Water-Cooled Pre-System Layout for Space-Saving Data Hall Cooling
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Solution Overview
Problem
Data halls with tightly packed processing units face challenges in efficient cooling due to space constraints, necessitating a cooling solution that effectively removes heat while optimizing space usage.
Innovation Solution
A water-cooled pre-system utilizing a heat exchanger assembly with rods for direct cooling of processing units, incorporating an outdoor heat exchanger and fluid tank, and a system for circulating refrigerant and coolant to facilitate heat exchange outside the data hall.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Temperature
If traditional cooling systems are used in tightly packed data halls, then cooling coverage is provided, but space efficiency deteriorates and equipment overheating risk increases
Solution Approach 1:
The cooling system integrates multiple heat exchanger components (evaporator, condenser, expansion device) within a compact cabinet structure, nesting functional elements to maximize space utilization while maintaining effective cooling coverage for processing units
Solution Approach 2:
The system transitions from horizontal space occupation to vertical arrangement by positioning the outdoor heat exchanger on the roof and arranging indoor components vertically within the cabinet, effectively utilizing the vertical dimension to reduce footprint in tightly packed data halls
2Productivity
If cooling system components are placed inside the data hall, then cooling efficiency is improved, but available space for processing units deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The system extracts the outdoor heat exchanger (condenser) from the indoor data hall environment and positions it on the roof, separating the hot-side components from the cold-side components to maximize indoor space for processing units while maintaining cooling efficiency through the heat exchange cycle
Solution Approach 2:
The cooling system is segmented into distinct indoor and outdoor units, with the indoor cabinet containing space-efficient components (evaporator, expansion device, control elements) and the outdoor unit housing the condenser, allowing optimized placement of each segment to balance cooling efficiency and space utilization
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 efficiently cools processing units by exchanging heat between refrigerant and coolant, maintaining optimal operating temperatures and extending the useful life of units while conserving space.
Implementation Method 1
a heat exchanger system having one or more rods in a cabinet and fluidically communicating with the outdoor unit and indoor unit, the heat exchanger system configured to receive coolant from the indoor unit through a first path of each of the one or more rods and to receive refrigerant through a second path of each of the one or more rods for heat exchange between coolant and refrigerant
Implementation Method 2
one or more rods being configured to exchange heat between the refrigerant and the coolant
Implementation Method 3
a pump configured to circulate coolant
Implementation Method 4
an outdoor heat exchanger disposed outside of a building associated with the cabinet, the outdoor heat exchanger being configured to communicate with the heat exchanger
Data Source
AI summary
A system for data center cooling includes: a first cooling unit configured to circulate refrigerant; a second cooling unit configured to circulate coolant; and a heat exchanger system in fluid communication with the first cooling unit and the second cooling unit, the heat exchanger system being configured to exchange heat between the refrigerant and the coolant.