Liquid-to-Air Membrane Exchanger for Data Center Liquid Cooling
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current data center cooling systems are inefficient, leading to capacity limitations and high energy consumption due to ineffective cooling of servers, with air-cooling systems consuming over 40% of total energy and liquid cooling systems facing challenges like coolant costs and scaling issues in cooling towers.
Innovation Solution
The implementation of a Liquid-to-Air Membrane Energy Exchanger (LAMEE) as an evaporative cooler, which reduces the temperature of water to provide efficient liquid cooling to data centers, potentially reducing cooling energy consumption by up to 95% and operating costs by up to 60%, while minimizing water usage and maintenance needs.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Use of energy by stationary object
If air-cooling systems are used in data centers, then cooling coverage is provided, but energy consumption increases significantly (over 40% of total energy)
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces liquid (water) as an intermediary cooling medium between the server heat sources and the air-cooling system. The liquid absorbs heat directly from server components through contact or proximity, then transports this heat to a cooling tower or evaporative cooler, where it is dissipated to the air. This two-stage heat transfer process (server→liquid→air) is more efficient than direct air-cooling, reducing the energy consumption of cooling systems while enabling higher server processing densities.
2Productivity
If liquid cooling systems are implemented to increase server processing density, then cooling efficiency improves, but coolant costs and maintenance expenses increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent uses water (or water-based solutions) as the cooling liquid instead of specialized expensive coolants. Water is chemically similar to the environment and readily available, making it a cost-effective choice. The system may use the same water in multiple stages (evaporative cooling, condensation, recycling) maintaining its cooling properties throughout the cycle, thereby reducing the need for expensive specialized coolants while achieving high server processing density.
3Temperature
If cooling towers are used to reject heat from coolant, then heat rejection is achieved, but water quality degradation and scaling occur
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts and removes dissolved minerals and impurities from the cooling water through filtration systems positioned in the water circulation loop. By continuously filtering the water before it contacts the cooling tower fill or server components, the system prevents scaling and maintains water quality. The filtered water is then reused in the cooling process, ensuring reliable heat rejection efficiency without the degradation issues of unfiltered cooling towers.
4Productivity
If conventional cooling systems are used, then cooling is provided, but the systems are large and occupy significant space
Solution Approach 1:
The patent combines multiple cooling functions into a single integrated system. The liquid cooling loops, evaporative coolers, condensers, and filtration systems are merged into a compact unified architecture that serves multiple purposes: cooling servers, rejecting heat to air, condensing moisture, and filtering water. This consolidation eliminates the need for separate large-scale cooling infrastructure, achieving high cooling capacity in a much smaller footprint suitable for high-density data centers.
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 LAMEE system significantly reduces data center cooling energy consumption and operating costs, enhances server processing density, and decreases water consumption, offering a more efficient and cost-effective cooling solution compared to conventional methods.
Implementation Method 1
The LAMEE can be configured to use the scavenger air to evaporatively cool a cooling fluid in the cooling fluid flow path
Implementation Method 2
The LAMEE can comprise a cooling fluid flow path separate from the air flow path by a membrane
Data Source
AI summary
Systems and methods for controlling conditions in an enclosed space, such as a data center, or for providing cooling to a device, can include using a Liquid-to-Air Membrane Energy Exchanger (LAMEE) as an evaporative cooler. The LAMEE or exchanger can cool water to the outdoor air wet bulb temperature in a cooling system disposed outside of the enclosed space or device. The reduced-temperature water can be delivered to the enclosed space or device or can cool a coolant that is delivered to the enclosed space or device. The air in the enclosed space, or one or more components in the enclosed space, can be cooled by delivering the reduced-temperature water or coolant to the enclosed space, rather than moving the supply air from the enclosed space to the cooling system. In an example, the cooling system can include one or more cooling coils, upstream or downstream of the LAMEE.