CONTAINER DATA CENTER AND REFRIGERATION CONTROL METHOD THEREOF

The present disclosure discloses a container data center and a refrigeration control method thereof. The container data center at least includes a box body, a server unit and a refrigeration device, where the box body is internally provided with an accommodating space. The server unit is installed in the accommodating space, and a reserved space is reserved between two sides and a top of the server unit and an inner wall of the box body. The refrigeration device includes an indoor unit and an outdoor unit, where the indoor unit is installed in the reserved space, and the indoor unit is positioned above the server unit to divide the reserved space into a cold runner and a hot runner.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION

This application claims priority to Chinese Patent Application No. 202211540525.5, titled “CONTAINER DATA CENTER AND REFRIGERATION CONTROL METHOD THEREOF” and filed to the China National Intellectual Property Administration on Dec. 2, 2022, the entire contents of which are incorporated herein by reference.

TECHNICAL FIELD

The present disclosure relates to the field of data centers, and more particularly, to a container data center and a refrigeration control method thereof.

BACKGROUND

At present, a refrigeration system of a container data room uses inter-row air conditioners to supply and return air, where inter-row air conditioners are installed inside the container, and the inter-row air conditioners and server cabinets are arranged side by side, which results in decrease of number of IT cabinets in the data room due to the arrangement of the inter-row air conditioners, and thus corresponding computing capacity may also be reduced.

SUMMARY

An objective of the present disclosure is to provide a container data center and a refrigeration control method thereof, which can arrange more server cabinets and increase computing capacity.

To achieve the above objective, one aspect of the present disclosure provides a container data center, which at least includes a box body, a server unit and a refrigeration device, where the box body is internally provided with an accommodating space. The server unit is installed in the accommodating space, and a reserved space is reserved between two sides and a top of the server unit and an inner wall of the box body. The refrigeration device includes an indoor unit and an outdoor unit, where the indoor unit is installed in the reserved space, and the indoor unit is positioned above the server unit to divide the reserved space into a cold runner and a hot runner.

To achieve the above objective, another aspect of the present disclosure also provides a container data center, which at least includes a box body, an evaporator, a compressor, a condenser, an expansion valve and a fluorine pump, where the evaporator is positioned in the box body, and a temperature sensor is arranged on an outer side of the box body. The evaporator, a first on-off valve, the compressor, the condenser, the expansion valve and the fluorine pump are connected in series with each other to form a refrigeration circuit. The refrigeration circuit is further connected in series with a first passage, where the first passage is connected in parallel with the compressor and the first on-off valve, and a second on-off valve is connected in series with the first passage. The refrigeration circuit is further connected in series with a second passage, where the second passage and the fluorine pump are connected in parallel with each other, and a third on-off valve is connected in series with the second passage.

To achieve the above objective, another aspect of the present disclosure also provides a refrigeration control method for a container data center, where the method is applied to the above container data center. The method includes: obtaining a temperature at an outer side of the box body by means of the temperature sensor, and determining whether the temperature at the outer side of the box body is higher than a predetermined temperature; turning on the compressor, the first on-off valve and the third on-off valve and turning off the fluorine pump and the second on-off valve when the temperature at the outer side of the box body is higher than the predetermined temperature; and turning on the fluorine pump and the second on-off valve and turning off the compressor, the first on-off valve and the third on-off valve when the temperature at the outer side of the box body is lower than or equal to the predetermined temperature.

As can be seen, according to the technical solutions provided by the present disclosure, the server unit may be installed in the accommodating space of the box body of the container, the reserved space is reserved between the two sides and the top of the server unit and the inner wall of the box body, and the indoor unit is positioned above the server unit to divide the reserved space into the cold runner and the hot runner. In this way, the indoor unit is installed above the server unit, which can effectively utilize the space of the container for arranging server cabinets, such that more server cabinets can be arranged to increase the computing capacity. Furthermore, the indoor unit can supply cold air downward from one side, and recover and refrigerate hot air formed after heat exchange from the other side. By using principles of sinking of the cold air and rising of the hot air, compared with arrangement of inter-row air conditioners, air distribution can be improved, ensuring interaction between the cold air and the hot air in a cold channel to be more uniform, avoiding unbalanced heat exchange, effectively refrigerating the server unit, and thus improving refrigeration effects.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

Detailed description of implementations of the present disclosure will further be made below with reference to drawings to make the above objectives, technical solutions and advantages of the present disclosure more apparent. Terms such as “upper”, “above”, “lower”, “below”, “first end”, “second end”, “one end”, “other end” and the like as used herein, which denote spatial relative positions, describe the relationship of one unit or feature relative to another unit or feature in the accompanying drawings for the purpose of illustration. The terms of the spatial relative positions may be intended to include different orientations of the device in use or operation other than the orientations shown in the accompanying drawings. For example, the units that are described as “below” or “under” other units or features will be “above” other units or features if the device in the accompanying drawings is turned upside down. Thus, the exemplary term “below” can encompass both the orientations of above and below. The device may be otherwise oriented (rotated by 90 degrees or facing other directions) and the space-related descriptors used herein are interpreted accordingly.

In addition, the terms “installed”, “arranged”, “provided”, “connected”, “slidably connected”, “fixed” and “sleeved” should be understood broadly. For example, the “connection” may be a fixed connection, a detachable connection or integrated connection, a mechanical connection or an electrical connection, a direct connection or indirect connection by means of an intermediary, or an internal connection between two apparatuses, components or constituent parts. For those of ordinary skill in the art, concrete meanings of the above terms in the present disclosure may be understood based on concrete circumstances.

At present, a refrigeration system of a container data room uses inter-row air conditioners to supply and return air, where inter-row air conditioners are installed inside the container, and the inter-row air conditioners and server cabinets are arranged side by side, which results in decrease of number of IT cabinets in the data room due to the arrangement of the inter-row air conditioners, and thus corresponding computing capacity may also be reduced.

Furthermore, because the existing inter-row air conditioners and the server cabinets are placed side by side, it is easy to form an air flow short circuit in the container in the process of circulation and heat exchange, resulting in uneven hot and cold in local space and thus adversely affecting normal operation of an IT device.

Therefore, based on the above problems, a container data center and a refrigeration control method thereof are urgently needed, such that more server cabinets may be arranged to increase computing capacity and improve heat dissipation effects on the server cabinets.

The technical solutions in the embodiments of the present disclosure will be clearly and completely described with reference to the accompanying drawings. Apparently, the embodiments described in the present disclosure are some but not all of the embodiments of the present disclosure. All other embodiments obtained by a person of ordinary skill in the art based on the embodiments of the present disclosure without creative efforts shall fall within the protection scope of the present disclosure.

As shown inFIGS.1to3, in an implementable embodiment, a container data center may at least include a box body1, a server unit2and a refrigeration device, where the box body1is internally provided with an accommodating space11. The server unit2may be installed in the accommodating space11, and a reserved space4is reserved between two sides and a top of the server unit2and an inner wall of the box body1. It should be noted that the server unit2may be arranged in parallel along a length direction of the box body1, and the server unit2may be arranged on a symmetrical center line of the box body1, such that the reserved space4between the left and right sides of the server unit2and the inner wall of the box body1is the same, and of course, the server unit2may also be arranged off-center, which is not specifically limited in the present disclosure.

In actual use, the server unit2may comprise a plurality of server cabinets arranged in a straight line. Of course, the server unit2may also include an uninterrupted power supply (UPS) and a battery for supplying power to the server cabinets, and a control cabinet, etc.

The refrigeration device may include an indoor unit31and an outdoor unit32. The indoor unit31may be installed in the reserved space4to perform heat dissipation on the server unit2. The outdoor unit32may be installed on an outer side of the box body1, such that noises can be reduced and refrigeration effects can be ensured.

In an implementable embodiment, referring toFIG.3, the indoor unit31may be positioned above the server unit2, thereby dividing the reserved space4into a cold runner41and a hot runner42. In this way, the indoor unit can supply cold air from one side, return air from the other side, blow the air downward from the top. Compared with arrangement of inter-row air conditioners, air distribution can be improved, ensuring interaction between the cold air and the hot air in a cold channel to be more uniform, avoiding unbalanced heat exchange, effectively refrigerating the server unit, and thus improving the refrigeration effects.

Further, an air outlet of the indoor unit31should be positioned directly above the cold runner41, such that the cold air can directly flow downwards, thus avoiding loss of the cold air in the passage and ensuring the heat dissipation effects to the server unit.

In actual use. a plurality of indoor units31may be provided, and the plurality of indoor units31are arranged in a length direction of the server unit2. Specific number of the indoor units31may be set according to requirements, and the plurality of indoor units31may be arranged according to heat dissipation requirements of the server unit2. For example, arrangement of the indoor units31may be reduced at the UPS and the battery because of lower heat dissipation requirements. In contrast, the number of the indoor units31may be increased at the server cabinet.

In an implementable embodiment, referring toFIG.4, the indoor unit31includes an evaporator311. Of course, a fan and a coil or the like may be provided in the indoor Unit31to accelerate air motion. The outdoor unit32includes a compressor321, a condenser322, and an expansion valve323. The evaporator311, the compressor321, the condenser322and the expansion valve323are connected in series to form a refrigeration circuit, thereby forming a refrigeration cycle. It should be noted that the evaporator311, the compressor321, the condenser322and the expansion valve323are four major refrigeration components, reference may be made to the prior art for their specific structures, which are not to be described in detail here.

Further, the outdoor unit32may also include a fluorine pump324, which is connected in series in the refrigeration circuit. Furthermore, a first on-off valve33is connected to an outlet of the compressor321. The refrigeration circuit is further connected in series with a first passage34, where the first passage34is connected in parallel with the compressor321and the first on-off valve33, and a second on-off valve35is connected in series with the first passage34. The refrigeration circuit is further connected in series with a second passage36, where the second passage36and the fluorine pump324are connected in parallel with each other, and a third on-off valve37is connected in series with the second passage36.

It should be noted that the first passage34and the second passage36may be pipelines or pipes. The outer side of the box body1should also be provided with a temperature sensor for detecting an outdoor ambient temperature.

In actual use, the refrigeration control method for the container data center may include: obtaining, by a controller, a temperature at the outer side of the box body1by means of the temperature sensor, and determining whether the temperature at the outer side of the box body1is higher than a predetermined temperature. When the temperature at the outer side of the box body1is higher than the predetermined temperature, the compressor321, the first on-off valve33and the third on-off valve37are turned on, and the fluorine pump324and the second on-off valve35are turned off. In this case, the fluorine pump324is short-circuited by the second passage36, such that the fluorine pump324does not participate in operation, and the compressor321is employed for compression refrigeration. When the temperature at the outer side of the box body1is lower than or equal to the predetermined temperature, this indicates that the external environment may be used for heat dissipation of the box body1. In this case, the fluorine pump324and the second on-off valve35may be turned on, and the compressor321, the first on-off valve33and the third on-off valve37may be turned off. In this case, the fluorine pump324is operating, but the compressor321is short-circuited by the first passage34.

It should be pointed out that the predetermined temperature is set by technicians according to technical experiences, which may be 15° C., 10° C., and so on.

In an implementable embodiment, the box body1is also internally provided with a cushion space12. The cushion space12is communicated with the accommodating space11through a switch gate. In this way, a cushion area may be provided to prevent people from entering the box body1and prevent external dusts from entering the accommodating space.

Based on the same inventive concept, the present disclosure also provides a container data center, which at least includes a box body1, an evaporator311, a compressor321, a condenser322, an expansion valve323and a fluorine pump324, where the evaporator311is positioned in the box body1, and a temperature sensor is arranged on the outer side of the box body1. The evaporator311, the compressor321, the condenser322, the expansion valve323and the fluorine pump324are connected in series with each other to form a refrigeration circuit. The refrigeration circuit is further connected in series with a first passage34, where the first passage34is connected in parallel with the compressor321and the first on-off valve33, and a second on-off valve35is connected in series with the first passage34. The refrigeration circuit is further connected in series with a second passage36, where the second passage36and the fluorine pump324are connected in parallel with each other, and a third on-off valve37is connected in series with the second passage36.

Reference may be made to the above contents for specific structures and principles of the refrigeration circuit, which are not to be described in detail here.

As can be seen, according to the technical solutions provided by the present disclosure, the server unit may be installed in the accommodating space of the box body of the container, the reserved space is reserved between the two sides and the top of the server unit and the inner wall of the box body, and the indoor unit is positioned above the server unit to divide the reserved space into the cold runner and the hot runner. In this way, the indoor unit is installed above the server unit, which can effectively utilize the space of the container for arranging server cabinets, such that more server cabinets can be arranged to increase the computing capacity. Furthermore, the indoor unit can supply cold air downward from one side, and recover and refrigerate hot air formed after heat exchange from the other side. By using principles of sinking of the cold air and rising of the hot air, compared with arrangement of inter-row air conditioners, air distribution can be improved, ensuring interaction between the cold air and the hot air in a cold channel to be more uniform, avoiding unbalanced heat exchange, effectively refrigerating the server unit, and thus improving refrigeration effects.

Further, in the present disclosure, the server unit and the refrigeration system are integrated in the container, which can realize productization of the data room, making it convenient and quick to move and install the container.

Further, two operation modes (i.e., the compressor and the fluorine pump) may be used in the refrigeration circuit, and the corresponding operation mode may be selected according to the external ambient temperature. Outdoor low-temperature air may be indirectly used as a cold source to save refrigeration energy consumption.

The embodiments set forth above are only illustrated as preferred embodiments of the present disclosure, and are not intended to limit the present disclosure. All modifications, equivalent substitutions and improvements made within the spirit and principles of the present disclosure shall fall within the protection scope of the present disclosure.