Modular Cooling Unit Layout to Isolate Hot and Cold Air
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Solution Overview
Problem
Traditional data center cooling systems, such as CRAC units, are inefficient due to the mixing of hot and cold air, which reduces cooling effectiveness and increases energy consumption, and pose risks with overhead piping that can lead to equipment damage from leaks.
Innovation Solution
A modular, self-contained cooling unit with a compressor, condenser, and evaporator, featuring variable speed fans and a bypass valve, optimizes coolant flow and air circulation to minimize energy use and prevent overheating, while eliminating the need for raised floors by integrating cooling units within the data center.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Loss of energy
If CRAC units are used to cool data centers, then cooling coverage can be achieved, but cooling efficiency deteriorates due to mixing of hot and cold air
Solution Approach 1:
The invention divides the data center cooling system into multiple independent cooling units, each responsible for a specific rack or zone. This segmentation prevents the mixing of hot and cold air that occurs with centralized CRAC units, as each unit independently cools its designated area without interference from other air streams.
Solution Approach 2:
The invention implements localized cooling by placing cooling units directly at or near the equipment racks they serve. Each cooling unit is tailored to the specific cooling requirements of its local zone, providing optimal cooling efficiency without the energy losses associated with transporting and mixing air across the entire data center.
2Quantity of substance
If overhead piping is installed for CRAC units, then coolant delivery is achieved, but system reliability deteriorates due to leak risks
Solution Approach 1:
The invention extracts the cooling functionality from the centralized CRAC unit with its risky overhead piping and relocates it to individual rack-mounted or near-rack units. This eliminates the need for overhead coolant piping entirely, removing the source of leak risks while maintaining coolant delivery to where it is needed.
Solution Approach 2:
The invention introduces self-contained cooling units as intermediaries between the heat-generating equipment and the coolant source. These units incorporate their own refrigerant circulation systems, eliminating the need for long-distance coolant piping through the data center and associated leak risks.
3Temperature
If CRAC units discharge cold air into the data center room, then cooling is provided, but energy consumption increases due to air mixing
Solution Approach 1:
By segmenting the cooling system into distributed units, each unit delivers cold air directly to its target rack without releasing it into the general room environment. This prevents the energy-wasting mixing of cold discharged air with warm room air, as each unit maintains a dedicated cold air stream from source to load.
4Productivity
If the number of rack-mounted equipment increases, then data center capacity is improved, but heat build-up worsens
Solution Approach 1:
As more equipment is added to racks, the segmented cooling system allows for increased cooling capacity by adding or upgrading individual cooling units at each rack location. Each unit can be independently sized and configured to handle the heat load of its specific rack, enabling the data center to scale capacity without suffering from inadequate cooling.
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 solution enhances cooling efficiency by isolating hot and cold air streams, reducing energy consumption, and eliminating the risk of equipment damage from leaks, allowing for flexible and scalable data center design.
Implementation Method 1
a compressor configured to compress the coolant to a high pressure and temperature to form a hot gas
Implementation Method 2
a condenser configured to dissipate heat from the hot gas to surrounding air
Implementation Method 3
the condenser configured to dissipate heat from the hot gas to surrounding air, thereby cooling and condensing the hot gas into a liquid
Implementation Method 4
an evaporator configured to allow the liquid coolant to cool the surrounding air
Implementation Method 5
a thermal expansion valve configured to expand the liquid coolant into a cooler liquid, and an evaporator configured to allow the liquid coolant to cool the surrounding air
Implementation Method 6
a thermal expansion valve configured to expand the liquid coolant into a cooler liquid
Data Source
AI summary
A method of calculating net sensible cooling capacity of a cooling unit includes measuring a discharge pressure from of fluid from a compressor and a suction pressure from an evaporator, calculating a condensing temperature of fluid flowing from the compressor and an evaporating temperature of fluid flowing from the evaporator, calculating a mass flow rate of fluid flowing from the compressor, calculating enthalpy of fluid flowing from the compressor, of fluid flowing from the thermal expansion valve, and of fluid flowing from the evaporator, calculating a mass flow rate of fluid flowing through the hot gas bypass valve, and calculating net sensible cooling capacity. Embodiments of cooling units and other methods are further disclosed.