High-Power-Density Data Center Blocks With Modular AHU Cooling
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing power and cooling architectures in traditional data centers are inadequate for rapid deployment and scalability in high power density (HPD) data centers, necessitating a system that provides flexibility, supports various cooling technologies, and is quickly deployable and sustainable.
Innovation Solution
A data center system comprising an enclosure with HPD blocks, rack rows, air handling units (AHUs), and busbars, allowing for optimized cooling capacity, reduced mechanical partial power usage effectiveness (pPUE), and modular scalability, with exchangeable AHUs for direct-to-chip liquid cooling.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If traditional power and cooling architecture is used in data centers, then deployment is simpler and cost is lower, but the system cannot support high power density requirements and rapid scalability
Solution Approach 1:
The data center is divided into modular HPD blocks, each containing rack rows, AHU devices, and busbars as integrated units. These blocks can be deployed independently and scaled by adding or removing blocks, enabling the system to adapt to high power density requirements while maintaining manageable complexity through standardized modules.
Solution Approach 2:
The HPD block design integrates multiple functions into single components: AHU devices provide both cooling and air distribution, busbars handle multiple power phases, and rack rows are configured to support various cooling technologies. This multi-functionality allows the system to adapt to different high power density scenarios without requiring entirely different architectures.
2Productivity
If modular HPD blocks with integrated AHU devices and busbars are implemented, then scalability and deployment speed improve, but device complexity and initial cost increase
Solution Approach 1:
The HPD blocks are pre-configured with rack rows, AHU devices, and busbars in standardized arrangements during manufacturing. This preliminary configuration allows the blocks to be deployed as ready-to-use modules, significantly reducing on-site assembly time and complexity while enabling rapid scaling through simple replication of pre-tested units.
3Temperature
If AHU devices directly distribute cool air to racks in HPD blocks, then cooling efficiency increases, but mechanical power usage increases
Solution Approach 1:
AHU devices are positioned at specific locations within each HPD block to provide localized cooling directly at the rack level. This local cooling approach delivers cool air precisely where heat is generated, improving cooling efficiency by reducing thermal gradients and air mixing losses, while the modular design allows optimization of each local cooling zone independently.
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 cooling efficiency, simplifies scalability, and reduces deployment time through a symmetrical component configuration and all-in-one modular design, while supporting flexible cooling solutions and reducing mechanical power usage.
Implementation Method 1
each AHU device is configured to directly distribute cool air to the plurality of racks
Data Source
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AI summary
A High Power Density (HPD) data center block system includes one or more HPD blocks. Each HPD block may include at least two rack rows including a first rack row arranged a select distance from a second rack row to form a hot aisle. Each HPD block may further include at least two air handling unit (AHU) devices. Each AHU device may be configured to directly distribute cool air to a plurality of racks. Each HPD block may further include one or more busbars arranged adjacent to the first rack row and the second rack row. The one or more busbars may be configured to provide power to the plurality of racks of the first rack row and the second rack row.