Phase-Change Server Cooling for Lower-Power Data Center Thermal Storage
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Datacenters face high power consumption and carbon footprint due to traditional air conditioning systems, and the use of renewable power sources with battery storage is costly and poses electrical hazards, necessitating a more efficient and ecological cooling solution.
Innovation Solution
A cooling device utilizing phase-change materials (PCMs) that store and release heat, integrated with renewable energy sources, to optimize thermal management and reduce power consumption by delaying energy use to cheaper or more ecological times.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Temperature
If traditional air conditioning systems are used to cool servers, then cooling effectiveness is maintained, but power consumption and operating costs increase significantly
Solution Approach 1:
The system performs preliminary cooling action by storing thermal energy in phase-change materials during off-peak hours when electricity is cheaper or from renewable sources. The PCM absorbs and stores heat during low-cost periods, then releases this stored cooling capacity during peak demand periods, eliminating the need for continuous high-power air conditioning operation.
Solution Approach 2:
The invention changes the temporal parameter of energy consumption by decoupling cooling provision from real-time server operation. Thermal energy storage in PCM allows the system to operate at different thermal states at different times, storing excess cooling capacity when energy parameters are favorable and releasing it when needed, thereby reducing overall power consumption costs.
2Object-affected harmful factors
If battery storage is used with renewable power sources, then ecological power supply is achieved, but electrical hazards and fire risks increase
Solution Approach 1:
The invention replaces the electrical battery storage system with a thermal energy storage system using phase-change materials. Instead of storing electrical energy in batteries (which pose fire and electrical hazards), the system stores thermal energy in PCM, eliminating electrical hazards while maintaining compatibility with renewable power sources for ecological operation.
Solution Approach 2:
The system utilizes phase transitions of materials (solid-liquid transitions) to store and release thermal energy. This phase-change mechanism provides a safe, non-electrical method of energy storage that avoids the fire and electrical hazards associated with battery systems, while still enabling ecological power supply when combined with renewable sources.
3Temperature
If ventilation means are installed behind servers to facilitate air circulation, then cooling efficiency improves, but maintenance costs and breakdown risks increase
Solution Approach 1:
The invention extracts the active ventilation function from the cooling system and replaces it with passive thermal energy storage. By removing the need for continuous mechanical ventilation behind servers, the system eliminates maintenance requirements for fans, filters, and ventilation ducts, while maintaining cooling efficiency through PCM-based thermal management.
Solution Approach 2:
The phase-change material provides self-service cooling by automatically absorbing and releasing thermal energy based on temperature differentials, without requiring mechanical ventilation systems. This passive thermal regulation eliminates the need for maintenance-prone ventilation components while sustaining effective 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 PCM-based cooling system effectively manages thermal energy, reducing power consumption and carbon footprint while maintaining optimal server conditions, leveraging renewable energy and minimizing operational costs.
Implementation Method 1
a phase-change material configured to exchange heat with at least one of the components of said server
Implementation Method 2
storing the thermal energy generated by said components in a phase-change material
Implementation Method 3
release the heat stored in the phase-change material via said heat exchanger
Data Source
AI summary
The present invention relates to a cooling device (1) for at least a datacenter computer server, wherein said device (1) comprises:a phase-change material (5) configured to exchange heat with at least one of the components of said server,at least one heat exchanger (7) connected to a heat transfer fluid circuit (3);said device (1) being configured, on one hand, to cool at least one component of said server by storing heat generated by said component in the phase-change material (5) and, on the other hand, to release the heat stored in the phase-change material (5) via said heat exchanger (7).