Systems and methods for providing cooling to a heat load
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current data center cooling systems are inefficient, leading to servers operating at reduced capacity due to ineffective cooling, resulting in high energy consumption and costs, as they struggle to manage the heat generated by high-density IT components.
Innovation Solution
A conditioning system comprising an evaporative cooler, a pre-cooler, and a recovery coil arranged in a scavenger air plenum, which operates in multiple modes to efficiently provide liquid or air cooling by conditioning outdoor air and utilizing a liquid-to-air membrane energy exchanger to reduce energy consumption and water usage.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Productivity
If conventional air-conditioning systems are used to cool data centers, then cooling is provided to servers, but energy consumption increases by more than 40% of total energy and servers operate at reduced capacity
Solution Approach 1:
The patent utilizes evaporative cooling where water undergoes phase transition from liquid to vapor, absorbing heat from the air in the process. This phase change mechanism provides efficient cooling without requiring high-energy compression cycles, directly addressing the energy consumption problem while maintaining server operating temperatures for maximum processing capacity
Solution Approach 2:
The invention replaces conventional mechanical vapor compression air-conditioning systems with an evaporative cooling system that uses natural phase change processes. This substitution eliminates the need for energy-intensive compressors and refrigerants, reducing energy consumption while providing adequate cooling for servers
2Productivity
If liquid cooling technologies are used to reject heat at the server, then server processing density increases by up to 100% and cooling costs are reduced, but system complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts the cooling function from complex mechanical systems and implements it through a simplified evaporative cooling process. By taking out the need for compressors, refrigerants, and complex control systems, the invention achieves efficient heat rejection at server level with minimal system complexity, enabling higher processing density
Solution Approach 2:
The evaporative cooling system serves multiple functions: it cools server equipment, pre-cools intake air, and can operate in different modes (direct evaporative cooling, indirect evaporative cooling, or hybrid modes) depending on environmental conditions. This multi-functionality reduces system complexity while maintaining high server processing density
3Temperature
If air-cooling systems are used in data centers, then cooling is provided to enclosed spaces, but cooling power consumption is high and servers reach temperature limits before maximum processing capacity
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements pre-cooling of intake air using evaporative cooling mechanisms before the air enters the server enclosure. This preliminary cooling action reduces the thermal load on servers, allowing them to operate at lower temperatures and extend their operational lifespan while maximizing processing capacity without requiring high-power cooling systems
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
This system enhances data center cooling efficiency, reduces energy consumption by up to 90% and operating costs by 50%, while increasing server processing density, thereby improving overall data center capacity and reducing water usage.
Implementation Method 1
an evaporative cooler arranged in a scavenger air plenum with a pre-cooler arranged upstream of the evaporative cooler and a recovery coil arranged downstream of the evaporative cooler. The evaporative cooler can condition the outdoor air
Implementation Method 2
utilizing a liquid-to-air membrane energy exchanger to reduce energy consumption and water usage
Implementation Method 3
the conditioned air can pass through the recovery coil disposed downstream of the evaporative cooler and cool water circulating through the recovery coil
Data Source
AI summary
Conditioning systems and methods for providing cooling to a heat load can include an evaporative cooler arranged in a scavenger plenum with a pre-cooler upstream and a recovery coil downstream of the evaporative cooler. Outdoor or scavenger air can be conditioned in the evaporative cooler such that the conditioned scavenger air can provide cooling to a cooling fluid circulating through the recovery coil. The reduced-temperature cooling fluid can provide liquid cooling or air cooling for an enclosed space (for example, a data center) or for one or more devices that are enclosed or open to the atmosphere. Given the design and arrangement of the pre-cooler, evaporative cooler and recovery coil in the plenum, the system can operate in multiple modes. The pre-cooler can be configured to circulate a cooling fluid to condition the scavenger air. The pre-cooler fluid circuit can be coupled or de-coupled from a process cooling fluid circuit.