Two-Phase Flow Data Center Cabinet Cooling
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current data center cooling systems face challenges in integrating efficient and energy-saving solutions, particularly for cabinet-level cooling, and lack automation, leading to high energy consumption and inefficient heat dissipation.
Innovation Solution
A two-phase flow active and passive multi-level data center cabinet cooling device that adjusts cooling modes based on load conditions, utilizing a cascaded thermosiphon system with temperature control valves and sensors to manage energy use and heat transfer across chip, component, and system levels.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Loss of energy
If air cooling is used for data center cabinet cooling, then energy consumption is reduced, but heat dissipation effectiveness is insufficient
Solution Approach 1:
The patent employs two-phase flow cooling where the working fluid undergoes phase transition from liquid to vapor in the evaporation section, absorbing latent heat efficiently. This phase change mechanism enables high heat dissipation effectiveness while maintaining lower energy consumption compared to traditional air cooling systems, directly resolving the contradiction between energy efficiency and heat dissipation performance.
Solution Approach 2:
The system utilizes hydraulic principles through the two-phase flow circulation mechanism, where the working fluid is pumped through evaporation and condensation sections. The hydraulic design enables controlled fluid circulation and heat transfer, achieving both energy efficiency and effective heat dissipation by optimizing flow rates and pressure differentials in the cooling loop.
2Reliability
If single-phase liquid cooling is used, then cabinet heat dissipation is improved, but energy consumption increases due to separate air cooling systems
Solution Approach 1:
The patent combines chip-level, component-level, and system-level cooling into an integrated two-phase flow system. By merging these cooling levels into a single unified system rather than separate air and liquid cooling systems, the patent achieves effective cabinet heat dissipation while reducing overall energy consumption through shared infrastructure and optimized heat transfer pathways.
Solution Approach 2:
The two-phase flow system performs multiple cooling functions simultaneously at different levels (chip, component, and system). The working fluid serves universal cooling purposes across all levels through phase change and circulation, eliminating the need for separate dedicated cooling systems and thereby reducing total energy consumption while maintaining effective heat dissipation.
3Loss of energy
If cooling mode conversion between air cooling and single-phase liquid cooling is implemented, then energy saving is attempted, but high cooling performance with energy saving cannot be achieved simultaneously
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements dynamic cooling mode conversion between passive two-phase flow and active pump-driven two-phase flow based on real-time heat load conditions. This dynamic adaptability allows the system to achieve high cooling performance when needed while conserving energy during lower load periods, simultaneously satisfying both cooling effectiveness and energy efficiency requirements that static single-mode systems cannot achieve.
Solution Approach 2:
The system changes operational parameters (flow rate, phase change conditions, pump operation) to optimize performance across different cooling scenarios. By adjusting these parameters dynamically, the system achieves high cooling performance when required while maintaining energy efficiency, resolving the contradiction between cooling effectiveness and energy consumption that plagues fixed-mode systems.
4Loss of energy
If existing heat pipe technology is applied, then passive cooling is achieved, but active control and automation are insufficient
Solution Approach 1:
The patent incorporates feedback control mechanisms with temperature sensors and controllers that monitor heat load conditions and automatically adjust cooling modes. This feedback system enables automatic conversion between passive and active two-phase flow modes based on real-time thermal conditions, providing the automation and control capability that pure passive heat pipe technology lacks, while maintaining energy efficiency through intelligent decision-making.
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 better cooling performance than traditional methods, reduces energy consumption by optimizing cooling modes, and integrates automatic control for efficient heat dissipation, minimizing the Power Usage Effectiveness (PUE) while ensuring effective chip-level cooling.
Implementation Method 1
two-phase flow active and passive multi-level data center cabinet cooling device
Implementation Method 2
two-phase flow active and passive multi-level data center cabinet cooling device
Implementation Method 3
cascaded and connected to a thermosiphon cooling medium inlet pipeline and thermosiphon cooling medium outlet pipeline
Implementation Method 4
a condensate inlet pipeline and a condensate outlet pipeline of a cabinet condensing unit
Data Source
AI summary
The invention provides a two-phase flow active and passive multi-level data center cabinet cooling device and method, wherein the system includes a cabinet cooling device, a condensate system, a waste heat recovery device, a liquid reservoir, a liquid pump, a gas chamber, a fluid working medium, and a corresponding pipeline. The system comprise a closed loop, the loop is filled with nitrogen to maintain a low pressure state, and the pipeline fluid is driven by the liquid pump to flow; the gas chamber maintains a relatively stable air pressure in the two-phase flow loop; the liquid reservoir is connected with the gas chamber, providing an enough gas space to make a phase change occur more easily; the cabinet cooling device can be switched between an active mode and a passive mode to minimize PUE under good heat dissipation capability.