Cooling system with reduced pressure drop
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing cooling systems for data centers face mechanical issues and increased energy consumption due to differences in heat removal methods, leading to inefficiencies when switching between operating modes.
Innovation Solution
A cooling system with multiple heat transfer fluids and a controller that manages fluid flow through a series of valves to maintain a constant flow rate and minimize pressure drops, allowing operation in various modes such as mechanical, hybrid, and free cooling, using a combination of DX cooling and free cooling devices.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If the cooling system switches between operating modes (mechanical, hybrid, free cooling), then the system can adapt to different environmental conditions and improve energy efficiency, but the pressure drop of the heat transfer fluid changes significantly causing mechanical problems and increased energy consumption
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies dynamics by making the valve positions adjustable and controllable based on operating mode. The system transitions from static valve configurations to dynamic control where valve positions are actively adjusted to maintain constant pressure drop across different cooling modes (mechanical, hybrid, free cooling), thereby ensuring reliable operation while adapting to varying environmental conditions
Solution Approach 2:
The patent changes the parameter of valve positions to maintain constant pressure drop. By adjusting valve positions as a controllable parameter, the system compensates for changes in flow paths between different operating modes, ensuring that the pressure drop remains constant despite mode transitions, thus resolving the contradiction between adaptability and pressure stability
2Adaptability or versatility
If the cooling system uses different heat removal methods (chilled water, air-cooled DX, free cooling), then the system can handle varying thermal loads and environmental conditions, but mechanical problems arise due to pressure drops when switching between methods
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements dynamic valve control to adapt the system configuration according to the selected heat removal method. Whether operating in chilled water mode, air-cooled DX mode, or free cooling mode, the valves dynamically adjust their positions to maintain consistent pressure characteristics, ensuring mechanical reliability across all versatile operating methods
Solution Approach 2:
The patent creates a universal valve control mechanism that serves multiple functions across different heat removal methods. The same valve system maintains pressure stability whether the system is using chilled water cooling, air-cooled DX, or free cooling, making the pressure control mechanism universally applicable to all heat removal methods and eliminating mode-specific mechanical problems
3Device complexity
If the cooling system allows pressure drop variations when switching modes, then the system structure can be simpler, but energy consumption increases due to the mechanical issues caused by pressure fluctuations
Solution Approach 1:
The patent changes the valve position parameter to maintain constant pressure drop, which prevents energy losses associated with pressure fluctuations. Although this requires active control, the energy savings from avoiding mechanical problems and optimizing fluid flow compensate for the control system complexity, resulting in net energy reduction across different operating modes
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 reduces mechanical problems and energy consumption by stabilizing pressure and flow rates across modes, optimizing energy efficiency and reducing pressure drops, thereby enhancing cooling performance and cost-effectiveness.
Implementation Method 1
a first heat exchanger in fluid communication with the first heat transfer fluid and the second heat transfer fluid
Implementation Method 2
a second heat exchanger in fluid communication with the second heat transfer fluid and a source of external air
Data Source
AI summary
A cooling system includes a cooling device having a first cooling coil and a second cooling coil, a first heat transfer fluid in fluid communication with the first cooling coil, a second heat transfer fluid in fluid communication with the second cooling coil, a first heat exchanger in fluid communication with the first heat transfer fluid and the second heat transfer fluid, a second heat exchanger in fluid communication with the second heat transfer fluid and a source of external air, a system of fluid control devices in fluid communication with the second heat transfer fluid and configured to minimize a change in a total pressure drop of the second heat transfer fluid when the cooling system switches between operating modes, and a controller configured to selectively control the cooling device and the system of fluid control devices to operate the cooling system in each of the operating modes.