Two-Phase Cooling System with Adjustable Setpoint
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Solution Overview
Problem
Data centers face challenges in efficiently managing heat generated by electronic components, as existing cooling systems often require significant energy and infrastructure, and may not effectively handle varying ambient temperatures or failures in cooling components.
Innovation Solution
The proposed electronics cabinet cooling system employs a two-phase pumped loop with a refrigerant management system, including heat exchangers made of plastic polymers, and a vapor cycle system for supplemental cooling, allowing operation at atmospheric pressures and varying temperatures, with redundancy in refrigerant loops to ensure continuous cooling.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Power
If conventional cooling systems are used in data centers, then cooling capacity is provided, but energy consumption and infrastructure requirements are significant
Solution Approach 1:
The patent employs a two-phase refrigerant system where refrigerant undergoes phase transitions (liquid to vapor and back) to absorb and release heat. The refrigerant circulates through evaporators absorbing heat from electronic components and through condensers releasing heat to the environment, enabling efficient heat transfer with lower energy consumption compared to conventional single-phase cooling systems
Solution Approach 2:
The system uses a pumped liquid refrigerant loop where refrigerant is circulated through pipes and heat exchangers. The hydraulic circulation of refrigerant through the two-phase loop enables efficient heat transfer from electronic components to the environment, reducing the energy required for cooling compared to conventional air-based cooling systems
2Power
If conventional cooling systems are used, then cooling is provided, but infrastructure requirements are significant
Solution Approach 1:
The cooling system is divided into modular components including separate evaporator units attached to electronic cabinets, a central refrigerant loop, and condenser units. This segmentation allows the system to be deployed in modular fashion with reduced infrastructure requirements compared to conventional centralized cooling systems
Solution Approach 2:
The evaporators are nested within or attached to the electronic cabinets themselves, with the refrigerant loop integrated into the cabinet structure. This nesting approach eliminates the need for separate external cooling infrastructure and reduces overall system complexity
3Temperature
If cooling systems operate at fixed temperatures, then cooling is provided, but adaptability to varying ambient temperatures is limited
Solution Approach 1:
The system dynamically adjusts refrigerant flow rates and phase transition points based on ambient temperature conditions and heat load requirements. The two-phase refrigerant loop can adapt its operating parameters in real-time, allowing the system to maintain effective cooling across a wide range of ambient temperatures without requiring fixed temperature infrastructure
4Temperature
If single-phase refrigerant systems are used, then cooling is provided, but handling of varying temperatures and failures is limited
Solution Approach 1:
The two-phase refrigerant system provides inherent redundancy through the liquid-vapor phase transition cycle. If a component fails, the system can continue operating by utilizing the phase transition mechanism, as the refrigerant can be redistributed and re-circulated through the loop, maintaining cooling capacity without requiring complex backup infrastructure
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 efficiently manages heat with reduced energy consumption and infrastructure needs, maintaining optimal temperatures even during power outages and ambient temperature fluctuations, while minimizing costs and environmental impact.
Implementation Method 1
at least some of the refrigerant is changed from the liquid refrigerant to a gas refrigerant during transfer of heat from the flow of hot air to the refrigerant
Implementation Method 2
transfer of heat from the flow of hot air to the refrigerant
Implementation Method 3
The condenser may be arranged in the system to change the gas refrigerant received from the vapor exit to the liquid refrigerant
Data Source
AI summary
A cooling system for an electronics cabinet includes a controller configured to operate at least one of a pump or a condenser of a two-phase cooling loop. The cooling system includes a high temperature mode where the setpoint is set to a high setpoint setting, and a low temperature mode where the setpoint is set to a low setpoint setting. The controller is configured to select between the high temperature mode and the low temperature mode based on an evaluation of a power outage.