AIR CONDITIONING SYSTEM OF DATA CENTER USING
HEAT PIPE AND METHOD FOR CONTROLLING THEREOF
FIELD OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates to air conditioning system of data center using heat pipe and
method for controlling thereof and more particularly, air conditioning system of data center
that uses heat pipe and its controlling method with the objective of maintaining the operating
environment of information technology related equipments in optimal condition and to block
the outside air from flowing into the data center in server room and other areas.
BACKGROUND ART
Recently, concerns regarding massive blackout had been increasing due to unprecedented
electricity shortage caused by intense heat waves in the summer that went over 37 degree
Celsius and storms with heavy rain and record breaking cold wave in the winter. Despite
these concerns, there is no immediate solution to electricity shortage and all that can be done
are managing the demand for electricity and electricity savings campaign.
On the other hand, demand for various data centers had been rapidly increasing as
information technology business had been on the rise along with performance and processing
ability of information technology equipments. This kind of data center can be described as
industrial building that prioritizes maintaining the information technology equipments in
optimal condition rather than a place that people live in. Previously, focus had been more on
environment control than saving the energy in order to provide stable condition and
protection for the equipments. Plans regarding energy savings had not been considered as
financial loss that results from error and malfunction of the information technology
equipments are bigger than the energy consumption cost.
However, securing continuous growth through information technology is an important
mission for the companies in accordance with the global trend and as enormous amount of
servers are being operated along with highly integrated data processing due to recent
expansion of cloud computing market which causes rapid rise in energy consumption of data
center that consumes 40 times more than regular buildings. Consequently, it is now essential
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for pre-existing Internet Data Centers to become environment friendly and energy saving
Green Internet Data Center.
Prior art regarding air conditioning of green Internet Data Center is provided in Korea
Public Patent No. 10-2011-0129514 with the title ‘Air conditioning system of Internet Data
Center for green computing environment’ regarding heating ventilation and cooling system
for green computing environment of Internet Data Center which consists of air conditioner
for the cooling and duct for ventilation to efficiently discharge the heat generated from the
rack in which the server and network device are mounted to the outside and ventilation
opening connected with this and the heat generated from the network device, providing air
conditioner control apparatus the information the air conditioner control apparatus controlling
the operation of the air-conditioner for the cooling and ventilation and air-conditioner that
keeps room temperature of the Internet Data Center, and temperatures are detected for indoor
and outdoor which refers to over ground and basement floor.
However, prior art regarding air conditioning system of Internet Data Center is problematic
in the sense that energy saving methods were not taken into account.
Further, another example provided regarding cooling method for Internet Data Center of
prior art that makes use of common cooling cycle where electricity is provided to the
compressor to compress the refrigerant and heat is discharged from the condenser through
compressed refrigerant and absorbed by the evaporator. Air cooling thermo hygrostat or water
cooling method that cools the interior by installing refrigerating machine to the exterior and
providing cooled cold water to the thermo hygrostat is used in order to cool the discharged air
from inner part of Internet Data Center with temperature of 35 degree Celsius. This type of
cooling methods can be problematic as it does not contribute to energy saving effort as they
need to be run for 24 hours and every day for the whole year and as compressor that uses
power the most in thermo hygrostat consumes large amounts of power.
Recently, outside air cooling system that directly provides cold air from the outside during
in the winter into the Internet Data Center is being used.
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However, this type of method is also problematic as automated system that automatically
detects the concentration of fine dust in the outside air will be needed and that this method
could hurt the stability of the server as noise and humidity of the outside air directly affects
Internet Data Center. Further, usage of electricity may increase in order to maintain the right
temperature and humidity and that this may cause dehumidification process overload in
processing the humidity of outside air.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
Accordingly, present invention has been made in view of the above mentioned problems
occurring in the prior art, and it is an object of the present invention to provide actualization
of environment friendly and energy saving data center in the true sense as it maintains
information technology related equipments in optimal condition through the use of natural
energy which blocks pollutants from outer parts and the outside air from entering the data
center in server room and other areas directly and to prevent the loss from inflow of humidity
as well as providing detailed system management.
Further objects and advantages of the invention will become apparent from consideration
of the drawings and the description.
In order to achieve the above-mentioned object, according to an aspect of the present
invention, an air conditioning system of data center using heat pipe is provided which
comprises: a cooling room that allows air within the data center to be drawn in by a first fan
and circulated and fed back to the data center; a heat radiation room located separately from
the cooling room, which room allows outside air to be drawn into the inside through a
second fan and then discharged to the outside; a heat pipe installed such that evaporator and
condenser are located in the cooling room and heat radiation room, respectively,, wherein
working fluid repeats phase changes of evaporation and condensation each in the evaporator
and condenser, hence, the air passing through the cooling room is cooled by means of heat
exchange with the evaporator and the air passing through the heat radiation room has heat
exchange with the condenser; a sprayer installed in the heat radiation room and provided with
a plurality of spray nozzles for spraying cooling fluid to the condenser; a cooling unit
installed in the cooling room and cooling the air that passed the evaporator through heat
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exchange; dry bulb temperature measurement unit and wet bulb temperature measurement
unit that each measures dry and wet bulb temperatures of outside air and output the
temperatures as detection signal; and a control unit that receives the detection signal from the
dry bulb temperature measurement unit and the wet bulb temperature measurement unit and
control the sprayer and the cooling unit,
The cooling room and the heat radiation room may be arranged vertically and a plurality
of the heat pipes may be installed vertically in the cooling room and the heat radiation room
and connected by heat radiation fins.
The cooling room and the heat radiation room may be arranged horizontally and the heat
pipe may be installed horizontally in the cooling room and the heat radiation room.
The control unit may control blowing power of the first and second fans depending on
wet bulb temperature and dry bulb temperature that had been each measured by the wet bulb
temperature measurement unit and dry bulb temperature measurement unit and controls the
sprayer to spray the condenser with the cooling fluid in order to cool the condenser when the
dry bulb temperature measured by the dry bulb temperature measurement unit exceeds a first
set temperature and the wet bulb temperature measured by the wet bulb temperature
measurement unit is less than a second set temperature, and controls the cooling unit to cool,
together with the evaporator, air passing through the cooling room when the wet bulb
temperature measured by the wet bulb temperature measurement unit exceeds the second set
temperature.
According to another aspect of the present invention, a method for controlling air
conditioning system of data center using heat pipe is provided, which method comprises: a
step of cooling air passing through the cooling room by means of heat exchange with the
evaporator and causing air passing through the heat radiation room to have heat exchange
with the condenser by activating the heat pipe and the first and second fans; a step of
causing the sprayer to spray the condenser with the cooling fluid in order to cool the
condenser when dry bulb temperature of the outside air exceeds first set temperature and wet
bulb temperature of the outside air is less than second set temperature; and a step of causing
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the cooling unit together with the evaporator to cool the air passing through the cooling
room when the wet bulb temperature of the outside air exceeds the second set temperature.
The method may further comprise a step of cooling the data center by means of indirect
cooling of the outside air by activating the first and second fans and heat pipes; and a step of
controlling blowing power of the first and second fans depending on wet bulb temperature of
the outside air and dry bulb temperature of the outside air.
According to the present invention that pertains to air conditioning system of data center
using heat pipe and method for controlling thereof, present invention enables the
actualization of environment friendly and energy saving data center in the true sense as it
maintains information technology related equipments in optimal condition through the use of
natural energy which blocks pollutants from outer parts and the outside air from entering the
data center in server room and other areas directly and to prevent the loss from inflow of
humidity as well as providing detailed system management.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
FIG. 1 is an elevation view illustrating air conditioning system of data center using heat
pipe according to the first embodiment of the present invention.
FIG. 2 is an elevation view illustrating air conditioning system of data center using heat
pipe installed according to the first embodiment of the present invention.
FIG. 3 is a plan view illustrating air conditioning system of data center using heat pipe
installed according to the first embodiment of the present invention.
FIG. 4 is a block diagram illustrating air conditioning system of data center using heat pipe
according to the first embodiment of the present invention.
FIG. 5 is a perspective view illustrating an example of installed structure of air
conditioning system for data center using heat pipe according to the first embodiment of the
present invention.
FIG. 6 is a plan view illustrating another example of installed structure of air conditioning
system for data center using heat pipe according to the first embodiment of the present
invention.
FIG. 7 is a perspective view illustrating yet another example of installed structure of air
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conditioning system for data center using heat pipe according to the first embodiment of the
present invention.
FIG. 8 is a perspective view illustrating yet another example of installed structure of air
conditioning system for data center using heat pipe according to the first embodiment of the
present invention.
FIG. 9 is an elevation view illustrating air conditioning system of data center using heat
pipe installed according to the second embodiment of the present invention.
FIG. 10 is a flow chart illustrating the control method of air conditioning system of data
center using heat pipe according to the present invention.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE EMBODIMENTS
Embodiments of the disclosure are discussed in detail with the drawings as there may be
various embodiments and changes that may be applied. While the present invention has been
described with reference to the particular illustrative embodiments, it is not to be restricted by
the embodiments but only by the appended claims and are therefore not to be considered
limiting of its scope, for the invention may admit to other equally effective embodiments.
As below, embodiments according to the invention are discussed in detail in reference to
the drawings and labels will be the same even when the drawing changes when it concerns
the same embodiments to exclude repeated explanations.
FIG. 1 is an elevation view illustrating air conditioning system of data center using heat
pipe according to the first embodiment of the present invention and FIG. 2 and FIG. 3 is an
elevation view illustrating air conditioning system of data center using heat pipe installed
according to the first embodiment of the present invention and FIG. 4 is a block diagram
illustrating air conditioning system of data center using heat pipe according to the first
embodiment of the present invention.
As illustrated in FIG. 1 to FIG. 4, air conditioning system 100 of data center using heat
pipe according to a first embodiment of the present invention comprises cooling room 110,
heat radiation room 130, heat pipe 150, sprayer 160, cooling unit 170, dry bulb temperature
measurement unit 191, wet bulb temperature measurement unit 192 and control unit 190. On
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the other hand, cooling room 110, heat radiation room 130, heat pipe 150, sprayer 160 and
cooling unit 170 may be singularly installed for each data center 10 or by multiple numbers
such as three of them as shown in the present embodiment and may change its number
according to size of the data center, and may be installed in the air conditioning room 181
placed in one side of the data center 10.
The cooling room 110 allows air within the data center 10 to be drawn in by first fan 120
and circulated and fed back to the data center 10, and for this process, inlet 111 for inflow of
the air within the data center and feeding inlet 112 for providing the air to the data center 10
are provided. The number of inlets 111 and feeding inlets 112 may be corresponding to the
number of first fans 120.
Further, the data center 10 could also include not only the Internet Data Center(IDC) that
accommodates servers for internet communication and information technology related
equipments but also data processing room that holds information technology related
equipments for data processing and storage.
The first fan 120 provides blowing power for circulation of air of the data center 10
through the inlet 111 and feeding inlet 112 via the cooling room 110 into the data center 10.
Further, the first fan 120 may be fixed to the partition 113 with the bracket 121, which
partition is vertically installed in the cooling room 110 while facing a evaporator 151 of the
heat pipe 150 which will be described as below and air may be blown through an opening
(not illustrated) formed in the partition 113.
The heat radiation room 130 is located separately from the cooling room 110 and allows
outside air to be drawn into the inside by means of second fan 140 and then discharged to the
outside, and for this purpose, provided are an intake port 131 for drawing the outside air into
the inside and an exhaust port 132 for discharging the drawn air to the outside. The intake
port 131 and exhaust pipe 132 may be provided in the number corresponding to the number
of second fans 140. Further, the outside air may be drawn into the intake port 131 through
the suction part 182 placed in the air conditioning room 181 in the form of an opening, and
the exhaust port 132 can discharge air in the heat radiation room 130 exhaust duct 183 by
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being connected to the exhaust duct 183.
Second fan 140 provides blowing power in order for the outside air to pass through the heat
radiation room 130 by means of the intake port 131 and exhaust port 132. Further, the
second fan 140 may be fixed to a partition 133 with a bracket 141, which partition is
vertically installed in the heat radiation room 130 while facing a condenser 152 of the heat
pipe 150 which will be described as below and air may be blown through an opening (not
illustrated) formed in the partition 133.
The first and second fans 120, 140 may be electronically commutated fan for example, and
is able to maintain optimal operational condition through electric control, and as the fans use
high efficient motor with less electricity consumption by 30 to 50 percent compared to
normal alternating-current motors, the fans can be suitable for a fan for data center 10 with
high electricity consumption. Further, the first and second fans 120, 140 can make use of
motor of which the number of rotation can be easily adjusted depending on the temperature
of the outside air and can be installed singularly or plurally in each cooling room 110 and
heat radiation room 130.
The heat pipe 150 is installed such that the evaporator 151 and condenser 152 are located
in the cooling room 110 and heat radiation room 130, respectively,. Working fluid repeats
phase changes of evaporation and condensation each in the evaporator 151 and condenser
152, hence, the air passing through the cooling room 110 is cooled by means of heat
exchange with the evaporator 151 and the air passing through the heat radiation room 130 has
heat exchange with the condenser 152.
By repeating the phase change of evaporation and condensation through working fluid
which is a volatile liquid placed within the container sealed with decompression or vacuum,
the heat pipe 150 transfers heat thousand times or more faster than heat transfer methods such
as natural convection or conduction and can be comprised of wick with inner porous structure
such as felt, foam, fiber and metal net etc. and vapor space. Evaporator 151 increases the
temperature of working fluid and accelerates the evaporation through heat absorption, and
steam of the working fluid resulting from evaporation moves to the condenser 152 through
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the vapor space and goes through the condensation process while discharging the
condensation latent heat, and the working fluid condensed in the condenser 152 moves to the
evaporator 151 by gravity or by capillary action. Further, heat pipe 150 can use, as heat
source, heat of the air provided through the inlet 111 from the data center 10 or use a separate
heating source.
The sprayer 160 can be installed to help cool the condenser 152 of the heat pipe 150
within the heat radiation room 130. Sprayer 160 can have multiple spray nozzles 161 to spray
the condenser 152 with coolant such as water and comprise pipe installed opposite to the
condenser 152, and a plurality of spray nozzles 161 can be arranged in vertical direction or
horizontal direction or in both directions. The water provided by pumping power of the
outer pump is sprayed to the condenser 152 through the spray nozzles 161 to cool the
condenser 152.
The cooling unit 170 can be installed in the back side of the condenser 151 of the heat pipe
150 in the cooling room 110, and for cooling the air that passed through the evaporator 151,
may have cooling coil 171 in which cooled water cooled through a cooling device (for
example, device utilizing cooling cycle) is circulated by means of pumping power of a
circulation pump. Further, collecting part 172 may be installed at the lower part of the
cooling coil 171 in order to collect and discharge the condensed water formed by the cooling
of air.
Further, main supply route 184 may be installed on the lower part of the floor which is
lower section of the data center 10. Main supply route 184 is connected to feeding inlet 112
of the cooling room 110 and forms a passage for distributing and discharging the cooled air
cooled through heat exchange with the cooling coil 171 through a plurality of outlets 185
provided in the bottom of the data center 10.
Further, the cooling room 110 and heat radiation room 130 is separated by partition 114 and
may be arranged vertically. Then, the heat pipe 150 may be installed vertically such that the
evaporator 151 and condenser 152 are positioned within the cooling room 110 and heat
radiation room 130, respectively.
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In reference to FIG. 5, heat pipe 150 is installed vertically in the cooling room 110 and
heat radiation room 130 and can be installed side by side to be connected by heat radiation fin
153 which is installed horizontally and arranged on upper and lower direction in multiple
numbers where it helps increase the heat exchange efficiency with the air passing through the
cooling room 110 through first fan 120. Heat radiation fin 153 can have multiple penetration
hole (not illustrated) in order for heat pipes 150 to penetrate.
In reference to FIG. 6, cooling room 210 and heat radiation room 230 is separated by
partition 214 and arranged horizontally. Then heat pipe 250 can be installed horizontally in
the cooling room 210 and heat radiation room 230 in order for evaporator 251 would be
installed in the cooling room 210 and condenser to be installed in the heat radiation room 230.
Then, evaporator 251 is installed in the duct 215 in the cooling room 210.
In reference to FIG. 7, heat pipe 350 is installed so that evaporator 351 and condenser
352 will be installed in the cooling room and heat radiation room when cooling room and
heat radiation room is separated horizontally where heat pipe can be formed into the shape of
a loop through bending in order to circulate the cooling room and heat radiation room and
installed in multiple number on the evaporator 351 and condenser 352 and partially
connected by heat radiation fin 353. In order to partially connect the heat pipe 350 to
evaporator 351 and condenser 352, it may be installed side by side vertically so that the part
that face each other in the part that has the shape of ‘ㄷ’ in the embodiment where it forms
evaporator 351 and condenser 352 in the heat pipe 350. Further, opening and closing part 354
can be provided in the in the heat pipe 350 to insert and discharge the working fluid.
In reference to FIG. 8, heat pipe 450 is installed so that evaporator 451 and condenser 452
will be installed in the cooling room and heat radiation room when cooling room and heat
radiation room is separated horizontally and vertically where heat pipe can be formed into the
shape of a loop through bending in order to circulate the cooling room and heat radiation
room and installed in multiple number on the evaporator 451 and condenser 452 and partially
connected by heat radiation fin 453. In order to partially connect the heat pipe 450 to
evaporator 451 and condenser 452, it may be installed side by side vertically so that the part
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that face each other in the part that has the shape of ‘ㄷ’ in the embodiment where it forms
evaporator 351 and condenser 452 in the heat pipe 450. Further, opening and closing part 454
can be provided in the in the heat pipe 450 to insert and discharge the working fluid. Further,
position of the evaporator 451 and condenser 452 can be variously separated by bent section
455 that forms through bending.
In reference to FIG. 4, dry bulb temperature measurement unit 191 can be installed in the
various parts that can measure the dry bulb temperature including air conditioning room 181
as seen on FIG. 2 and measure the temperature that thermometer measures by exposing a
temperature sensing portion of the thermometer to the air without direct contact with sunlight
and output the temperature to the control unit 190 as detection signal.
Wet bulb temperature measurement unit 192 can be installed in the various parts that can
measure the wet bulb temperature including air conditioning room 181 as seen on FIG. 2 and
send the sensor signal after measuring the wet bulb temperature which refers to temperature
that dropped as much as water evaporated from wet bulb wet with water such as distilled
water as air is saturated that can be shown in the control unit 190.
Control unit 190 receives the sensor signal from dry bulb temperature measurement unit
191 and wet bulb temperature measurement unit 192 and controls the sprayer 160 and cooling
unit 170. Control unit 190 can not only control sprayer 160 and cooling unit 170 and also the
actions of first and second fan 120, 140 and heat pipe 150 as well as sprayer 160 that can be
controlled by controlling the pump and spraying the coolant. In case of cooling unit 170, it
can be controlled by cooling equipment for cooling the cooling water and circulation and the
pump.
As an example, control unit 190 activates the sprayer 160 to spray the condenser with the
coolant in order to cool the condenser when dry bulb temperature measured by dry bulb
temperature measurement unit 191 exceeds first set temperature and when wet bulb
temperature measured by wet bulb temperature measurement unit 192 is less than second set
temperature and control the cooling unit 170 to cool, together with the evaporator 151, the air
passing the cooling room 110 when the wet bulb temperature measured by wet bulb
temperature measurement unit 192 exceeds second set temperature. First and second set
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temperatures can be determined by size and target temperature of the data center 10 and as an
example, it can be set as 20 degree Celsius or other temperature as setpoint. Further, first and
second temperature can be set by control of the user and control unit 190 can receive the
sensor signal that was emitted by control of the user and carry out the control with the sensor
signal as the basis.
Further, control unit 190 can control the blowing power of the first and second fan 120,
140 based on the dry bulb heat that was measured by dry bulb heat temperature unit 191 and
wet bulb heat that was measured by wet bulb heat temperature unit 192. Speed of the motor
rotation of the first and second fan 120, 140 can be controlled so that dry bulb temperature
and wet bulb temperature of the outside air would reach the first and second set temperatures
where dry bulb temperature and wet bulb temperature of the outside air and status of the
operation can be displayed by display unit 193 to the outside. When dry bulb temperature and
wet bulb temperature exceeds the first and second set temperatures, it can emit an alarm or
turn off the alarm through alarm unit 194.
Detailed control method carried out by control unit 190 will be explained further in the
control method of air conditioning system of data center using heat pipe according to the
present invention.
In reference to FIG. 9, air conditioning system of data center using heat pipe 500
comprises of inlet 511, cooling room 510 with feeding inlet 512, first fan 520, intake port 531,
heat radiation room 530 with exhaust pipe 532, second fan 540, heat pipe 550, sprayer 160 as
illustrated in FIG. 4, cooling unit 170 as illustrated in FIG. 4, dry bulb temperature
measurement unit 191 as illustrated in FIG. 4, wet bulb temperature measurement unit 192 as
illustrated in FIG. 4 and control unit 190 as illustrated in FIG. 4 in the same manner with first
embodiment of air conditioning system of data center using heat pipe 100. First fan 520 can
be installed in the lower part of the floor 11 of the data center in order to be placed in the low
part of the partition 513 which is in the low part of the evaporator 551 in the cooling room
510. Second fan 540 can be installed in the exhaust duct 534 in order to be placed in the top
part of the partition 533 which is the top part of condenser 552 in the heat radiation room. An
opening 513a, 533a may be formed so that air may pass through the partition 513, 533.
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Further, filter 514 can be installed on the inner part of the cooling room 510 to filter the
foreign substances in the air in the embodiment of the invention.
In accordance with air conditioning system of data center using heat pipe of present
invention, heat pipe 150 that makes use of working fluid with repeat phase change of
evaporation and condensation that provides excellent heat transfer effect to cool the air
provided to the data center 10 through circulation. By activating the first fan 120, warm air
within the data center 10 with the temperature of 32 to 35 degree Celsius pass through the
cooling room 110 and through evaporator 151 of the heat pipe 150 and cold outside air pass
through heat radiation room 130 and condenser 152 of the heat pipe when second fan 140 is
activated. Through the phase change of the working fluid such as evaporation in the
evaporator 151 and condensation of the condenser 152, air that passes the cooling room 110
is cooled through heat exchange with the evaporator 151 and outside air that passes through
heat radiation room 130 goes through heat exchange with the condenser 152.
There is no direct contact of outside air with server in the data center 10 with this type of
indirect heat exchange, it can block the foreign substances in the outside air from entering the
data center 10 and also block the moisture in the outside air from entering the data center 10
to prevent additional loss of energy which enables the detailed management of the data center
10.
In case where height of the data center 10 is limited by structure of the building,
evaporator 251 and condenser 252 of the heat pipe 250 can be arranged horizontally as
illustrated on FIG. 6 and it is possible to separately install the evaporator 351 and condenser
352 of the heat pipe horizontally as illustrated on FIG. 7 and evaporator 451 and condenser
452 of the heat pipe 450 can be separately installed horizontally as illustrated on FIG. 8.
In case where there is not enough cooling in the data center 10 when temperature of the
outside air is not low enough as summer approaches through climate change, coolant such as
water is sprayed through spray nozzle 161 of the sprayer 160 to cool the outside air by
evaporating the latent heat of 540 kcal/kg. When temperature of the outside air is cooled
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through evaporating the coolant, air supplied to the data center 10 is also lowered and it is
possible to additionally cool the data center 10 through outside air in the summer. As indirect
cooling method of the outside air does not increase the humidity of the data center caused by
spraying the water, it can be used as an effective method of cooling even in the warm weather.
Further, efficiency of cooling process for data center 10 can be increased by additional
cooling related control through sprayer 160 and cooling unit 170 in accordance with dry bulb
heat or wet bulb heat.
FIG. 10 is a flow chart illustrating the control method of air conditioning system of data
center using heat pipe according to the present invention.
In reference to FIG. 10, control method of air conditioning system of data center using
heat pipe according to the present invention and the embodiment of the present invention
where control unit 190 activates the heat pipe 150 and first and second fans 120, 140 to cool
the air that passes the cooling room 110 through heat exchange with the evaporator 151 and
cause the air that passes through the heat radiation room 120 to have heat exchange with the
condenser 152(S11).
As heat pipe 150 and first and second fan 120, 140 is activated, control unit 190 activates
the sprayer 160 to spray the condenser 152 with the cooling fluid, i.e., water in order to cool
the condenser 152(S14) when dry bulb temperature of outside air measured by dry bulb
temperature unit 191 exceeds first set temperature (S12) and when wet bulb temperature of
outside air measured by wet bulb temperature measurement unit 192 is less than second set
temperature (S13). First and second set temperatures can be determined by size and target
temperature of the data center 10 and as an example, it can be set as 20 degree Celsius or
other temperature as setpoint. Further, first and second temperature can be set by control of
the user and control unit 190 can receive the sensor signal that was emitted by control of the
user and carry out the control with the sensor signal as the basis.
Furthermore, the control unit 190 causes the cooling unit 170 together with the evaporator
151 to cool the air passing through the cooling room 110 when the wet bulb temperature of
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the outside air measured by wet bulb temperature measurement unit 192 exceeds the second
set temperature.(S15). Such processes are performed until stop signal of the air conditioning
system is received by the control unit 190.
Moreover, control unit 190 cools the data center 10 only through indirect cooling of
outside air by activating heat pipe 150 and first and second fan 120, 140 when dry bulb
temperature of outside air measured by dry bulb measurement unit 191 is less than first set
temperature. Further, control unit 190 can control the blowing power of the first and second
fan 120, 140 based on the dry bulb temperature of outside that was measured by dry bulb heat
temperature unit 191 and wet bulb temperature of outside air that was measured by wet bulb
heat temperature unit 192. Speed of the motor rotation of the first and second fans 120, 140
can be controlled so that dry bulb temperature and wet bulb temperature of the outside air
would reach the first and second set temperatures.
Thus, according to control method of air conditioning system of data center using heat
pipe of the present invention, energy source needed for cooling the environment friendly data
center is outside temperature and humidity and right temperature of the data center 10 can be
maintained by changing the amount of heat exchange of the heat pipe 150 by controlling the
volume of air according to the temperature of outside air that changes through the season.
Further, energy consumption can be minimized through indirect cooling of outside air by heat
pipe 150 and first and second fan 120, 140 according to the temperature and humidity
condition of the outside air which is the first step, indirect evaporation cooling by the sprayer
160 which is the second step and switching the operation mode to cooling through cooling
unit 170 which is the third step.
For instance, when dry bulb temperature of outside air is less than 20 degree Celsius, it
can be cooled 100 percent by outside air. And when the dry bulb temperature of outside air is
more than 20 degree Celsius and wet bulb temperature is less than 20 degree Celsius, indirect
cooling by heat pipe 150 and indirect evaporative cooling that lowers the outside temperature
to 20 degree Celsius by evaporative cooling system that makes use of sprayer 160 installed in
the outside air suction to cool the data center 10. Further, when the humidity temperature of
outside air is more than 20 degree Celsius, data center 10 can be cooled through outside air
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indirect evaporative cooling of mechanical cooling unit 170 as operated by cooling cycle or
outside air indirect cooling by heat pipe 150.
In case of Korea, data center is cooled through 100 percent outside air from step 1 for
6421 hours which is 73.3 percent of the 8760 hours which is the total cooling period of the
data center per year. Case where data center is cooled by outside air cooling and indirect
evaporative cooling which is the second step is 893 hours which is 10.2 percent and when
data center is cooled through mechanical cooling method that uses electricity is 1446 hours
which is 16.5 percent when energy efficiency according to the present invention by making
use of weather data from Kimpo Airport observatory is calculated. In case of Korea that has
distinctive four seasons, 7314 hours of operation hours of thermo hygrostat per year which
amounts to 83.5 percent can be operated by environment friendly cooling system and thus
saving enormous amount of energy.
It is an object of the present invention to provide actualization of environment friendly
and energy saving data center in the true sense as it maintains information technology related
equipments in optimal condition through the use of natural energy which blocks pollutants
from outer parts and the outside air from entering the data center in server room and other
areas directly and to prevent the loss from inflow of humidity as well as providing detailed
system management.
While the present invention has been described with reference to the particular illustrative
embodiments, it is not to be restricted by the embodiments but only by the appended claims.
It is to be appreciated that those skilled in the art can change or modify the embodiments
without departing from the scope and spirit of the present invention. Therefore, present
invention has been described with reference to the particular illustrative embodiments and not
to be restricted by the embodiments but only by the appended claims.
[Description of Reference Numerals]
110: Cooling room 111: Inlet
112: Feeding inlet 113: Partition
114: Wall 120: First fan
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121: Bracket 130: Heat radiation room
131: Intake port 132: Exhaust pipe
141: Bracket 150: Heat pipe
151: Evaporator 152: Condenser
153: Heat radiation fin 160: Sprayer
161: Sprayer nozzle 170: Cooling unit
171: Cooling coil 172: Collecting unit
181: Air conditioning room 182: Suction unit
183: Exhaust duct 184: Main route
185: Outlet 190: Control unit
191: Dry bulb temperature measurement unit 192: Wet bulb temperature measurement unit
193: Display unit 194: Alarm unit
210: Cooling room 215: Duct
230: Heat radiation room 250: Heat pipe
251: Evaporator 252: Condenser
350: Heat pipe 351: Evaporator
352: Condenser 353: Heat radiation fin
354: Opening and closing part 450: Heat pipe
451: Evaporator 452: Condenser
453: Heat radiation fin 454: Opening and closing part
455: Bent section 510: Cooling room
511: Inlet 512: Feeding inlet
513: Partition 513a: Opening
514: Filter 520: First fan
530: Heat radiation room 531: Intake port
532: Exhaust pipe 533: Partition
533a: Opening 534: Exhaust duct
540: Second fan 550: Heat pipe
551: Evaporator 552: Condenser
For THERMO-TECH
Tarun Khurana
Regd. Patent Agent [INPA-1325]
Dated: 29th March, 2014
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We Claim:
1. An air conditioning system of data center using heat pipe comprising:
a cooling room that allows air within the data center to be drawn in by a first fan and
circulated and fed back to the data center;
a heat radiation room located separately from the cooling room, which room allows
outside air to be drawn into the inside through a second fan and then discharged to the outside;
a heat pipe installed such that evaporator and condenser are located in the cooling room
and heat radiation room, respectively,, wherein working fluid repeats phase changes of
evaporation and condensation each in the evaporator and condenser, hence, the air passing
through the cooling room is cooled by means of heat exchange with the evaporator and the air
passing through the heat radiation room has heat exchange with the condenser;
a sprayer installed in the heat radiation room and provided with a plurality of spray
nozzles for spraying cooling fluid to the condenser;
a cooling unit installed in the cooling room and cooling the air that passed the evaporator
through heat exchange;
dry bulb temperature measurement unit and wet bulb temperature measurement unit that
each measures dry and wet bulb temperatures of outside air and output the temperatures as
detection signal; and
a control unit that receives the detection signal from the dry bulb temperature
measurement unit and the wet bulb temperature measurement unit and control the sprayer and
the cooling unit,
wherein the control unit controls blowing power of the first and second fans depending on
wet bulb temperature and dry bulb temperature that had been each measured by the wet bulb
temperature measurement unit and dry bulb temperature measurement unit and controls the
sprayer to spray the condenser with the cooling fluid in order to cool the condenser when the
dry bulb temperature measured by the dry bulb temperature measurement unit exceeds a first
set temperature and the wet bulb temperature measured by the wet bulb temperature
measurement unit is less than a second set temperature, and controls the cooling unit to cool,
together with the evaporator, air passing through the cooling room when the wet bulb
temperature measured by the wet bulb temperature measurement unit exceeds the second set
temperature.
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2. The air conditioning system of data center using heat pipe of claim 1 wherein the
cooling room and the heat radiation room are arranged vertically and a plurality of the heat
pipes are installed vertically in the cooling room and the heat radiation room and connected
by heat radiation fins.
3. The air conditioning system of data center using heat pipe of claim 1 wherein the
cooling room and the heat radiation room are arranged horizontally and the heat pipe is
installed horizontally in the cooling room and the heat radiation room.
4. A method for controlling air conditioning system of data center using heat pipe of any
one of claims 1 to 3 wherein the method comprises:
a step of cooling air passing through the cooling room by means of heat exchange with
the evaporator and causing air passing through the heat radiation room to have heat
exchange with the condenser by activating the heat pipe and the first and second fans;
a step of causing the sprayer to spray the condenser with the cooling fluid in order to cool
the condenser when dry bulb temperature of the outside air exceeds first set temperature and
wet bulb temperature of the outside air is less than second set temperature; and
a step of causing the cooling unit together with the evaporator to cool the air passing
through the cooling room when the wet bulb temperature of the outside air exceeds the
second set temperature..
5. The method for controlling air conditioning system for data center using heat pipe of
claim
4 wherein the method further comprises:
a step of cooling the data center by means of indirect cooling of the outside air by
activating the first and second fans and heat pipes; and
a step of controlling blowing power of the first and second fans depending on wet bulb
temperature of the outside air and dry bulb temperature of the outside air.