Modular Data Center Cooling with Free Cooling and Chiller Bypass
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Solution Overview
Problem
Designing and building custom cooling facilities for data centers is complex, time-consuming, and expensive, and requires frequent adjustments due to changing cooling demands, such as additions of computing capacity.
Innovation Solution
A modular cooling system comprising a chiller unit, free cooling system, pressure difference sensors, and flow control modules that supply chilled liquid with variable flow and temperature, allowing for easy addition or removal of cooling modules to match changing data center requirements, and utilizing free cooling for increased energy efficiency.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If custom cooling facilities are designed and built for data centers, then the cooling system can meet specific data center requirements, but the design and implementation becomes complex, time-consuming and expensive
Solution Approach 1:
The cooling system is divided into modular cooling units that can be independently configured and deployed. Each module contains integrated components (chiller, cooling tower, pumps, controls) that can be scaled and combined to match specific data center cooling demands, avoiding the need for complex custom-designed centralized systems.
Solution Approach 2:
The modular cooling units are designed with universal components that can serve multiple functions and configurations. The standardized interfaces and scalable architecture allow the same basic module type to adapt to various data center sizes and cooling requirements through simple addition or removal of modules rather than complex redesign.
2Adaptability or versatility
If custom cooling facilities are designed and built for data centers, then the cooling system can meet specific data center requirements, but the implementation becomes time-consuming and expensive
Solution Approach 1:
The modular cooling units are pre-configured with integrated components and control systems during manufacturing. This preliminary setup allows the systems to be deployed rapidly in data centers without requiring time-consuming on-site design, component selection, and system integration work.
Solution Approach 2:
The system uses standardized modular units that can be quickly installed and connected through simple interfaces, eliminating the need for complex custom fabrication and integration work that would consume significant implementation time.
3Adaptability or versatility
If data center requirements change over time through addition of computing capacity, then the cooling capacity must be increased, but corresponding changes to cooling facilities become complex and expensive
Solution Approach 1:
The modular cooling system is designed to be dynamically scalable, allowing individual cooling modules to be added or removed based on changing data center computing capacity. This dynamic configuration capability enables the cooling system to adapt to growth or contraction without requiring complex redesign or reconfiguration of the entire system.
Solution Approach 2:
The segmented modular architecture allows independent addition or removal of cooling modules to match changing computing loads. Each module operates autonomously with standardized connections, so scaling the cooling capacity simply involves adding or removing complete modules rather than modifying complex integrated systems.
4Adaptability or versatility
If data center requirements change over time through addition of computing capacity, then the cooling capacity must be increased, but corresponding changes become expensive
Solution Approach 1:
The modular design allows cooling capacity to be scaled by adding identical standardized modules rather than custom-engineering expansions. This approach reduces costs by using proven, mass-producible module designs and avoiding expensive custom fabrication, engineering, and integration work for each expansion.
Solution Approach 2:
Universal module designs with standardized components and interfaces allow the same basic unit to serve various cooling needs across different data center sizes and configurations. This universality reduces costs through economies of scale in component manufacturing and simplifies procurement and installation processes.
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
Simplifies the design and implementation of data center cooling systems, reduces installation complexity, and allows for flexible adjustments to meet changing cooling demands while enhancing energy efficiency by using free cooling when possible.
Implementation Method 1
a free cooling system for providing first cooling the return chilled liquid
Implementation Method 2
a chiller unit for further cooling the first cooled return liquid to a predetermined temperature
Implementation Method 3
a pressure difference sensor for measuring the pressure difference between the chilled liquid supplied at the outlet and the return liquid received at the inlet
Data Source
AI summary
The invention is a cooling module for one or more data centers. The cooling module accepts coolant from a data center, chills the coolant, then returns the coolant to the data center. The coolant is subject to cooling via a free cooling system and a then chiller. The chiller includes a bypass. The free cooling system and the chiller are fluidly connected in a second cooling loop that includes a dry cooling tower. A pump maintains pressure at a predetermined level.