat exchanger and directly mix with the cooled indoor air, preventing the hot outdoor air from heating the cooled air stream and thus maintaining cooling capacity reliability

Inventive Principle:
Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

Solution Approach 2:

The system dynamically changes the operating parameters of the heat exchanger by adjusting the bypass vent valve opening degree based on the temperature difference between outdoor and indoor air. When the temperature difference indicates reverse heating risk, the bypass valve opening degree increases to change the air flow distribution, thereby preventing cooling capacity attenuation

Inventive Principle:
Principle #35Parameter changes

2Reliability

If bypass vent valve opening degree is increased to suppress reverse heating, then cooling capacity stability is improved, but energy efficiency may deteriorate

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvecooling capacity stabilityVSAvoidenergy consumption
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSUse of energy by moving object

Solution Approach 1:

The bypass vent valve opening degree is dynamically adjusted based on real-time temperature monitoring rather than being fixed. The controller continuously monitors outdoor and indoor air temperatures and adjusts the bypass vent valve opening degree accordingly - keeping it closed or partially closed when outdoor temperature is lower than indoor temperature to maintain energy efficiency, and opening it when reverse heating is detected to maintain cooling capacity stability

Inventive Principle:
Principle #15Dynamics

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

Effectively suppresses reverse heating and maintains cooling capacity, ensuring efficient heat dissipation in data centers even under high outdoor temperatures by regulating air flow and using indirect evaporative cooling in conjunction with mechanical refrigeration.

Implementation Method 1

outdoor air may be cooled through indirect evaporative cooling of the heat exchanger

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectIndirect evaporative cooling: Evaporative Cooler

Implementation Method 2

the heat exchanger includes an air intake vent A and an air exhaust vent B that are used for outdoor fresh air entry and discharge

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectHeat exchange: Heat Exchanger

Implementation Method 3

the cooling supplement component includes a condenser and an evaporator

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectMechanical refrigeration:

Implementation Method 4

the condenser is connected to the air exhaust vent B by using an exhaust air pipe

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectCondensation: Condensation

Implementation Method 5

the evaporator is connected to the air exhaust vent D

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectEvaporation: Evaporation

Implementation Method 6

when reverse heating occurs on the heat exchanger, an opening degree of the bypass vent valve can be controlled to suppress reverse heating of the heat exchanger

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectReverse heating suppression:

Data Source

PatentEP4033869B1Cooling system and data center
Publication Date: 2023.07.12 HUAWEI DIGITAL POWER TECH CO LTD
  • EP4033869B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP4033869B1 patent drawingFigure 2
  • EP4033869B1 patent drawingFigure 3

AI summary

This application provides a cooling system, including a heat exchanger, a cooling supplement component, a bypass vent valve, and a controller. The heat exchanger includes an air intake vent A and an air exhaust vent B that are used for outdoor fresh air entry and discharge, and an air intake vent C and an air exhaust vent D that are used for indoor return air entry and discharge. The cooling supplement component includes a condenser and an evaporator, the condenser is connected to the air exhaust vent B by using an exhaust air pipe, and the evaporator is connected to the air exhaust vent D. The bypass vent valve is disposed on the exhaust air pipe, and the bypass vent valve communicates with outdoor air. The bypass vent valve is connected to the controller, and the controller is configured to control the bypass vent valve. The cooling system may be configured to perform heat dissipation for an equipment room or a cabinet in a data center, and reverse heating of the heat exchanger may be suppressed by controlling an opening degree of the bypass vent valve. Embodiments of this application further provide a data center that includes the cooling system.