Wetted Surface Cooling System for Data Center Heat Management
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional air cooling systems in data centers are inefficient due to high energy consumption and inability to effectively manage the significant waste heat generated by computing equipment, such as servers and storage devices.
Innovation Solution
A cooling system that utilizes a liquid distribution system with a wetted surface to transfer heat from ambient air to the liquid, creating cold air that is then directed into cold air aisles to cool computing devices, without requiring modifications to the existing rack-mounted equipment and without occupying additional rack space.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Loss of energy
If conventional air cooling systems are used to cool data center racks, then cooling function is provided, but energy consumption is high and cooling efficiency is low
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies hydraulics by using a liquid distribution system with channels that deliver liquid to a wetted surface. The liquid absorbs heat from ambient air through evaporation and conduction, creating cold air that is then directed into cold air aisles to cool computing devices. This liquid-based thermal management system replaces conventional air cooling, significantly reducing energy consumption while maintaining effective cooling.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent utilizes phase transitions of water (liquid to vapor) for heat absorption. The liquid distribution system delivers liquid to a wetted surface where it evaporates, absorbing latent heat from the ambient air. This phase change process creates cold air efficiently, reducing the energy required for cooling compared to conventional air conditioning systems.
2Loss of energy
If conventional air cooling systems are used to manage waste heat from computing equipment, then heat removal is achieved, but the system is inefficient and consumes excessive energy
Solution Approach 1:
The system uses a liquid distribution network to deliver coolant to a wetted surface, enabling efficient heat transfer from ambient air through liquid evaporation and conduction. The resulting cold air is channeled into cold air aisles to cool computing equipment, providing effective waste heat management with lower energy consumption than conventional air cooling.
Solution Approach 2:
The liquid distribution system leverages phase transitions (evaporation) to absorb waste heat from computing equipment efficiently. The liquid evaporates on the wetted surface, absorbing latent heat, and the resulting cooled air is distributed to cooling racks, achieving high heat removal efficiency with reduced energy input.
3Loss of energy
If a cooling system with liquid distribution and wetted surface is implemented, then cooling efficiency is improved and energy consumption is reduced, but system complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The liquid distribution system serves multiple functions: it cools ambient air through evaporation, creates cold air for the cold air aisles, and can be integrated with existing data center infrastructure. The wetted surface acts as both a heat exchange interface and a moisture source, reducing the need for separate cooling components and minimizing overall system complexity despite the added liquid distribution network.
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 solution efficiently removes heat from data center racks, reducing energy consumption and improving cooling efficiency while maintaining the existing infrastructure of the data center.
Implementation Method 1
transfer heat from ambient air to the liquid, creating cold air
Implementation Method 2
liquid distribution system with a wetted surface to transfer heat from ambient air to the liquid
Implementation Method 3
cold air that is then directed into cold air aisles to cool computing devices
Data Source
AI summary
A data center can include at least one computing room, and at least one rack system disposed in the computing room. The rack system includes a rack housing and a plurality of computing devices mounted to the rack housing. The data center can further include a cooling system that includes at least one surface that is wetted with a liquid, and delivers source air across the at least one surface such that heat is transferred from the source air to the liquid so as to produce cold air. The cold air then flows into a cold air aisle and is received in the computing devices so as to cool the computing devices.