Patent ID: 12238902

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

The exemplary embodiments of the present disclosure are described with reference to the accompanying drawings in the following, in which various details of the embodiments of the present disclosure are included to facilitate understanding and should be construed as exemplary only. Accordingly, those ordinary skilled in the related art will recognize that various changes and modifications may be made to the embodiments described herein without departing from the scope and spirit of the present disclosure. Also, descriptions of well-known functions and structures are omitted in the following for clarity and conciseness.

A refrigeration system for a data center according to an embodiment of the present disclosure will be described with reference to the accompanying drawings in the following.

Before describing the refrigeration system for the data center according to the embodiment of the present disclosure, a traditional chilled water system for the data center will be described first.

FIG.1is a schematic view of a chilled water system in the related art.

As shown inFIG.1, the chilled water system in the related art includes a cooling tower11, a cooling pump12, a shut-off valve13, a water chilling unit14, a primary pump15, a secondary pump16and a heat exchange terminal17.

A water outlet of the cooling tower11is connected to a first end of the water chilling unit14via the cooling pump12and the shut-off valve13in sequence, a second end of the water chilling unit14is connected to a water inlet of the cooling tower11via the shut-off valve13, a third end of the water chilling unit14is connected to one end of the heat exchange terminal17via the shut-off valve13and the primary pump15in sequence, and the other end of the heat exchange terminal17is connected to a fourth end of the water chilling unit14via the secondary pump16and the shut-off valve13in sequence.

It should be noted that when the chilled water system is required to cool the data center, the four shut-off valves13are controlled to open, and the cooling pump12, the primary pump15and the secondary pump16are controlled to operate.

The chilled water system in the related art has a following operating principle.

A liquid water is cooled by the water chilling unit14, the liquid chilled water cooled by the water chilling unit14is sent to the heat exchange terminal17via the secondary pump16, the data center is cooled by a return air cooling, the liquid chilled water is changed into a gaseous water after cooling the data center, and the gaseous water is sent to the water chilling unit14via the third end of the water chilling unit14through the primary pump15.

A cooling water in the cooling tower11flows into the water chilling unit14via the first end of the water chilling unit14through the cooling pump12, so as to send the heat generated by the water chilling unit14to the cooling tower11through the first end of the water chilling unit14, and the cooling tower11is cooled by an outdoor wind (namely, transferring the heat to the atmosphere), so that the cooling tower11provides the cooling water circularly and continuously.

Thus, the data center can be cooled by the chilled water system in the related art, but the chilled water system in the related art has high energy consumption and poor energy saving. In addition, the chilled water system in the related art cannot continue refrigeration when an outdoor heat-dissipation module fails.

To this end, the present disclosure proposes a new refrigeration system for the data center, which can achieve continuous refrigeration of the system, reduce energy consumption of the system and improve energy saving of the system.

FIG.2is a schematic view of a refrigeration system for a data center according to an embodiment of the present disclosure.

It should be noted that the data center includes at least one cabinet in a room thereof.

As shown inFIG.2, the refrigeration system for the data center according to the embodiment of the present disclosure includes: an indoor module100, a main outdoor heat-dissipation module200and an auxiliary outdoor heat-dissipation module300.

The main outdoor heat-dissipation module200includes a first condenser201and a first compressor202, an inlet of the first compressor202is connected to an outlet of the indoor module100, an outlet of the first compressor202is connected to a gaseous refrigerant inlet of the first condenser201, and a liquid refrigerant outlet of the first condenser201is connected to an inlet of the indoor module100. The auxiliary outdoor heat-dissipation module300includes a second condenser301and a second compressor302, an inlet of the second compressor302is connected to the outlet of the indoor module100, an outlet of the second compressor302is connected to a gaseous refrigerant inlet of the second condenser301, and a liquid refrigerant outlet of the second condenser301is connected to the inlet of the indoor module100.

When the main outdoor heat-dissipation module200is in a normal condition, a refrigeration cycle passage for the data center is formed by the indoor module100, the first condenser201and the first compressor202. When the main outdoor heat-dissipation module200fails, the refrigeration cycle passage for the data center is formed by the indoor module100, the second condenser301and the second compressor302.

It should be noted that the first condenser201and the second condenser301of the embodiment of the present disclosure may employ an evaporative condenser, and the evaporative condenser is an apparatus for gradually cooling the refrigerant in a coil from a gaseous state to a liquid state by absorbing heat of the high-temperature gaseous refrigerant in the coil by means of partially evaporating a spray water outside the coil.

In this embodiment, when the refrigeration system operates normally, the main outdoor heat-dissipation module200operates and the auxiliary outdoor heat-dissipation module300is standby. At this time, the first compressor202allows the gaseous refrigerant to flow from the outlet of the first compressor202to the first condenser201, the first condenser cools the gaseous refrigerant so as to convert the gaseous refrigerant into the liquid refrigerant (for example, the gaseous refrigerant in the coil of the first condenser201performs a phase change heat exchange with the spray water, and then the gaseous refrigerant changes into the liquid refrigerant), the liquid refrigerant flows to the indoor module100, the liquid refrigerant in the indoor module100performs a phase change heat exchange with the cabinet to be cooled in the room of the data center, so as to reduce the temperature of the cabinet to be cooled in the room of the data center, and the refrigerant flowing out of the indoor module100changes from the liquid state to the gaseous state and flows back to the first compressor202, which is sequentially circulated.

When the main outdoor heat-dissipation module200fails, the failed outdoor heat-dissipation module200stops, the indoor module100continues operating and the auxiliary outdoor heat-dissipation module300is switched to operate. The time required for the auxiliary outdoor heat-dissipation module300to be switched to start is about2minutes, and then the auxiliary outdoor heat-dissipation module300performs refrigeration. At this time, the failed outdoor heat-dissipation module200can be repaired. The second compressor302allows the gaseous refrigerant to flow from the outlet of the second compressor302to the second condenser301, the second condenser cools the gaseous refrigerant so as to convert the gaseous refrigerant into the liquid refrigerant (for example, the gaseous refrigerant in the coil of the second condenser301performs the phase change heat exchange with the spray water, and then the gaseous refrigerant changes into the liquid refrigerant), the liquid refrigerant flows to the indoor module100, the liquid refrigerant in the indoor module100performs the phase change heat exchange with the cabinet to be cooled in the room of the data center, so as to reduce the temperature of the cabinet to be cooled in the room of the data center, and the refrigerant flowing out of the indoor module100changes from the liquid state to the gaseous state and flows back to the second compressor302, which is sequentially circulated. In this way, it can be ensured that the cabinet to be cooled in the room of the data center has no hot spots, thus achieving the continuous cooling of the system.

It should be noted that, for convenience of explanations, inFIG.1of the above embodiment, the indoor module100is only described as one indoor module100, the main outdoor heat-dissipation module200is only described as including one first condenser201and one first compressor202, and the auxiliary outdoor heat-dissipation module300is only described as including one second condenser301and one second compressor302, as an example.

In other embodiments of the present disclosure, the indoor module100, the main outdoor heat-dissipation module200, and the auxiliary outdoor heat-dissipation module300may include more than one.

For example, as shown inFIG.3, the indoor module100includes a first indoor module101and a second indoor module102. The main outdoor heat-dissipation module200includes a first main outdoor heat-dissipation module210including the first condenser201and the first compressor202and a second main outdoor heat-dissipation module220including the first condenser201and the first compressor202. The auxiliary outdoor heat-dissipation module300includes one second condenser301and one second compressor302.

The inlet of the first compressor202of the first main outdoor heat-dissipation module210is connected to an outlet of the first indoor module101, the outlet of the first compressor202of the first main outdoor heat-dissipation module210is connected to the gaseous refrigerant inlet of the first condenser201of the first main outdoor heat-dissipation module210, and the liquid refrigerant outlet of the first condenser201of the first main outdoor heat-dissipation module210is connected to an inlet of the first indoor module101. The inlet of the second compressor302of the auxiliary outdoor heat-dissipation module300is respectively connected to the outlet of the first indoor module101and an outlet of the second indoor module102, the outlet of the second compressor302of the auxiliary outdoor heat-dissipation module300is connected to the gaseous refrigerant inlet of the second condenser301, and the liquid refrigerant outlet of the first condenser201of the second main outdoor heat-dissipation module220is connected to an inlet of the second indoor module102.

The first condenser201of the first main outdoor heat-dissipation module210, the first condenser201of the second main outdoor heat-dissipation module220and the second condenser301of the auxiliary outdoor heat-dissipation module300can also adopt an evaporative condenser.

When the first main outdoor heat-dissipation module210and the second main outdoor heat-dissipation module220are both in the normal condition, the refrigeration cycle passages for the data center are formed by the first indoor module101, the first condenser201and the first compressor202of the first main outdoor heat-dissipation module210, and by the second indoor module102, the first condenser201and the first compressor202of the second main outdoor heat-dissipation module220, respectively.

When the first main outdoor heat-dissipation module210fails, the refrigeration cycle passage for the data center is formed by the first indoor module101, the second condenser301, the second compressor302, the second indoor module102, the first condenser201and the first compressor202of the second main outdoor heat-dissipation module220. Or, when the second outdoor heat-dissipation module220fails, the refrigeration cycle passage for the data center is formed by the first indoor module101, the first condenser201and the first compressor202of the first outdoor heat-dissipation module210, the second indoor module102, the second condenser301and the second compressor302.

It should be noted that when the number of the indoor modules100is less than or equal to6, one auxiliary outdoor heat-dissipation module300may be provided; when the number of the indoor modules100is greater than6and less than or equal to12, two auxiliary outdoor heat-dissipation modules300may be provided, in which one end of each auxiliary outdoor heat-dissipation module300(the inlet of the second compressor302of each auxiliary outdoor heat-dissipation module300) is connected to the outlets of all the indoor modules100, and the other end of each auxiliary outdoor heat-dissipation module300(the liquid refrigerant outlet of the second condenser301of each auxiliary outdoor heat-dissipation module300) is connected to the inlets of all the indoor modules100; when the number of the indoor modules100is greater than12, a larger number of the auxiliary outdoor heat-dissipation modules300may be provided, and the specific number can be selected according to actual situations.

Thus, in the refrigeration system for the data center according to the embodiment of the present disclosure, the auxiliary outdoor heat-dissipation module is provided, the main outdoor heat-dissipation module includes the first compressor and the first condenser, the auxiliary outdoor heat-dissipation module includes the second compressor and the second condenser, so that the refrigeration cycle passage for the data center is formed by the indoor module, the first condenser and the first compressor when the main outdoor heat-dissipation module is in the normal condition, and the refrigeration cycle passage for the data center is formed by the indoor module, the second condenser and the second compressor when the main outdoor heat-dissipation module fails. Thus, the refrigeration system for the data center of the present disclosure can achieve the continuous refrigeration of the system, reduce the energy consumption of the system and improve the energy saving of the system.

Since the compressor has an oil return restriction, the pipe length and the height difference needs to be considered, so that the deployment scenario is limited, i.e., the engineering pipeline is complicated and the engineering pre-fabrication is poor. Thus, the first compressor202uses a first oil-free compressor and the second compressor302uses a second oil-free compressor in the embodiment of the present disclosure. In this way, the refrigeration system does not need to consider the pipe length and the height difference, which can simplify the engineering pipeline, save costs and accelerate the delivery speed.

FIG.4is a schematic view of an indoor module provided by an embodiment of the present disclosure.

As shown inFIG.4, the indoor module100according to the embodiment of the present disclosure includes a first gas-liquid separator110, a first refrigerant pump120, and an evaporator130. The evaporator130adopts a form of a back plate so as to increase the heat exchange area, and the back plate is attached to the cabinet to be cooled which is arranged in the room of the data center, so as to achieve the close cooling and improve the overall heat exchange effect, thereby improving the refrigeration effect of the whole refrigeration system. The evaporator130may also use a conventional heat exchanger with a copper tube and an aluminum fin. The evaporator130may also employ a microchannel heat exchanger in the field of vehicle air conditioners. A liquid inlet of the first gas-liquid separator110is connected to the liquid refrigerant outlets of the first condenser201and the second condenser202, respectively. A liquid outlet of the first gas-liquid separator110is connected to an inlet of the first refrigerant pump120, and an outlet of the first refrigerant pump120is connected to an inlet of the back plate. A gas inlet of the first gas-liquid separator110is connected to an outlet of the back plate, and a gas outlet of the first gas-liquid separator110is connected to the inlets of the first compressor202and the second compressor302, respectively.

In this embodiment, the liquid refrigerant flowing out from the liquid refrigerant outlet of the first condenser201or the liquid refrigerant outlet of the second condenser202flows to the first gas-liquid separator110to have a gas-liquid separation (since a small amount of gaseous refrigerant may exist in the liquid refrigerant flowing out from the liquid refrigerant outlet of the first condenser201or the liquid refrigerant outlet of the second condenser202, the gas-liquid separation needs to be performed by the first gas-liquid separator110), and the liquid refrigerant obtained after the gas-liquid separation is sent to the evaporator130by the first refrigerant pump120. After the heat exchange with the evaporator130, the liquid refrigerant changes into the gaseous refrigerant, flows into the first gas-liquid separator110again, and has the gas-liquid separation again through the first gas-liquid separator110(since the liquid refrigerant changes into the gaseous refrigerant after the heat exchange with the evaporator130, and a small amount of liquid refrigerant may exist in the gaseous refrigerant, the gas-liquid separation needs to be performed by the first gas-liquid separator110), then the gaseous refrigerant flows out, and the flowing-out gaseous refrigerant flows to the first compressor202via the inlet of the first compressor202, or flows to the second compressor302via the inlet of the second compressor302.

As shown inFIG.4, a first throttle valve141is provided in a communication pipeline between the gas outlet of the first gas-liquid separator110and the inlet of the first compressor202. A second throttle valve142is provided in a communication pipeline between the liquid refrigerant outlet of the first condenser201and the liquid inlet of the first gas -liquid separator110. A third throttle valve (not shown) is provided in a communication pipeline between the gas outlet of the first gas-liquid separator110and the inlet of the second compressor302. A fourth throttle valve (not shown) is provided in a communication pipeline between the liquid refrigerant outlet of the second condenser and the liquid inlet of the first gas-liquid separator.

In this embodiment, the first throttle valve141, the second throttle valve142, the third throttle valve and the fourth throttle valve each may be an electronic expansion valve. In the electronic expansion valve, an electric signal generated by an adjusted parameter is used to control a voltage or a current applied to the expansion valve, thereby achieving the purpose of adjusting a liquid supply amount. The refrigeration system has a wide adjustment range of the cooling liquid supply amount, which requires a fast adjustment response. It is difficult for the traditional throttling device (such as a thermal expansion valve) to be well competent for this, while the electronic expansion valve can meet the requirement well, that is, in the refrigeration process, the electronic expansion valve has the fast adjustment response, which can improve the refrigeration efficiency.

In order to allow more refrigerant to flow out of the first gas-liquid separator110faster, the first gas-liquid separator110is provided with a plurality of liquid outlets and a plurality of first refrigerant pumps, in which the liquid outlets have a one-to-one correspondence with the first refrigerant pump. For example, as shown inFIG.4, the first gas-liquid separator110is provided with two liquid outlets and two first refrigerant pumps120and150.

As shown inFIG.4, a shut-off valve160is provided in a communication pipeline between the outlets of the first refrigerant pumps120and150and the inlet of the back plate. The shut-off valve160is controlled to be opened when the cabinet to be cooled in the room of the data center needs to be cooled. The shut-off valve160may be controlled to be shut off when the cabinet to be cooled in the room of the data center does not need to be cooled. The number of the shut-off valves160may be one or two, and the specific number is not limited by the present disclosure.

As shown inFIG.4, in addition to the shut-off valve160arranged in the communication pipeline between the outlets of the first refrigerant pumps120and150and the inlet of the back plate, a shut-off valve may also be provided between the outlet of the back plate and a gaseous refrigerant inlet of the first gas-liquid separator110, the number of the shut-off valves may also be one or two, and the specific number is not limited by the present disclosure.

In order to speed up the separation of the liquid refrigerant and the gaseous refrigerant, and in order to consider the refrigeration cold source of the indoor module100during the starting time at the moment of the machine switching because of failure, as shown inFIG.4, in the embodiment of the present disclosure, the indoor module100is further provided with a second gas-liquid separator170, which is correspondingly provided with a second refrigerant pump180. A liquid inlet of the second gas-liquid separator170is connected (e.g. via a throttle valve143) to the liquid refrigerant outlets of the first condenser201and the second condenser301, respectively. A liquid outlet of the second gas-liquid separator170is connected to an inlet of the second refrigerant pump180, and an outlet of the second refrigerant pump180is connected to the inlet of the back plate. A gas inlet of the second gas-liquid separator170is connected to the outlet of the back plate, and a gas outlet of the second gas -liquid separator170is connected (e.g. via a throttle valve144) to the inlets of the first compressor202and the second compressor302, respectively.

In order to allow more refrigerant to flow out of the second gas-liquid separator170faster, the second gas-liquid separator170is provided with a plurality of the liquid outlets and a plurality of the second refrigerant pumps, in which the liquid outlets have a one-to-one correspondence with the second refrigerant pump. For example, as shown inFIG.4, the second gas-liquid separator170is provided with two liquid outlets and two second refrigerant pumps.

As shown inFIG.4, the first gas-liquid separator110is connected to the second gas-liquid separator170through a communication pipe A, i.e. a refrigerant gas pipe, and a communication pipe B, i.e. a refrigerant liquid pipe. Thus, when either one of the first gas-liquid separator110and the second gas-liquid separator170is damaged, the refrigerant in the gas-liquid separator on the damaged side can flow to the gas-liquid separator on the non-damaged side through the communication pipe A (i.e. the refrigerant gas pipe) and the communication pipe B (i.e. the refrigerant liquid pipe), so that the amount of the refrigerant can be ensured to ensure the cooling capacity of the indoor module.

As shown inFIG.4, the communicating pipe A (i.e. the refrigerant gas pipe) is provided with a fifth throttle valve145, and the communicating pipe B (i.e. the refrigerant liquid pipe) is provided with a sixth throttle valve146.

In this embodiment, the fifth throttle valve145and the sixth throttle valve146each may be an electronic expansion valve. In the electronic expansion valve, an electric signal generated by an adjusted parameter is used to control a voltage or a current applied to the expansion valve, thereby achieving the purpose of adjusting a liquid supply amount. The refrigeration system has a wide adjustment range of the cooling liquid supply amount, which requires a fast adjustment response. It is difficult for the traditional throttling device (such as a thermal expansion valve) to be well competent for this, while the electronic expansion valve can meet the requirement well, that is, in the refrigeration process, the electronic expansion valve has the fast adjustment response, which can improve the refrigeration efficiency.

In summary, in the refrigeration system for the data center according to the embodiment of the present disclosure, the auxiliary outdoor heat-dissipation module is provided, the main outdoor heat-dissipation module includes the first compressor and the first condenser, the auxiliary outdoor heat-dissipation module includes the second compressor and the second condenser, the inlets of the first compressor and the second compressor are respectively connected with the outlet of the indoor module, the outlets of the first compressor and the second compressor are respectively connected with the gaseous refrigerant inlet of the first condenser, and the liquid refrigerant outlets of the first condenser and the second compressor are respectively connected with the inlet of the indoor module, so that the refrigeration cycle passage for the data center is formed by the indoor module, the first condenser and the first compressor when the main outdoor heat-dissipation module is in the normal condition, and the refrigeration cycle passage for the data center is formed by the indoor module, the second condenser and the second compressor when the main outdoor heat-dissipation module fails. Thus, the refrigeration system for the data center of the present disclosure can switch to refrigerate with the auxiliary outdoor heat-dissipation module when the main outdoor heat-dissipation module fails, so that the main outdoor heat-dissipation module which fails can be switched out for maintenance, thereby ensuring that no hot spots occur to the cabinet in the whole process, and hence achieving the continuous refrigeration of the system. The refrigeration system uses the system including the compressor, which can meet the requirements for the application scenarios of the data center, reduce the energy consumption of the refrigeration system for the data center, and improve the energy saving of the refrigeration system for the data center. The compressor uses the oil-free compressor, which can simplify the air conditioning system for the data center, save costs, improve the engineering pre-fabrication, and accelerate the delivery speed.

The above specific embodiments are not intended to be construed as limiting the scope of the present disclosure. It will be apparent to those skilled in the art that various modifications, combinations, sub-combinations and substitutions can be made depending on design requirements and other factors. Any modifications, equivalent replacements and improvements made within the spirit and principle of the present disclosure shall fall into the scope of the present disclosure.