Data Centre Cooling Control Using Bypass Airflow Feedback
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Solution Overview
Problem
Data centers face inefficiencies in cooling systems due to operational variance in CRAC unit airflow, leading to temperature fluctuations and energy consumption issues, particularly affecting complex computing equipment with multiple temperature sensors and cooling control systems.
Innovation Solution
Implementing air-tight barriers to segregate cold and hot air streams and using flow meters to measure bypass airflow, allowing for controlled CRAC unit output to maintain a constant bypass airflow level, thereby minimizing recirculation and optimizing cooling efficiency.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Temperature
If CRAC units operate with high air pressure to ensure cooling capacity, then cooling effectiveness is improved, but operational variance in airflow increases affecting computing equipment
Solution Approach 1:
The system measures bypass airflow using flow meters and feeds this information back to the CRAC unit control systems. The control systems adjust CRAC output dynamically to maintain a predetermined bypass airflow level, stabilizing the airflow environment for computing equipment while preserving cooling effectiveness.
2Productivity
If CRAC unit airflow is increased to cool computing equipment, then cooling capacity is improved, but recirculation of hot air increases reducing efficiency
Solution Approach 1:
The system extracts and measures the bypass airflow component separately from the main cooling airflow using flow meters positioned in bypass regions. By measuring this specific airflow component and controlling it to a predetermined level, the system prevents hot air recirculation while maintaining necessary cooling capacity.
3Productivity
If flow meters and control systems are added to measure and control bypass airflow, then cooling efficiency is improved, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The CRAC units use the measured bypass airflow information to self-adjust their output automatically. The control systems regulate CRAC units based on flow meter readings to maintain predetermined bypass airflow levels, enabling the cooling system to optimize its own performance without external intervention.
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 approach reduces energy consumption, maintains consistent air pressure at computing equipment inlets, and minimizes recirculation airflow, leading to improved cooling efficiency and reduced operational variance in data center environments.
Implementation Method 1
A flow meter arranged within the aperture is arranged to measure a velocity of the bypass airflow
Implementation Method 2
The in-drawn air is cooled as it passes through the CRAC unit, for example by exposure to a heat exchanger comprising chilled water
Data Source
Figure 1(a)~1(b)
Figure 2
Figure 3
AI summary
According to one embodiment of the present invention, there is provided an apparatus for cooling a data centre. The apparatus comprises an air conditioning unit for supplying cooled air to a cold portion of a data centre, an airflow measurement device for measuring a rate of bypass airflow through a segregation between the cold portion and hot portion of the data centre, and outputting a bypass airflow signal indicative of the rate of bypass airflow between the cold portion and the hot portion, and a control unit arranged to receive the bypass airflow signal from the airflow measurement device and to output a control signal to a means for controlling a rate of the bypass airflow to maintain a predetermined rate of bypass airflow.