Switch Cabinet Cooling With Dual-Temperature Heat Exchange
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing switch cabinet arrangements inefficiently cool components with varying cooling power requirements due to uniform cooling air temperature, leading to excessive cooling of components with lower needs and increased energy consumption.
Innovation Solution
Implementing a liquid-liquid heat exchanger in addition to an air-liquid heat exchanger to provide two distinct cooling temperatures, utilizing liquids with different boiling points for components with different cooling demands, allowing for adjustable cooling liquid temperatures and separate cooling circuits.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If uniform cooling air temperature is used for all components, then all components can be cooled, but components with lower cooling needs are excessively cooled and energy consumption increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies local quality by providing different cooling temperatures to different components based on their specific cooling requirements. The system uses multiple cooling circuits with different temperature levels, allowing each component to receive appropriately matched cooling rather than uniform cooling, thereby reducing energy waste on over-cooled components while ensuring adequate cooling for all components.
2Power
If cooling air temperature is adjusted to meet the highest cooling power requirement, then sufficient cooling is provided for high-demand components, but components with lower requirements are excessively cooled
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements parameter changes by introducing multiple cooling circuits with different temperature parameters. Instead of using a single cooling air temperature, the system employs at least two different cooling temperatures, allowing each cooling circuit to be optimized for specific components' power loss characteristics, thus matching cooling power to actual needs and reducing energy waste.
3Loss of energy
If liquid cooling is used for high cooling power requirements, then cooling efficiency is improved, but system complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies segmentation by dividing the cooling system into multiple independent cooling circuits, each with its own temperature level and cooling capacity. This modular approach allows liquid cooling to be implemented only where high cooling power is needed, while other components continue to use air cooling, thereby improving overall cooling efficiency without unnecessarily increasing system complexity across the entire system.
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
Enables energy-efficient cooling by optimizing cooling power distribution based on component needs, reducing energy waste, and enhancing cooling efficiency through improved thermal conductivity of liquids.
Implementation Method 1
an air-liquid heat exchanger for cooling components accommodated in the IT rack or switch cabinet housing with cooled air, the air-liquid heat exchanger having a first flow for cooled liquid and a first return for heated liquid
Implementation Method 2
the cooling device comprises a liquid-liquid heat exchanger, to the second flow of which the first return of the air-liquid heat exchanger is connected
Implementation Method 3
the supply temperature of the liquid for liquid cooling of the components can be selected to be higher compared to the temperature of the cooling air
Data Source
AI summary
A switch cabinet arrangement and method with at least one IT rack or switch cabinet housing and with at least one cooling device, which has an air-liquid heat exchanger for cooling components accommodated in the IT rack or switch cabinet housing with cooled air, wherein the air-liquid heat exchanger includes a first flow for cooled liquid and a first return for heated liquid, wherein the cooling device includes a liquid-liquid heat exchanger, to the second flow of which the first return of the air-liquid heat exchanger is connected.