Data Center Cooling Loop Using Phase-Change Refrigerant
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Solution Overview
Problem
Traditional chilled water data center cooling systems have high energy consumption due to numerous heat exchange links and a one-way working medium, leading to poor energy performance.
Innovation Solution
A cooling system comprising an evaporative condenser, a pump cabinet with a first branch for liquid storage and a fluorine pump, and a heat exchange terminal, where a phase-change heat exchange medium is used to cool the data center, reducing heat exchange links and energy consumption by circulating a gaseous cooling agent through a compressor and evaporative condenser.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Loss of energy
If a traditional chilled water data center design is used, then cooling function is provided, but energy consumption is high due to large numbers of heat exchange links and one-way working medium
Solution Approach 1:
The patent merges multiple heat exchange links into a closed-loop system where the evaporative condenser, pump cabinet, and heat exchange terminal are integrated. The working medium circulates continuously through compression, condensation, expansion, and evaporation processes, eliminating the need for separate one-way heat exchange systems and reducing overall energy consumption.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent utilizes phase transitions of the working medium (gas to liquid in evaporative condenser, liquid to gas in heat exchange terminal) to enable efficient heat exchange. This phase-change mechanism allows the system to transfer heat more effectively with fewer exchange links, directly addressing the energy consumption issue while maintaining cooling functionality.
2Loss of energy
If traditional chilled water cooling system is used, then data center cooling is achieved, but overall energy performance is poor
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements a continuous circulation system where the working medium continuously cycles through compression, condensation, expansion, and evaporation. This continuous action eliminates idle periods and ensures efficient energy utilization throughout the system, improving overall energy performance compared to traditional intermittent or one-way cooling systems.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent changes the physical parameters of the working medium (temperature, pressure, phase) at different stages of the closed-loop system. By optimizing these parameter changes through the evaporative condenser and heat exchange terminal, the system achieves better energy performance while reducing total energy consumption for data center cooling.
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 energy consumption and improves energy performance by minimizing heat exchange links and utilizing a phase-change heat exchange medium for efficient cooling of data centers.
Implementation Method 1
perform a phase-change heat exchange of a gaseous cooling agent transmitted in the second branch of the pump cabinet with spraying water via the evaporative condenser to transform it into a liquid cooling agent
Implementation Method 2
perform an air-returning heat exchange of the liquid cooling agent transmitted through the first branch with the interior air of the data center via the heat exchange terminal
Implementation Method 3
the gaseous cooling agent in the heat exchange terminal is then transmitted to the evaporative condenser through the second branch via the compressor of the second branch in the pump cabinet
Data Source
AI summary
A cooling system for a data center includes an evaporative condenser, a pump cabinet and a heat exchange terminal. The pump cabinet has a first branch and a second branch, the first branch including a liquid storage tank and a fluorine pump. An input end of the liquid storage tank is connected to an output end of the evaporative condenser, an output end of the liquid storage tank is connected to an input end of the fluorine pump, and an output end of the fluorine pump is connected to an input end of the heat exchange terminal. The second branch includes a compressor with an input end connected to an output end of the heat exchange terminal and an output end connected to an input end of the evaporative condenser.