Automatic control system and method of chillers for data center
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current data center refrigeration systems rely on limited temperature sensors, leading to inaccurate temperature monitoring, resulting in excessive or insufficient refrigeration, increased power consumption, and higher server failure rates, particularly in large-scale data centers.
Innovation Solution
An automatic control system for chillers that uses multiple temperature sensors at server air inlets to detect temperatures in real-time, calculates an average temperature, and adjusts the air conditioner's working mode dynamically to maintain optimal conditions, reducing labor costs and improving operation efficiency.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Measurement precision
If a limited number of temperature sensors are mounted at air outlet of air conditioner or in cold/warm aisle, then the refrigeration system can be controlled with simple sensor deployment, but the temperature fluctuation and change inside the data centre cannot be reflected precisely
Solution Approach 1:
The patent divides the data center into multiple monitoring zones, each equipped with its own temperature sensors. Instead of using a limited number of sensors, the system segments the monitoring task across multiple sensor nodes distributed throughout the facility, allowing precise local temperature measurement while maintaining manageable system complexity through modular deployment
Solution Approach 2:
The patent transitions from traditional single-point temperature monitoring to multi-dimensional spatial temperature field monitoring. By deploying sensors at multiple locations (cold aisles, warm aisles, and server inlets/outlets) and utilizing wireless communication networks, the system creates a comprehensive three-dimensional temperature map of the data center, dramatically improving measurement precision without proportionally increasing deployment complexity
2Reliability
If over circumspect control strategy is adopted to ensure sufficient refrigeration, then server temperature requirements are met, but excessive refrigeration occurs resulting in increased power consumption
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements a real-time feedback control system that continuously monitors actual server inlet temperatures and dynamically adjusts refrigeration output. The controller receives temperature data from sensors and automatically modulates chiller operation to maintain temperatures within the required range, preventing both over-refrigeration and under-refrigeration. This closed-loop feedback mechanism ensures reliable server cooling while optimizing energy consumption by matching refrigeration output to actual thermal demands
Solution Approach 2:
The system transitions from static, pre-set refrigeration control to dynamic, real-time adjustment based on actual server thermal conditions. The control strategy adapts continuously to changing server workloads, ambient temperatures, and operational conditions, allowing the refrigeration system to provide exactly the right amount of cooling needed at any given moment, thereby maintaining reliability while minimizing energy waste from excessive refrigeration
3Use of energy by moving object
If over radical control strategy is adopted to reduce refrigeration, then power consumption decreases, but insufficient refrigeration occurs resulting in high local temperature and increased server failure probability
Solution Approach 1:
The real-time feedback mechanism continuously monitors server temperatures and immediately responds to prevent temperature excursions. By detecting temperature trends and predicting future conditions, the system maintains adequate refrigeration only where and when needed, avoiding both over-refrigeration waste and under-refrigeration risks. The feedback loop ensures server reliability is maintained while optimizing energy usage
4Reliability
If administrator manually adjusts refrigeration control strategy based on personal experience, then some temperature issues can be addressed, but labour cost increases and operation and maintenance efficiency decreases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements an automated self-regulating refrigeration control system that monitors temperature conditions and adjusts cooling operations without human intervention. The system uses pre-configured control algorithms and real-time sensor data to automatically optimize refrigeration performance, eliminating the need for manual adjustments by administrators. This automation maintains effective temperature control while dramatically improving operational efficiency by removing labor-intensive manual monitoring and adjustment tasks
Data Source
AI summary
An automatic control system and method of chillers for a data center are provided. The control system includes: a plurality of servers; a plurality of first temperature sensors, mounted at air inlets of the plurality of servers, respectively, and configured to detect temperatures at the air inlets of the plurality of servers in a real-time manner, respectively; a controller, configured to receive detected temperatures sent by the plurality of first temperature sensors, calculate an average temperature in the data center according to the detected temperatures, and generate a control instruction according to the average temperature in the data center; and an air conditioner, configured to receive the control instruction sent by the controller, and adjust a working mode of the air conditioner according to the control instruction.