Experimental Investigation of Heat Transfer and Flow Characteristics of Split Natural Cooling System for Data Center Based on Micro Heat Pipe Array

This paper presents a new type of split natural cooling system that maximizes the use of natural cold energy to significantly reduce the power consumption of the air conditioning system in data centers. A split natural cooling system module, which consisted of indoor and outdoor heat exchanger based...

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Main Authors: Heran Jing, Zhenhua Quan, Yaohua Zhao, Lincheng Wang, Ruyang Ren, Ruixue Dong, Yuting Wu
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: MDPI AG 2022-06-01
Series:Energies
Subjects:
Online Access:https://www.mdpi.com/1996-1073/15/12/4250
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author Heran Jing
Zhenhua Quan
Yaohua Zhao
Lincheng Wang
Ruyang Ren
Ruixue Dong
Yuting Wu
author_facet Heran Jing
Zhenhua Quan
Yaohua Zhao
Lincheng Wang
Ruyang Ren
Ruixue Dong
Yuting Wu
author_sort Heran Jing
collection DOAJ
description This paper presents a new type of split natural cooling system that maximizes the use of natural cold energy to significantly reduce the power consumption of the air conditioning system in data centers. A split natural cooling system module, which consisted of indoor and outdoor heat exchanger based on micro heat pipe arrays connected by liquid circulation system, was selected for experimental research. The heat transfer process and flow characteristics were analyzed under different outdoor environment temperatures, air and water flow rates, and different ratios of heat transfer components (<i>N</i>) of indoor and outdoor heat exchangers. To improve the utilization of natural cold energy, two kinds of heat dissipation conditions, namely room and heat channel-based, were proposed. The indoor temperature of two conditions at 28 °C and 38 °C were simulated in the laboratory at constant temperature-humidity, respectively. Results indicated that the air flow rate had a greater influence on the heat transfer performance than the water flow rate. The pressure drop of the air and water sides was at a lower level, and the fitting curve of the pressure drop was obtained to provide a reference for the heat exchanger design and equipment selection. When the ratio of heat transfer components (<i>N</i>) of the indoor and outdoor heat exchanger was approximately 0.75, the split natural cooling system showed optimal comprehensive performance. Under heat channel-based conditions, the maximum heat transfer rate reached 12.4 kW, and the maximum energy efficiency ratio was 17.15; the maximum heat transfer rate and the maximum energy efficiency ratio increased by 42.5% and 22.64% compared with the room-based condition, respectively. The fitting curve of the energy efficiency ratio was calculated under different outdoor temperatures at two heat dissipation conditions.
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spelling doaj.art-ec5c43c1c8fb4035a9a8473d00d1b0f02023-11-23T16:28:05ZengMDPI AGEnergies1996-10732022-06-011512425010.3390/en15124250Experimental Investigation of Heat Transfer and Flow Characteristics of Split Natural Cooling System for Data Center Based on Micro Heat Pipe ArrayHeran Jing0Zhenhua Quan1Yaohua Zhao2Lincheng Wang3Ruyang Ren4Ruixue Dong5Yuting Wu6Beijing Key Laboratory of Green Built Environment and Energy Efficient Technology, Beijing University of Technology, Beijing 100124, ChinaBeijing Key Laboratory of Green Built Environment and Energy Efficient Technology, Beijing University of Technology, Beijing 100124, ChinaBeijing Key Laboratory of Green Built Environment and Energy Efficient Technology, Beijing University of Technology, Beijing 100124, ChinaBeijing Key Laboratory of Green Built Environment and Energy Efficient Technology, Beijing University of Technology, Beijing 100124, ChinaBeijing Key Laboratory of Green Built Environment and Energy Efficient Technology, Beijing University of Technology, Beijing 100124, ChinaBeijing Key Laboratory of Green Built Environment and Energy Efficient Technology, Beijing University of Technology, Beijing 100124, ChinaMOE Key Laboratory of Enhanced Heat Transfer and Energy Conservation, Beijing Key Laboratory of Heat Transfer and Energy Conversion, Beijing University of Technology, Beijing 100124, ChinaThis paper presents a new type of split natural cooling system that maximizes the use of natural cold energy to significantly reduce the power consumption of the air conditioning system in data centers. A split natural cooling system module, which consisted of indoor and outdoor heat exchanger based on micro heat pipe arrays connected by liquid circulation system, was selected for experimental research. The heat transfer process and flow characteristics were analyzed under different outdoor environment temperatures, air and water flow rates, and different ratios of heat transfer components (<i>N</i>) of indoor and outdoor heat exchangers. To improve the utilization of natural cold energy, two kinds of heat dissipation conditions, namely room and heat channel-based, were proposed. The indoor temperature of two conditions at 28 °C and 38 °C were simulated in the laboratory at constant temperature-humidity, respectively. Results indicated that the air flow rate had a greater influence on the heat transfer performance than the water flow rate. The pressure drop of the air and water sides was at a lower level, and the fitting curve of the pressure drop was obtained to provide a reference for the heat exchanger design and equipment selection. When the ratio of heat transfer components (<i>N</i>) of the indoor and outdoor heat exchanger was approximately 0.75, the split natural cooling system showed optimal comprehensive performance. Under heat channel-based conditions, the maximum heat transfer rate reached 12.4 kW, and the maximum energy efficiency ratio was 17.15; the maximum heat transfer rate and the maximum energy efficiency ratio increased by 42.5% and 22.64% compared with the room-based condition, respectively. The fitting curve of the energy efficiency ratio was calculated under different outdoor temperatures at two heat dissipation conditions.https://www.mdpi.com/1996-1073/15/12/4250data centerenergy efficiency ratioheat transfermicro heat pipe arraypressure dropsplit natural cooling system
spellingShingle Heran Jing
Zhenhua Quan
Yaohua Zhao
Lincheng Wang
Ruyang Ren
Ruixue Dong
Yuting Wu
Experimental Investigation of Heat Transfer and Flow Characteristics of Split Natural Cooling System for Data Center Based on Micro Heat Pipe Array
Energies
data center
energy efficiency ratio
heat transfer
micro heat pipe array
pressure drop
split natural cooling system
title Experimental Investigation of Heat Transfer and Flow Characteristics of Split Natural Cooling System for Data Center Based on Micro Heat Pipe Array
title_full Experimental Investigation of Heat Transfer and Flow Characteristics of Split Natural Cooling System for Data Center Based on Micro Heat Pipe Array
title_fullStr Experimental Investigation of Heat Transfer and Flow Characteristics of Split Natural Cooling System for Data Center Based on Micro Heat Pipe Array
title_full_unstemmed Experimental Investigation of Heat Transfer and Flow Characteristics of Split Natural Cooling System for Data Center Based on Micro Heat Pipe Array
title_short Experimental Investigation of Heat Transfer and Flow Characteristics of Split Natural Cooling System for Data Center Based on Micro Heat Pipe Array
title_sort experimental investigation of heat transfer and flow characteristics of split natural cooling system for data center based on micro heat pipe array
topic data center
energy efficiency ratio
heat transfer
micro heat pipe array
pressure drop
split natural cooling system
url https://www.mdpi.com/1996-1073/15/12/4250
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AT yaohuazhao experimentalinvestigationofheattransferandflowcharacteristicsofsplitnaturalcoolingsystemfordatacenterbasedonmicroheatpipearray
AT linchengwang experimentalinvestigationofheattransferandflowcharacteristicsofsplitnaturalcoolingsystemfordatacenterbasedonmicroheatpipearray
AT ruyangren experimentalinvestigationofheattransferandflowcharacteristicsofsplitnaturalcoolingsystemfordatacenterbasedonmicroheatpipearray
AT ruixuedong experimentalinvestigationofheattransferandflowcharacteristicsofsplitnaturalcoolingsystemfordatacenterbasedonmicroheatpipearray
AT yutingwu experimentalinvestigationofheattransferandflowcharacteristicsofsplitnaturalcoolingsystemfordatacenterbasedonmicroheatpipearray