Heat-and-cold recovery system based on liquid cooling data center
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing liquid cooling technologies face challenges in obtaining stable high-quality low-temperature heat sources, which limits the large-scale application of heat pump systems, and there is a need for efficient heat and cold recovery systems to reduce energy consumption and investment costs in data centers and energy storage power stations.
Innovation Solution
A heat-and-cold recovery system is implemented in liquid cooling data centers, incorporating high-temperature heat pumps, pressure-less and pressurized heat-storage tanks, absorption-type and compression-type water chillers, and cold-storage tanks to manage heat and cold distribution efficiently, reducing reliance on backup power sources and optimizing energy use.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Use of energy by moving object
If liquid cooling technology is used to achieve low PUE, then energy efficiency is improved, but the ability to obtain stable high-quality low-temperature heat sources deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The system pre-cools the liquid cooling medium using evaporators and cold storage tanks during off-peak hours or when waste heat is available, storing the pre-cooled medium in advance. This preliminary cooling action ensures that stable low-temperature heat sources are available when needed, resolving the contradiction between energy efficiency and heat source stability.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces waste heat from industrial processes or power generation as an intermediary heat source. This waste heat is used to preheat or supplement the liquid cooling medium, providing a stable thermal input that compensates for the instability of ambient low-temperature sources, thereby maintaining both energy efficiency and heat source reliability.
2Device complexity
If traditional air cooling is used, then system complexity is reduced, but heat dissipation capacity deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The system transitions from air cooling to liquid cooling, utilizing the superior thermal conductivity and heat capacity of liquids. The liquid cooling medium circulates through heat exchangers, absorbing heat from electronic equipment more efficiently than air cooling, thereby dramatically increasing heat dissipation capacity while managing the increased system complexity through integrated heat recovery components.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent employs phase change materials and evaporative cooling mechanisms where the liquid cooling medium undergoes phase transitions (liquid to vapor) to absorb large amounts of latent heat. This phase change process enables high heat dissipation capacity in a compact system, resolving the contradiction between complexity and heat dissipation performance.
3Adaptability or versatility
If high-temperature heat pumps are used to produce steam above 100°C, then application versatility is improved, but energy consumption increases
Solution Approach 1:
The system captures and utilizes waste heat from industrial processes, power generation, or the liquid cooling system itself to generate high-temperature steam. By converting previously discarded waste heat into useful steam energy, the system expands application versatility (steam for industrial processes, sterilization, heating) while minimizing additional energy consumption through this heat recovery approach.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent employs composite heat exchange systems that combine multiple heat transfer mechanisms (conduction, convection, phase change) and integrate different thermal storage media. This composite approach enables efficient generation of high-temperature steam by layering and combining various heat recovery and amplification techniques, achieving high versatility with optimized 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
The system enhances energy efficiency by utilizing waste heat for steam and hot water production, reduces investment costs through reduced backup power configurations, and increases cold storage capacity by 4 times, improving system reliability and peak-load shifting capabilities.
Implementation Method 1
liquid cooling technology includes single-phase immersion type, two-phase immersion type, spray type, and cold plate type
Implementation Method 2
the heat exchanger of the liquid cooling system has a larger heat transfer coefficient
Implementation Method 3
Based on the principle of refrigeration, only liquid cooling data centers are capable of achieving the PUE to be less than 1.2 or even 1.1
Implementation Method 4
the heat exchanger of the liquid cooling system has a larger heat transfer coefficient
Implementation Method 5
The heat-and-cold recovery system comprises a high-temperature heat pump, a pressure-less heat-storage tank, a pressurized heat-storage tank, an absorption-type water chiller group and a water cold-storage tank
Data Source
AI summary
Heat-and-cold recovery system based on liquid cooling data center (energy storage power station) includes high-temperature heat pump, pressure-less heat-storage tank, pressurized heat-storage tank, absorption-type water chiller group, compression-type water chiller group, water cold-storage tank, and PCM cold-storage tank. High-temperature heat pump forms circulating heat-exchange loops with CDU and with pressure-less heat-storage tank; hot-water output interface of pressure-less heat-storage tank connects to pressurized heat-storage tank through first circulating pump set and pipeline heater sequentially; pressurized heat-storage tank stores and outputs hot water/steam; pressurized heat-storage tank connects to absorption-type water chiller group through second circulating pump set and forms circulating heat-exchange loop with pressure-less heat-storage tank through absorption-type water chiller group; absorption-type water chiller group forms circulating heat-exchange loop with computer-room air-cooling region; compression-type water chiller group connects to water/PCM cold-storage tank, which stores cooling water of compression-type water chiller group for heat exchange to CDU and/or computer-room air-cooling region.