Fluid Flow Distribution Control for Non-Uniform Data Center Cooling
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Existing air conditioning systems in structures like data centers face inefficiencies due to non-uniform airflow and varying heat loads, leading to suboptimal temperature control and increased energy consumption.
Innovation Solution
A system and method for determining optimized fluid flow distribution by setting master sensors to specific temperature setpoints, adjusting fluid flow characteristics, and using blanking panels to minimize energy consumption while maintaining temperature ranges in data centers.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If a common reference temperature setpoint is used for all sensors, then the system is simple to operate, but the cooling provisioning becomes suboptimal due to non-uniform airflow and varying heat loads
Solution Approach 1:
The patent assigns different temperature setpoints to different sensors based on their specific locations and local conditions (non-uniform airflow, varying heat loads). Each sensor receives a customized setpoint rather than a common one, optimizing cooling for each local zone while maintaining overall system efficiency.
2Area of stationary object
If air conditioning units supply cooling airflow through plenum and ventilation tiles, then the cooling coverage is widespread, but the airflow distribution becomes non-uniform leading to temperature variations
Solution Approach 1:
The system recognizes that different locations within the wide cooling coverage area experience different temperature conditions due to non-uniform airflow. By assigning location-specific setpoints to sensors throughout the area, the system compensates for the non-uniform distribution and maintains appropriate temperature control in each zone.
Solution Approach 2:
Sensors distributed throughout the cooling coverage area continuously monitor local temperatures and feed this data back to the control system. The control system uses this feedback to adjust cooling provisioning dynamically, compensating for non-uniform airflow patterns and maintaining temperature uniformity across the entire area.
3Reliability
If controllers use sensor data to control air conditioning units and ventilation tiles, then temperature control is maintained, but energy consumption increases due to suboptimal setpoints
Solution Approach 1:
The system optimizes energy consumption by changing the temperature setpoint parameter for each sensor based on its location and local conditions. Rather than using a fixed common setpoint that requires excessive cooling in some areas, the system adjusts parameters locally to match actual cooling needs, maintaining reliable temperature control while reducing overall energy consumption.
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 optimizes cooling resource provisioning, reducing energy consumption and ensuring sufficient cooling for equipment while maintaining predefined temperature ranges.
Implementation Method 1
a structure configured to be cooled by a fluid moving device (114a-n)
Implementation Method 2
supplying the cooling fluid flow to the electronic devices (116) to thereby cool the electronic devices (116)
Data Source
AI summary
In a method for determining a substantially optimized fluid flow distribution in a structure configured to be cooled by a fluid moving device, an indication to activate the fluid moving device according to a reference temperature setpoint of a plurality of sensors is outputted. In addition, conditions detected in multiple areas of the structure with the plurality of sensors are received, a master sensor among the plurality of sensors based upon the detected conditions is identified; and a master reference temperature setpoint for the master sensor that substantially optimizes fluid flow distribution in the structure based upon conditions detected by the plurality of sensors in response to changes in a characteristic of fluid flow supplied to the plurality of sensors is determined.