Data Center Cooling System Using Hybrid Air and Liquid Heat Exchange
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current data center cooling systems, which rely on liquid cooling combined with air conditioning supplementary cooling, face challenges such as high energy consumption, increased PUE (Power Usage Effectiveness), and complex equipment setups, making them inefficient and difficult to deploy rapidly.
Innovation Solution
A data center cooling system comprising a cooling tower, an air cooling unit, and a liquid cooling unit, where the air cooling unit includes a first heat exchanger, a fan, and an air returning channel, and the liquid cooling unit includes a second heat exchanger. The system uses a coolant loop that connects the cooling tower to both heat exchangers and the server, enabling efficient heat exchange and air cooling without the need for air-conditioning cooling units.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Temperature
If air conditioning cooling units are used for data center cooling, then cooling effect is achieved, but energy consumption increases and PUE worsens
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts the cooling function from traditional air conditioning units and implements it through a dedicated cooling system using cooling towers and heat exchangers. This separation allows for more efficient cooling specifically tailored for data centers, removing the energy-inefficient AC components while maintaining effective temperature control.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent employs hydraulic cooling systems with cooling towers, coolant circulation loops, and heat exchangers to achieve cooling. This hydraulic approach replaces the mechanical compression and refrigeration cycles of air conditioners with a more energy-efficient fluid-based heat transfer system, directly addressing the energy consumption problem.
2Temperature
If air conditioning cooling units are used for data center cooling, then cooling effect is achieved, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent removes the complex air conditioning equipment (compressors, condensers, evaporators, expansion valves) and replaces it with a simpler cooling tower and heat exchanger system. This extraction of unnecessary components directly reduces device complexity while preserving the essential cooling function.
Solution Approach 2:
The cooling system designed in the patent serves multiple functions: it cools air through the cooling tower, provides liquid cooling through the heat exchanger, and can handle both ambient air cooling and precision equipment cooling. This multi-functionality reduces the need for separate specialized equipment, thereby simplifying the overall system.
3Temperature
If air conditioning cooling units are used for data center cooling, then cooling effect is achieved, but deployment speed decreases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent divides the cooling system into modular segments: cooling towers, heat exchangers, coolant circulation systems, and air handling units. This segmentation allows for independent installation, testing, and commissioning of each module, enabling faster deployment compared to integrated air conditioning systems that require complete installation before operation.
Solution Approach 2:
The cooling towers and heat exchangers can be pre-installed and pre-tested independently of the data center equipment. The coolant circulation system can be prepared in advance, allowing for rapid commissioning once the data center equipment is in place, thereby accelerating overall deployment speed.
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
This solution reduces energy consumption and PUE by eliminating the need for air-conditioning cooling units, simplifies the cooling system architecture, and enables rapid deployment, while also reducing carbon emissions and avoiding environmental pollutants like Freon.
Implementation Method 1
a coolant outlet of the cooling tower is connected to a coolant inlet of the first heat exchanger
Implementation Method 2
the fan is configured to cause the air flowing out of an air outlet of the air returning channel to flow to the server after flowing through the first heat exchanger
Implementation Method 3
a second coolant outlet of the second heat exchanger is connected to a coolant inlet of the server
Data Source
AI summary
The disclosure relates to a data center cooling system including a cooling tower, an air cooling unit, a liquid cooling unit and a cabinet, the air cooling unit including a first heat exchanger, a fan and an air returning channel, the liquid cooling unit including a second heat exchanger, the cabinet including a server. A coolant outlet of the cooling tower is connected to a coolant inlet of the first heat exchanger and a first coolant inlet of the second heat exchanger, a coolant outlet of the first heat exchanger and a first coolant outlet of the second heat exchanger are connected to a coolant inlet of the cooling tower, a second coolant outlet of the second heat exchanger is connected to a coolant inlet of the server, and a coolant outlet of the server is connected to a second coolant inlet of the second heat exchanger.