Server Room Air Conditioning with Outside-Air Humidity Control
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional air-conditioning systems for server rooms inefficiently manage temperature and humidity, leading to unnecessary energy consumption due to lack of control tailored to the specific characteristics of data centers, which primarily generate sensible heat without CO2 emissions.
Innovation Solution
An air-conditioning system with a control device that adjusts the introduction of outside and return air, humidity, and cooling based on measured conditions to optimize supply air temperature and humidity within target ranges, minimizing energy usage by determining the optimal use of outside or return air for cooling.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If conventional air-conditioning control is used in server rooms, then temperature and humidity can be maintained within predetermined ranges, but unnecessary energy is consumed due to lack of control tailored to data center characteristics
Solution Approach 1:
The system dynamically changes air-conditioning parameters (supply air temperature, humidity control, outside air introduction amount) based on the specific characteristics of data centers. The control device adjusts these parameters according to measured temperature and humidity conditions, optimizing energy consumption while maintaining reliable environmental control for server operations
Solution Approach 2:
The control device continuously measures temperature and humidity in the server room and uses this feedback to adjust air-conditioning operations. This closed-loop control ensures temperature and humidity remain within predetermined ranges while optimizing energy usage by responding only when and where conditions require adjustment
2Use of energy by moving object
If outside air is introduced for cooling, then energy consumption can be reduced by utilizing free cooling, but supply air temperature and humidity may deviate from target ranges
Solution Approach 1:
The system dynamically adjusts the amount of outside air introduced based on real-time measurements of supply air temperature and humidity. When outside air conditions are favorable for free cooling, the system increases outside air introduction to reduce energy consumption. When precision control is required, the system adjusts the mix of outside and return air to maintain temperature and humidity within target ranges
Solution Approach 2:
The control device changes operating parameters (outside air introduction amount, supply air temperature, humidity control) based on environmental conditions and server room requirements. This allows the system to utilize free cooling when possible while maintaining precise temperature and humidity control when needed
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 achieves efficient air-conditioning control, reducing energy consumption and operational costs by maximizing the use of outside air and optimizing the air-conditioning process according to the specific heat load characteristics of server rooms, thereby maintaining predetermined environmental conditions.
Implementation Method 1
a cooler capable of cooling at least one of the outside air and the return air
Implementation Method 2
a humidifier capable of humidifying at least one of the outside air and the return air
Implementation Method 3
a server placed between the first space and the second space. Supply air entering into the first space is heated by heat generation of the server
Data Source
AI summary
A system for a server room management includes an air-conditioning control device including: an acquisition unit; a setting unit that sets content for generating supply air at temperature, absolute humidity, and relative humidity within target range, based on outside air temperature and humidity as well as return air temperature; and a controller controlling amount of outside air, amount of return air, control amount of humidifier, control amount of cooler, and amount of air blown by blower, based on the content. If the outside air is within range greater than absolute humidity upper limit, or within range greater than enthalpy upper limit and greater than the temperature upper limit, the setting unit compares outside air and return air, and then determines, in accordance with the comparison, whether to set the content so that the cooler performs cooling by minimizing or maximizing the amount of the outside air.