Method of cooling and arrangement of a cooling device and heat emitting components

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Solution Overview

Problem

Current cooling systems for heat-generating devices in data centers face inefficiencies due to the need for AC to DC conversion, resulting in energy losses and increased cooling costs, as they require additional components and energy for heat dissipation.

Innovation Solution

The method involves using direct current components for the air conditioning device, operating directly with the same DC supply voltage as the heat-generating devices, eliminating the need for AC voltage supply and associated converters, and utilizing DC motors and DC/DC converters to power low-voltage equipment like fans and control units.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Adaptability or versatility

If AC to DC conversion is used to power heat-generating devices, then the devices can operate with standard AC supply, but energy losses occur and cooling costs increase

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvecompatibility with standard AC supplyVSAvoidenergy loss in conversion

Core Design Contradiction:

Adaptability or versatilityVSLoss of energy

Solution Approach 1:

The patent extracts and eliminates the AC to DC conversion stage from the power supply chain. By directly powering both heat-generating devices and cooling systems with DC voltage, the conversion process that causes energy losses is removed entirely, while DC-compatible devices are used throughout the system.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #2Taking out (Extraction)

Solution Approach 2:

Instead of converting AC to DC as the standard approach, the patent inverts the approach by using DC as the primary voltage type throughout the data center infrastructure. This inversion eliminates multiple conversion stages and associated energy losses.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #13The other way round (Inversion)

2Use of energy by moving object

If DC voltage is used directly for both heat-generating devices and air conditioning, then energy consumption is reduced, but additional DC components are required

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveenergy consumptionVSAvoidDC component requirements

Core Design Contradiction:

Use of energy by moving objectVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent applies universality by using DC voltage as a universal power source for all major system components - both heat-generating IT devices and cooling system components. This multi-functional DC power distribution eliminates the need for separate AC power systems and conversion infrastructure.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

3Adaptability or versatility

If AC power supply with converters is used for air conditioning, then compatibility with standard power grids is maintained, but physical space and costs increase

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvecompatibility with standard power gridsVSAvoidspace for converters and intermediate circuits

Core Design Contradiction:

Adaptability or versatilityVSVolume of stationary object

Solution Approach 1:

The patent extracts and removes converters and intermediate AC power distribution infrastructure from the system. By implementing direct DC power distribution, the physical space required for conversion equipment is eliminated, while DC-compatible devices are deployed throughout.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #2Taking out (Extraction)

4Ease of manufacture

If heat dissipation systems are added to handle conversion losses, then energy conversion can proceed, but cooling energy consumption increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvefeasibility of AC to DC conversionVSAvoidcooling energy consumption

Core Design Contradiction:

Ease of manufactureVSUse of energy by stationary object

Solution Approach 1:

The patent applies this principle by eliminating the source of harmful heat generation - the AC to DC conversion process. By using DC directly throughout the system, the harmful heat that would require additional cooling is prevented from being generated in the first place, thereby reducing cooling energy consumption.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #22Blessing in disguise (Convert harm into benefit)

Data Source

PatentEP3172494B1Method of cooling and arrangement of a cooling device and heat emitting components

Publication Date: 2020.02.12 WEISS KLIMATECHNIK GMBH

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AI summary

The invention relates to a method for operating an air-conditioning device (22) for cooling heat-generating devices (12, 14, 16, 18), in particular IT devices, which are arranged in a room (20) and which are supplied with a direct-current supply voltage UVDC, wherein the air-conditioning device (22) comprises electrical operating means (24, 26, 28, 30), in particular in the form of at least one control/regulation device, at least one actuator, such as compressor, fan of a condenser, fan of an evaporator or actuating drive, and/or at least one sensor, such as a temperature sensor. To optimize the energy supply, it is provided that, as electrical operating means (24, 26, 28, 30) of the air-conditioning device (22), use is made of direct-current voltage components which are operated directly with the direct-current supply voltage UVDC required for the operation of the heat-generating devices (14, 16, 18, 20).