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US 12,750,986 B2Granted
High-efficiency cooling systems and methods for a computer data center using a supplemental heat exchanger
OwnerBradley John Klein, Nicholas Ben Barrowcloughinventors
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Abstract
To increase energy efficiency when cooling equipment in a computer data center, a supplemental heat exchanger positioned outside the facility is provided to passively extract at least some heat before directing refrigerant to the refrigerant return line. Temperature sensors may be provided to direct the refrigerant either to the supplemental heat exchanger if the refrigerant temperature exceeds the ambient temperature or to bypass the supplemental heat exchanger and flow directly to the refrigerant return line in case the refrigerant temperature is below the ambient temperature.
Claims19
A cooling system for a facility employing equipment requiring active cooling, the cooling system comprising:
- a refrigerant supply line providing refrigerant from a refrigerant source,
- a refrigerant return line configured for directing the refrigerant toward the refrigerant source for cooling and recirculating of the refrigerant at the refrigerant source and further toward the refrigerant supply line,
- a first heat exchanger configured to use the refrigerant circulating through the first heat exchanger to cool air or liquid which passes through the first heat exchanger and is used for active cooling of the equipment in the facility, and
- a second heat exchanger configured to use the refrigerant circulating through the second heat exchanger to cool air or liquid which passes through the second heat exchanger and is used for active cooling of the equipment in the facility, and
- a supplemental heat exchanger fluidly connected to and positioned in-line and downstream of the first heat exchanger, the supplemental heat exchanger having a supplemental refrigerant inlet configured to receive the refrigerant directly from the first heat exchanger and a supplemental refrigerant outlet configured to direct the refrigerant toward the refrigerant return line, the supplemental heat exchanger configured to accept the refrigerant from the first heat exchanger for supplemental cooling of the refrigerant and directing the refrigerant toward the refrigerant return line, the supplemental heat exchanger is positioned at a location with an ambient temperature lower than that of the refrigerant coming into the supplemental heat exchanger, at least at some periods during operation of the facility,
- a supplemental bypass line configured to direct the refrigerant from the first heat exchanger to the refrigerant return line and not through the supplemental heat exchanger, wherein the supplemental bypass line does not change the temperature of the refrigerant before directing the refrigerant to the refrigerant return line,
- at least one valve configured to direct the refrigerant either through or around the supplemental heat exchanger, wherein the at least one valve comprises an inlet valve positioned at an inlet of the supplemental heat exchanger and a supplemental valve positioned at the supplemental bypass line, wherein the inlet valve and the supplemental valve are configured to direct the refrigerant either through or around the supplemental heat exchanger,
- wherein the refrigerant return line originates from a point where refrigerant returning from the first heat exchanger, the second heat exchanger, and the supplemental heat exchanger merge and extends to the refrigerant source.
5 more elements
A cooling system for a facility employing equipment requiring active cooling, the cooling system comprising:
- a refrigerant supply line providing refrigerant from a refrigerant source,
- a refrigerant return line configured for directing the refrigerant toward the refrigerant source for cooling and recirculating of the refrigerant at the refrigerant source and further toward the refrigerant supply line,
- a first heat exchanger configured to use the refrigerant directed from the refrigerant supply line and circulating through the first heat exchanger to cool air or liquid passing through the first heat exchanger and used for active cooling of the equipment in the facility,
- a supplemental heat exchanger fluidly connected to and positioned downstream of the first heat exchanger,
- a supplemental bypass line configured to optionally direct at least some refrigerant from the first heat exchanger directly to the refrigerant return line and not through the supplemental heat exchanger, wherein the supplemental bypass line does not change the temperature of the refrigerant before directing the refrigerant to the refrigerant return line,
- at least one valve configured to optionally direct the at least some refrigerant through or around the supplemental heat exchanger,
- at least one or more temperature sensors configured to detect (i) refrigerant temperature after passing through the first heat exchanger, and (ii) an ambient temperature,
- wherein the supplemental heat exchanger having a supplemental refrigerant inlet configured to receive at least some refrigerant flow from the first heat exchanger for supplemental cooling, and a supplemental refrigerant outlet configured to direct the incoming refrigerant flow toward the refrigerant return line,
- wherein the supplemental heat exchanger is positioned at a location with an ambient temperature lower than that of the refrigerant coming into the supplemental heat exchanger, at least at some periods during operation of the facility,
- wherein the cooling system further comprising a controller with a processor configured to receive temperature signals from at least the one or more temperature sensors, wherein the controller is configured to actuate at least one valve to direct the at least some refrigerant flow through the supplemental heat exchanger when the refrigerant temperature is above the ambient temperature.
7 more elements
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.