Data Center Air-Conditioning Control via Temperature Sensitivity
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current methods for power saving in data centers fail to achieve overall power reduction due to limitations in workload allocation, temperature management, and calculation complexity, leading to inefficient cooling and increased energy consumption.
Innovation Solution
An air-conditioning control apparatus that calculates differential inlet air temperature variations and temperature sensitivity between units, using these calculations to control air conditioner settings and prevent excessive temperature thresholds, thereby optimizing airflow and reducing overall power consumption.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If cooling equipment is designed according to maximum total electric power rating of information-processing units, then reliability is ensured, but overall power consumption increases when actual loads are below maximum
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements dynamic cooling control by continuously monitoring actual power consumption of information-processing units and adjusting air conditioner output accordingly. The system transitions from static maximum-rated cooling design to dynamic adaptive cooling that matches actual thermal loads, enabling reliable cooling while reducing power consumption during partial-load operations.
Solution Approach 2:
The system changes operational parameters by adjusting air conditioner output based on actual power consumption measurements. The control apparatus modifies cooling parameters (temperature setpoints, airflow rates) in response to varying thermal loads from information-processing units, optimizing the balance between cooling reliability and power consumption.
2Loss of energy
If job scheduling is performed to balance temperature distribution, then cooling efficiency improves, but calculation complexity and time increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies local quality optimization by focusing temperature control on specific high-temperature regions rather than uniformly managing the entire data center. The system identifies and prioritizes cooling for units with excessive temperatures, reducing overall calculation complexity while maintaining effective cooling efficiency.
Solution Approach 2:
The control apparatus performs preliminary temperature assessment and job scheduling decisions before temperature criticality occurs. By proactively monitoring and adjusting workload distribution based on temperature trends, the system prevents thermal imbalances without requiring complex real-time recalculation during critical events.
3Temperature
If air flow rate is increased to cool high-temperature units, then temperature control improves, but power consumption of cooling equipment increases
Solution Approach 1:
The system applies local quality control by directing increased air flow specifically to information-processing units with excessive temperatures rather than uniformly increasing cooling across all units. This targeted approach improves temperature control for critical units while minimizing overall power consumption increase.
Solution Approach 2:
The control apparatus applies partial cooling action by adjusting air flow rates only for specific units requiring temperature control rather than excessive uniform cooling. This prevents over-cooling of already-adequate units, reducing unnecessary power consumption while maintaining adequate temperature control.
Data Source
AI summary
An air conditioning system having an inlet air temperature calculating block that calculates a variation in air temperature at an inlet port of each unit based on position information and also calculate the air flow rate through each unit. A temperature sensitivity calculating block calculates temperature sensitivity of each unit obtained by dividing the variation in air temperature at the inlet port by a variation in air temperature at an outlet port of each unit. An inlet air temperature calculating block calculates the air temperature at the inlet port of each unit on the basis of the air temperature at the outlet port of each unit, and the temperature sensitivity.