Patent Application
20240230125
This application claims priority to Chinese Patent Application No. 202310020004.5, titled “AIR-CONDITIONING SYSTEM FOR DATA COMPUTER ROOM AND METHOD FOR CONTROLLING OPERATION OF HUMIDIFYING APPARATUS THEREOF” and filed to the China National Intellectual Property Administration on Jan. 6, 2023, the entire contents of which are incorporated herein by reference.
The present disclosure relates to the field of air conditioning in a data center, and more particularly, to an air-conditioning system for a data computer room and a method for controlling operation of a humidifying apparatus thereof.
With the development of scale and integration of data centers, power density and heat density of server devices are increasing day by day, which brings two problems as below. In one aspect, consumption of electricity in computer rooms has increased significantly. In another aspect, cooling issues of servers have become increasingly severe because a large amount of energy is consumed. Furthermore, due to unreasonable cooling regulation, device shutdown may occur due to overheating.
Traditional computer rooms adopt mechanical refrigeration, which accounts for over 35% of energy consumption of the computer rooms. Therefore, reducing the energy consumption of air conditioners in the computer rooms and maintaining a constant temperature and humidity state inside data computer rooms have been a key direction of technological pursuit for a long time.
Existing air conditioning units may directly send cold gas into the computer rooms after refrigeration, which may easily lead to uneven temperature of cold air entering the computer rooms, causing larger local temperature differences, and thus making it impossible to maintain the constant temperature and humidity state in the computer rooms as a whole.
An objective of the present disclosure is to provide an air-conditioning system for a data computer room and a method for controlling operation of a humidifying apparatus thereof, which can achieve uniform and consistent temperature of cold air in the computer room, while maintaining a constant temperature and humidity state inside the computer room.
To achieve the above objective, in one aspect the present disclosure provides an air-conditioning system for a data computer room, including an indoor unit, an outdoor unit, and a control apparatus. The indoor unit includes an evaporator, an indoor fan, and a gas mixer. The outdoor unit includes a condenser, a compressor, and an outdoor fan. The evaporator, the compressor, the condenser, the evaporator, and the gas mixer are sequentially interconnected to form a circulation circuit. The air-conditioning system for the data computer room also includes a humidifying apparatus electrically connected to the control apparatus.
As a further improvement of the above technical solutions, the humidifying apparatus employs an atomization humidifier, which includes a water tank, a booster water pump, and an atomization nozzle; where the booster water pump is arranged inside the water tank. A suction end and a discharge end of the booster water pump are respectively connected to the water tank and the atomization nozzle, such that water is pressurized and then discharged through the atomization nozzle.
As a further improvement of the above technical solutions, the water tank is connected to an external water supply pipeline.
As a further improvement of the above technical solutions, the humidifying apparatus employs a wet-film humidifier, which includes a wet film, a humidifying fan, and a sprinkler apparatus. The wet film is supplied with water through the sprinkler apparatus, and the humidifying fan is arranged on a side of the wet film to evaporate water on the wet film.
As a further improvement of the above technical solutions, an electronic expansion valve is provided on a pipeline connecting the condenser to the evaporator to regulate a flow rate of a liquid flowing into the evaporator.
As a further improvement of the above technical solutions, the gas mixer includes a shell and a gas inlet and a gas outlet arranged at two ends of the shell, where the shell has a cavity interconnected to both the gas inlet and the gas outlet. The gas inlet includes an air inlet pipe and a cold gas inlet pipe, where the cold gas inlet pipe is interconnected to one of outlets of the evaporator. An outlet end of the air inlet pipe is provided with a nozzle, which can concentrate air and spray the air into the cavity.
As a further improvement of the above technical solutions, the gas mixer also includes a valve body connected to the air inlet pipe.
As a further improvement of the above technical solutions, the control apparatus at least includes a humidity sensor and a controller, where the humidity sensor is electrically connected to the controller. Number of the humidity sensors is at least two, and the at least two humidity sensors are arranged inside and outside the computer room, respectively.
To achieve the above objective, in another aspect the present disclosure also provides a method for controlling operation of a humidifying apparatus of an air-conditioning system for a data computer room. The method includes: S1: obtaining real-time indoor and outdoor humidity of the computer room by means of a humidity sensor; S2: setting a humidity threshold H for the indoor humidity; S3: calculating a differential D1 between the outdoor humidity and the indoor humidity, and a differential D2 between the indoor humidity and the humidity threshold H, and performing interval partition on the differential D1 and the differential D2 to form a plurality of differential intervals; S4: selecting to switch on or off the humidifying apparatus according to the differential D2; and S5: separately recording humidification duration required for the indoor humidity to reach the humidity threshold H in different differential intervals.
As a further improvement of the above technical solutions, operating time of the humidifying apparatus is set according to the humidification duration required for different differential intervals. When the indoor humidity hasn't reached the humidity threshold H after the operating time is over, the indoor humidity at this moment and the operating time of the humidifying apparatus are stored and reported to the controller.
As can be seen, by providing the gas mixer to mix the cold air with the air in the computer room, mixed air with a uniform target temperature can be obtained and sent to a cooling server device in the computer room, which can achieve precise control of temperature of the air in the data computer room. Energy consumption of air conditioning units can be minimized because demands for uniform cooling of servers in the computer room are satisfied by precise investment of less compressor refrigeration.
Furthermore, in the present disclosure, the operating time of the humidifying apparatus in the computer room is regulated by means of the control apparatus, which can accurately control the operating time of the humidifying apparatus based on a set indoor humidity threshold and a humidity differential. In this way, output power of the humidifying apparatus is reduced, and the energy consumption of the air-conditioning system for the data computer room is reduced, thereby achieving the objectives of energy conservation and constant temperature and humidity inside the computer room.
To describe the technical solutions of the embodiments of the present disclosure more clearly, the accompanying drawings required in the description of the embodiments will be briefly introduced below. Apparently, the accompanying drawings in the following description are merely some embodiments of the present disclosure. To those of ordinary skills in the art, other accompanying drawings may also be derived from these accompanying drawings without creative efforts.
Reference numerals in the figures: indoor unit 1; evaporator 101; indoor fan 102; gas mixer 103; outdoor unit 2; condenser 201; compressor 202; outdoor fan 203; humidifying apparatus 3; humidity sensor 4; and controller 5.
To make the objectives, technical solutions and advantages of the present disclosure clearer, the embodiments of the present disclosure will be further described in detail below with reference to the accompanying drawings. The terms such as “upper”, “above”, “lower” , “below”, “first end”, “second end”, “one end”, “other end” 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 a device in use or operation other than the orientations shown in the accompanying drawings. For example, a unit that is described as “below” or “under” other units or features will be “above” the other units or features when the device in the accompanying drawings is turned upside down. Thus, the exemplary term “below” may 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, terms “installed”, “arranged”, “provided”, “connection”, “sliding connection”, “fixed”, and “sleeved” should be understood in a broad sense. 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 internal communication between two apparatuses, elements, or components. The specific significations of the above terms in the present disclosure may be understood in the light of specific conditions by persons of ordinary skill in the art.
In this embodiment, as shown in
Specifically, heat inside the computer room may convert a liquid refrigerant of the evaporator 101 into a gaseous refrigerant by means of the indoor fan 102, and the gaseous refrigerant is transported to the compressor 202. The compressor 202 can compress the low-temperature and low-pressure gaseous refrigerant into high-temperature and high-pressure gaseous refrigerant. Next, the refrigerant flows through the condenser 201 and is condensed into a liquid refrigerant at room temperature and high pressure. Next, the liquid refrigerant flows through the evaporator 101 and becomes a low-temperature and low-pressure gaseous refrigerant, which is then transported to the gas mixer 103. Gas mixed by the gas mixer 103 may directly enter the computer room. In this way, after cold air sent into the computer room is mixed by the gas mixer 103, mixed air with a uniform target temperature can be obtained, which can achieve precise control of temperature of the air in the data computer room.
In practical applications, an electronic expansion valve is arranged on a pipeline connecting the condenser 201 to the evaporator 101 to regulate a flow rate and reduce pressure of the liquid entering the evaporator 101.
In the solutions of the present disclosure, the indoor fan 102 sucks humid air at room temperature in the computer room, and water vapor in the sucked humid air is liquefied by the evaporator 101 and then is discharged through a hose connected to the evaporator 101. Dry air cooled by the evaporator 101 is heated by the condenser 201 to reach an appropriate relative humidity. In this way, the humid air in the computer room is cooled and dehumidified.
Furthermore, when the refrigerant circulates and flows through the compressor 202, the condenser 201, the electronic expansion valve, and the evaporator 101 in sequence, the indoor unit 1 and the outdoor unit 2 may undergo internal circulation dehumidification by changing form, temperature and pressure of the refrigerant.
In an implementable embodiment, a cold source of the condenser 201 comes from a cold source component connected thereto, and the cold source component includes a cooling water pump, a water chilling unit, and a cooling tower connected sequentially. The water chilling unit is configured to provide chilled water to the condenser 201, and the cooling tower can take away the heat generated by the water chilling unit. In this way, during use the air-conditioning system has two modes, that is, refrigeration dehumidification and cooling dehumidification.
To ensure that ambient temperature and humidity inside the data computer room are maintained in a constant temperature and humidity state, in an implementable embodiment, a humidifying apparatus 3 is also arranged in the computer room. The humidifying apparatus 3 employs an atomization humidifier, which includes a water tank, a booster water pump, and an atomization nozzle. The booster water pump is arranged inside the water tank, and a suction end and a discharge end of the booster water pump are respectively connected to the water tank and the atomization nozzle, such that water in the water tank can be pressurized and then discharged through the atomization nozzle. In this way, the humidifying apparatus 3 can achieve rapid humidification of the data computer room.
In practical applications, the water tank is also connected to an external water supply pipeline, which provides sufficient water source for humidification.
Different from the mode of using the atomization humidifier, in another implementable embodiment, the humidifying apparatus 3 employs a wet-film humidifier, which includes a wet film, a humidifying fan, and a sprinkler apparatus. The sprinkler apparatus uses water pipes or other water supply devices to spray water onto the wet film, such that the wet film absorbs sufficient moisture. The humidifying fan is arranged on a side of the wet film, and the moisture on the wet film is evaporated through the humidifying fan, enabling the humidifying apparatus 3 to humidify the data computer room. After the humidifying fan and the sprinkler apparatus are turned off, continuous humidification can be carried out when there is still moisture on the wet film.
The gas mixer 103 is configured to mix two different gases. The gas mixer 103 includes a shell and a gas inlet and a gas outlet arranged at two ends of the shell, where the shell has a cavity. After entering the cavity through the gas inlet, the two gases are mixed inside the cavity. Specifically, there are provided two gas inlets, i.e. an air inlet pipe and a cold gas inlet pipe, and the cold gas inlet pipe is interconnected to one of outlets of the evaporator 101.
In practical applications, an outlet end of the air inlet pipe is provided with a nozzle, through which air is sprayed out after it is concentrated, to impact areas where there is higher concentration of cold gas in mixed gas. In this way, under the action of airflow movement of the nozzle, the uneven mixed gas in the cavity can generate a relative motion in a direction of a movement section, which improves mixing uniformity of the mixed gas.
Further, the gas mixer 103 also includes a valve body for controlling a flow rate and a flow of the gas inside the air inlet pipe to achieve better mixing uniformity. To more accurately control the flow rate and the flow of the gas at an outlet of the nozzle, the valve body is arranged at an end of the air inlet pipe near the outlet. Of course, a bypass valve may also be arranged at a middle or an inlet of a bypass pipeline.
Still further, the valve body is an electric butterfly valve, which is automatically controlled by a controller. The electric butterfly valve is easy to turn on or off quickly, labor-saving, has lower fluid resistance, and can be operated frequently. The valve body may also be a gate valve, a ball valve, or the like, but the present disclosure is not limited thereto.
In an implementable embodiment, the control apparatus includes a temperature sensor, a humidity sensor, and a controller. The temperature sensor, the humidity sensor 4, and the humidifying apparatus 3 are all electrically connected to the controller 5. In practical applications, inside and outside the data computer room there are provided with the temperature sensor and the humidity sensor 4 to monitor indoor and outdoor humidity and temperature in real time.
During the operation of the air-conditioning system, the indoor fan 102 and the evaporator 101 match up with each other to continuously dehumidify the computer room. To ensure the constant temperature and humidity state in the computer room, in addition to regulating the indoor temperature by means of the temperature sensor, with reference to
S1: obtaining real-time indoor and outdoor humidity of the computer room by means of a humidity sensor;
S2: setting a humidity threshold H for the indoor humidity;
S3: calculating a differential D1 between the outdoor humidity and the indoor humidity, and a differential D2 between the indoor humidity and the humidity threshold H, and performing interval partition on the differential D1 and the differential D2 to form a plurality of differential intervals;
S4: selecting to switch on or off the humidifying apparatus according to the differential D2; and
S5: separately recording humidification duration required for the indoor humidity to reach the humidity threshold H in different differential intervals.
Specifically, when the humidifying apparatus 3 runs for the first time, it is required to determine the differential interval between the differential D1 and the differential D2, and it is selected whether to turn on the humidifying apparatus 3 based on the differential D2. That is, the humidifying apparatus 3 is turned off when the indoor humidity is higher than the set humidity threshold H, and the humidifying apparatus 3 is turned on when the indoor humidity is lower than the set humidity threshold H. When the indoor humidity is lower than the set humidity threshold H, it is recorded duration required for the indoor humidity to reach the humidity threshold H within the current differential interval, and it is recorded time consumed for the indoor humidity to gradually decrease below the humidity threshold H after the humidifying apparatus 3 is turned off, to determine humidification capacity of the humidifying apparatus 3.
Operating time of the humidifying apparatus 3 is set according to the humidification duration required for different differential intervals. When the indoor humidity hasn't reached the humidity threshold H after the operating time is over, the indoor humidity at this moment and the operating time of the humidifying apparatus 3 are stored and reported to the controller 5.
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.
| Number | Date | Country | Kind |
|---|---|---|---|
| 202310020004.5 | Jan 2023 | CN | national |
