Open-Loop Data Center Heat Removal With Automated Fire Suppression
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional HVAC systems in data centers recycle indoor air, leading to inefficient heat removal and high energy consumption, as they are not designed to continuously bring in fresh outdoor air, which exacerbates the energy costs and heat management challenges.
Innovation Solution
An open-loop heat removal system that expels hot air from the building without recycling, recirculating, or re-cooling it, utilizing a chilling unit to supply cool air, an inlet module with a louver, an exhaust fan, temperature and oxygen sensors, and a sprinkler system for automated fire suppression, ensuring fresh air intake and efficient heat management.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Use of energy by moving object
If conventional HVAC systems recycle indoor air, then energy consumption is reduced, but heat removal efficiency deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The patent inverts the conventional HVAC approach by using an open-loop system that exhausts hot air directly instead of recycling it. The system brings in fresh outdoor air, cools it, and supplies it to the data center, while exhaust vents remove hot air without recirculation. This inversion resolves the contradiction by achieving both energy efficiency and effective heat removal through the open-loop configuration.
Solution Approach 2:
The system changes the air flow parameters from a closed-loop recirculation model to an open-loop fresh air intake model. By altering the air source from recycled indoor air to fresh outdoor air, and changing the exhaust strategy from conditional recirculation to direct expulsion, the system achieves superior heat removal efficiency while maintaining energy efficiency through the chilling unit's optimized operation.
2Loss of energy
If HVAC systems continuously bring in fresh outdoor air, then heat removal efficiency is improved, but energy consumption increases
Solution Approach 1:
The system employs natural convection currents to assist the exhaust process. Hot air rises and exits through upper exhaust vents without requiring additional energy input, while cooler air is drawn in through lower intake vents. This self-service mechanism reduces the energy burden on the chilling unit and exhaust fans while maintaining effective heat removal.
Solution Approach 2:
The system utilizes periodic thermal convection cycles where hot air rises and exits, creating pressure differentials that draw in fresh air. This periodic action of hot air expulsion and fresh air intake occurs continuously but efficiently, reducing the need for constant high-power cooling operation.
3Reliability
If conventional HVAC systems are used, then climate control is maintained, but fire suppression capability deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts the fire suppression function from the conventional HVAC system by implementing separate dedicated fire safety features. These include smoke detectors that can trigger the exhaust system, fire suppression sprinklers positioned throughout the data center, and a control system that can shut down cooling and activate exhaust vents in response to fire conditions. This extraction allows the HVAC system to focus on climate control while dedicated systems handle fire suppression.
Solution Approach 2:
The exhaust system is designed with multi-functionality, serving both climate control purposes and fire suppression purposes. The same exhaust vents used for normal hot air expulsion can be activated to expel smoke and toxic gases during fire conditions. The control system integrates both temperature monitoring for climate control and smoke detection for fire safety, allowing one system to perform multiple critical functions.
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 reduces energy consumption by minimizing the use of active heat management equipment, effectively manages climate conditions, and provides automated fire suppression by expelling hot air, thus reducing maintenance costs and optimizing computing services.
Implementation Method 1
a chilling unit for supplying cool air to the building
Implementation Method 2
an exhaust fan at the outlet module
Implementation Method 3
a louver at the inlet module
Implementation Method 4
a temperature sensor located inside the building for sensing an internal temperature of the building
Implementation Method 5
an oxygen sensor for sensing an internal oxygen level of the building
Implementation Method 6
provides automated fire suppression by expelling hot air
Data Source
AI summary
In an open-loop heat removal system for a building such as a data center or a home, cool air is supplied to the building by a chilling unit and hot air is expelled from the building without recycling, recirculating, or re-cooling the hot air. For fire suppression, the system receives temperature reading(s) from temperature sensor(s) and determines whether any temperature reading reaches or exceeds a temperature that indicates presence of a fire. If so, a louver positioned over an inlet module is automatically or programmatically closed, shutting off air supply to the building. The system determines whether the building is under a negative pressure internally. If not, an exhaust fan at the outlet of the building is turned on to create a negative pressure internally. The system determines whether an oxygen level of the building indicates that the fire has been contained. If not, a sprinkler system is activated.