Patent Application
20200248667
The subject matter herein generally relates to data center with energy conservation ability.
The size of data center is increasing to accommodate big data. As a result, the data center generates a huge amount of heat. In related art, air cooling is generally used for cooling the data center. The heat generated by the data center is directly exhausted to the outdoors, and therefore is lost.
Thus, there is room for improvement in the art.
Implementations of the present disclosure will be described, by way of example only, with reference to the figure.
It will be appreciated that for simplicity and clarity of illustration, where appropriate, reference numerals have been repeated among the different figures to indicate corresponding or analogous elements. In addition, numerous specific details are set forth in order to provide a thorough understanding of the embodiments described herein. However, it will be understood by those of ordinary skill in the art that the embodiments described herein can be practiced without these specific details. In other instances, methods, procedures, and components have not been described in detail so as not to obscure the related relevant feature being described. The drawings are not necessarily to scale and the proportions of certain parts may be exaggerated to better illustrate details and features. The description is not to be considered as limiting the scope of the embodiments described herein.
The term “outside” refers to a region that is beyond the outermost confines of a physical object. The term “inside” indicates a region that is within a boundary formed by the object. The term “comprising” means “including, but not necessarily limited to”; it specifically indicates open-ended inclusion or membership in a so-described combination, group, series, and the like. The disclosure is illustrated by way of example and not by way of limitation in the figures of the accompanying drawings in which like references indicate similar elements. It should be noted that references to “an” or “one” embodiment in this disclosure are not necessarily to the same embodiment, and such references can mean “at least one.”
The present disclosure describes a data center with the ability to conserve energy.
The at least one casing 10 defines an exhaust vent 14 at a junction of the at least one casing 10 and the exhausting pipe 30. The at least one casing 10 further defines an intake vent 12. The intake vent 12 is located at an end of the at least one casing 10 facing away from the exhaust vent 14. In one embodiment, the at least one casing 10 can be a container, a machine room, or a building unit, not being limited.
The heat generating portion 20 generates heat while the heat generating portion 20 being powered. The heat generating portion 20 is received in the at least one casing 10. In one embodiment, the heat generating portion 20 can be one or more electronic devices, such as a server, a storage medium, or a communication device, not being limited.
Cold air flows into the at least one casing 10 through the intake vent 12, and passes through the heat generating portion 20 for cooling the heat generating portion 20, thus a flow of hot air is formed, and flows to the exhaust vent 14. The hot airflow flows into the exhausting pipe 30 through the exhaust vent 14.
Air density of the hot airflow passing through the exhaust vent 14 is lower than air density of air outside the exhausting pipe 30, thus the hot airflow flows upwardly along the exhausting pipe 30 towards the outside. A force of the hot airflow exhausting from the exhausting pipe 30 drives the power generator 40 in the exhausting pipe 30 to generate electric energy. The greater the difference between the air density of the hot airflow in the exhausting pipe 30 and the air outside the exhausting pipe 30, the greater is the force that is generated. The greater the amount of the hot airflow exhausting from the exhausting pipe 30, the greater is the force of the hot airflow.
The power generator 40 is electrically connected to the heat generating portion 20, and powers the heat generating portion 20. In one embodiment, the power generator 40 is a wind-powered generator.
In one embodiment, the data center 100 includes two casings 10. The two casings 10 are provided oppositely to each other. The exhausting pipe 30 is perpendicularly located between the two casings 10. In other embodiments, the data center 100 can include more than two casings 10. The more than two casings 10 surround the exhausting pipe 30, and communicate with the exhausting pipe 30. The number of the casings 10 is adjustable based on an actual requirement.
Preferably, the data center 100 further includes a rectifier 50. The rectifier 50 electrically connects between the heat generating portion 20 and the power generator 40. The rectifier 50 further electrically connects with a public power grid 90.
The rectifier 50 can process the electrical energy generated by the power generator 40 and by the public power grid 90, and output a stable electrical energy to power the heat generating portion 20. The rectifier 50 further processes the electrical energy from the power generator 40 to the public power grid 90, thus excess electrical energy generated by the power generator 40 is transferred to the public power grid 90.
The rectifier 50 further determines whether the electrical energy generated by the power generator 40 meets a powering requirement, and further controls the heat generating portion 20 to adjust a manner of power use by the heat generating portion 20 based on the result.
While the electrical energy generated by the power generator 40 is sufficient for the powering requirement, the rectifier 50 controls the power generator 40 to directly power the heat generating portion 20. The excess electrical energy generated by the power generator 40 is further sold to the public power grid 90. While the electrical energy generated by the power generator 40 does not meet the powering requirement, the rectifier 50 allows and controls the public power grid 90 to power the heat generating portion 20. The heat generating portion 20 can thus be powered by the power generator 40 and the public power grid 90.
The data center 100 can further include a heat collecting module 60. The heat collecting module 60 can include a heat collector 62, a heat radiator 64, and a heat transferring portion 66.
The heat collector 62 connects with the heat radiator 64 through the heat transferring portion 66. The heat collector 62 is located outdoors, and collects solar energy. The heat transferring portion 66 includes a heating medium (not shown), and transfers the solar energy collected by the heat collector 62 to the heat radiator 64. The heat radiator 64 is located between the power generator 40 and the exhaust vent 14, and applies solar energy towards heating the hot airflow from the exhaust vent 14 into the base of the exhausting pipe 30. The force of the hot airflow flowing upwardly is thus increased, and the electrical energy output by the power generator 40 is also increased.
In one embodiment, the data center 100 can further include a heater 70 and an auxiliary heating portion 80. The auxiliary heating portion 80 is located at base of exhausting pipe 30 and at an end of the at least one casing 10 with the exhaust vent 14. A first opening is defined at a junction portion of the auxiliary heating portion 80 and the exhausting pipe 30. The auxiliary heating portion 80 further defines a second opening 84 at an end of the auxiliary heating portion 80 facing away from the first opening 82. The heater 70 in the auxiliary heating portion 80 is located between the first opening 82 and the second opening 84. The heater 70 heats a cold air at the second opening 84 to form a hot airflow. The hot airflow flows into the exhausting pipe 30 by passing through the first opening 82. The hot airflow increases the amount and the temperature of the hot airflow at the base of the exhausting pipe 30, thus the force of the hot airflow in the exhausting pipe 30 is increased.
In one embodiment, the heater 70 can generate heat by chemical activity, such as by burning combustibles. In other embodiments, the heater 70 can generate heat in a mechanical compression manner, such as a cylinder compression manner.
In one embodiment, the exhausting pipe 30 is a chimney.
Based on the structure of the data center 100, the hot airflow is exhausted from the exhausting pipe 30 to power the power generator 40. The power generator 40 generates the electrical energy driven by the hot airflow, and powers the heat generating portion 20. Thus, energy utilization is improved, reducing consumption and cost.
While various and preferred embodiments have been described the disclosure is not limited thereto. On the contrary, various modifications and similar arrangements (as would be apparent to those skilled in the art) are also intended to be covered. Therefore, the scope of the appended claims should be accorded the broadest interpretation so as to encompass all such modifications and similar arrangements.
| Number | Date | Country | Kind |
|---|---|---|---|
| 201910095771.6 | Jan 2019 | CN | national |
