Data center cooling system that prevents condensation caused by opening external access doors
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Solution Overview
Problem
Data centers with air cooling systems face the risk of condensation due to exposure to outside air, particularly in smaller modular data centers where access doors are the primary barrier between inside and outside environments, leading to potential damage from warmer, moist air entering and reaching dew point temperatures.
Innovation Solution
An environmental system that monitors outside and inside air temperatures and humidity levels, adjusting the cooling system's temperature set point to ensure the inside air temperature exceeds the dew point of the outside air when an access door is opened, thereby preventing condensation on IT components.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If the access door is opened to allow maintenance access, then ease of operation is improved, but condensation risk increases due to moisture-laden outside air entering the data center
Solution Approach 1:
The system performs preliminary action by pre-heating the air supply to the cold aisle before the access door is opened. Temperature sensors detect the door opening event, and the heating system activates in advance to raise the cold aisle temperature above the dew point of outside air, preventing condensation on IT equipment surfaces
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces an intermediary heating system between the outside environment and the cold aisle. This heating system acts as a mediator that warms the air supply, creating a thermal buffer that prevents direct contact between cold surfaces and moisture-laden air, thereby eliminating condensation risk while maintaining access door operability
2Temperature
If the cooling system maintains low temperature to cool IT components, then cooling effectiveness is improved, but condensation occurs when outside air with higher dew point enters
Solution Approach 1:
The system applies local quality by selectively heating only the cold aisle air supply while maintaining overall data center cooling. Temperature sensors monitor specific locations, and heating is applied locally to the air stream entering the cold aisle, raising the temperature above dew point only where needed to prevent condensation on IT components
Solution Approach 2:
The patent changes the temperature parameter of the air supply dynamically. Based on sensor input detecting door opening events and outside air conditions, the system adjusts the air temperature parameter upward above the dew point threshold, preventing condensation while still providing adequate cooling to IT components
3Temperature
If mechanical cooling is used to cool supply air, then cooling performance is improved, but condensation risk increases due to surfaces being below dew point
Solution Approach 1:
The system performs preliminary action by pre-heating the air after mechanical cooling but before it contacts IT components. Heating elements are positioned in the air supply path to raise the temperature of cooled air above the dew point before it reaches cold surfaces, preventing condensation while maintaining cooling performance
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces heating elements as intermediaries between the mechanically cooled air and the cold surfaces. These intermediaries transfer thermal energy to the air stream, raising its temperature above dew point and preventing direct condensation on surfaces, thereby resolving the contradiction between cooling effectiveness and condensation prevention
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 protects internal components from condensation by maintaining the inside air temperature above the dew point of the outside air, preventing moisture accumulation and potential damage during external access or maintenance.
Implementation Method 1
determining whether a dew point temperature of the outside air is greater than the interior air temperature
Data Source
AI summary
An environmental system protects internal components of a data center from condensation due to exposure to outside air. An environmental controller of the environmental system monitors sensor(s) that detect an outside temperature value and an outside humidity value of the outside air and an interior air temperature value of the data center. The environmental controller identifies an external access request to open an access door that exposes heat-generating IT component(s) within the data center to outside air. Based on the outside and the interior air temperature values and the outside humidity value received from sensor(s), the environmental controller determines that a dew point temperature of the outside air is greater than the interior air temperature. In response, the environmental controller increases a temperature set point of the cooling system to a first temperature value that increases the interior air temperature above the dew point temperature of the outside air.