Data Center Thermal Management System with Integrated Cooling Modes
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Solution Overview
Problem
Traditional data center cooling systems are energy-intensive, complex, and require significant space, necessitating the development of more efficient and reliable thermal management solutions.
Innovation Solution
A thermal management system comprising an air to air heat exchanger operating in dry and wet modes, a liquid to air heat exchanger, and a direct expansion cooling loop, which utilizes evaporative cooling and maximizes the use of cooling liquids to enhance energy efficiency and reliability.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If traditional cooling systems with multiple cooling components are used, then cooling capability is provided, but device complexity and space requirements increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent combines multiple cooling components (cooling towers, chillers, economizers, CRAH/CRAC, in-row coolers) into a single integrated thermal management system with heat exchangers and cooling loops, reducing the number of separate devices while maintaining comprehensive cooling capability
Solution Approach 2:
The thermal management system performs multiple cooling functions through a unified architecture that can operate in different modes (dry cooling, wet cooling, evaporative cooling), allowing a single system to replace multiple specialized cooling devices
2Reliability
If traditional cooling systems with multiple cooling components are used, then cooling capability is provided, but space requirements increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent consolidates multiple cooling components into a single integrated thermal management system, reducing the total space required by eliminating redundant equipment and combining functions into centralized units
Solution Approach 2:
The system employs nested cooling loops and compact heat exchanger configurations where cooling components are arranged in space-efficient nested or stacked configurations, allowing multiple cooling functions to occupy overlapping or adjacent spatial volumes
3Reliability
If conventional cooling infrastructures are used, then cooling is provided, but energy consumption increases
Solution Approach 1:
The system changes operational parameters by switching between different cooling modes (dry mode, wet mode, evaporative cooling) based on ambient conditions, optimizing energy consumption by selecting the most efficient cooling method for each scenario
Solution Approach 2:
The thermal management system utilizes free cooling opportunities and ambient conditions to reduce or eliminate the need for high-energy cooling components, allowing the system to serve itself by leveraging environmental resources for 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 provides simplified infrastructure, fast deployment, reduced costs, and high operating efficiencies while improving energy efficiency and reliability in data center cooling.
Implementation Method 1
exterior air is provided or directed through the air to air heat exchanger to absorb heat from and cool the data center air
Implementation Method 2
cooling liquid can be dispersed over the air to air heat exchanger to humidify the exterior air, e.g., to utilize the air wet bulb temperature to facilitate further cooling of the data center air
Implementation Method 3
the data center air flow passes over the coil as it moves through the thermal management system, allowing the cooling liquid to absorb heat from the data center air
Implementation Method 4
The direct expansion cooling loop generally includes a condenser, an evaporator, and a compressor in fluid communication with each other
Data Source
AI summary
This disclosure is directed to, in one aspect, a thermal management system for a data center. The thermal management system can include an air to air heat exchanger operable in a dry mode and a wet mode. The thermal management system can also include a liquid to air heat exchanger. The liquid to air heat exchanger can have a coil that receives the cooling liquid, with the coil being positioned in communication with the air of the data center such that the cooling liquid can absorb heat therefrom. Still further, the thermal management system can include a direct expansion cooling loop with a condenser and an evaporator. The system further provides multiple combinational operating conditions among multiple cooling modes. Other aspects are described.