The present disclosure relates to precision air conditioners. Various embodiments of the teachings herein include dynamic prediction control methods and/or systems for a precision air conditioner.
In a data center, management of heat and energy are crucial for reducing performance usage effectiveness (PUE) and for protecting smooth operation of IT devices. The IT devices comprise server racks, blade servers, etc. An HVAC system, especially a computer room air conditioner (CRAC) unit, is responsible for most energy loss besides IT devices. Due to reduced cooling requirements, an average temperature increase of 1 degree centigrade inside a data center can result in a 4%-5% energy saving. Therefore, dynamically analyzing a heating power operating condition has much potential for improving energy performance of energy of a data center and other intelligent infrastructure, and can reduce operating costs.
Today, most solutions on the market come from a hardware end, for example, by means of upgrading a CRAC unit, redesigning a ventilation system, physical accessories of a server rack, or using another medium to replace an HVAC system. From the perspective of software solutions, some data center management systems provide a work allocation function to adjust server load, so as to reduce thermal energy production and save on energy. However, these methods lack coordination with overall heat distribution, and merely depend on empirical calculations. Recently, a simulation with CFD software has been used to obtain kinetic energy thereof to provide details of thermal energy performance of a data center; however, the application thereof is mainly limited to the design stage. For example, before any actual change occurs, some companies have tried using CFD software 6SigmaDC, for testing and verifying data centers thereof, to act as a virtual test platform. Some companies, for their own software, have also provided data center infrastructure management (DCIM) development kits, which can bring extra capabilities for complex energy and heat management challenges. In this type of scenario, a dynamic prediction and optimization tool/system for heat and energy management can help provide a bridge between hardware and software solutions.
Some example embodiments of the teachings herein include a dynamic prediction control method for a precision air conditioner, wherein the method comprises: S1, generating a three-dimensional simulation model, on the basis of a simulation template, according to static information of a hardware configuration and layout of an application scene where the precision air conditioner is located, wherein the three-dimensional simulation model and a static model of the hardware configuration and layout of the application scene correspond to each other; S2, running a simulation on the basis of a dynamic parameter of the precision air conditioner corresponding to the three-dimensional simulation model, and establishing a correspondence relationship between the dynamic parameter and a simulation result using machine learning, so as to generate a proxy model; and S3, predicting a temperature distribution and change of the application scene on the basis of the proxy model and real-time dynamic data of the precision air conditioner.
In some embodiments, the dynamic prediction control method further comprises iteratively optimizing a control parameter of at least one said precision air conditioner, on the basis of the three-dimensional simulation model and/or the proxy model, wherein the control parameters comprise number of air conditioners turned on, supply air temperature and flow rate.
In some embodiments, the dynamic prediction control method for a precision air conditioner further comprises, according to a load plan of hardware configuration of the application scene and a power curve thereof, comparing a space temperature requirement of said application scene and a first predetermined threshold value, and if it is judged that refrigeration of the precision air conditioner is insufficient or the refrigeration is excessive, then adjusting an operating parameter of the precision air conditioner or adjusting the load plan of the application scene.
In some embodiments, the dynamic prediction control method for the precision air conditioner further comprises comparing an actual value of a physical sensor of the hardware configuration of the application scene with a predicted value of the simulation model, and if a deviation between the actual value and the predicted value exceeds a second predetermined threshold value, then adjusting a static parameter, and on the basis of a change of the static parameter, generating a parameter model, and using a simulator of computational fluid dynamics to make a prediction.
In some embodiments, the three-dimensional simulation model is based on computational fluid dynamics, and numerically simulates and calculates mass, energy and momentum transfer generated in a fluid flow process in three-dimensional space, and graphically presents calculation results of temperature, pressure and speed of fluid in the application scene space by means of a contour plot or line graph.
As another example, some embodiments include a dynamic prediction control system for a precision air conditioner, the system comprising: a processor; and a memory coupled to the processor, the memory having an instruction stored therein, and the instruction, when executed by the processor, causing the dynamic prediction control system for a precision air conditioner to execute an action, the action comprising: S1, according to static information of a hardware configuration and layout of an application scene where the precision air conditioner is located, generating a three-dimensional simulation model on the basis of a simulation template, wherein the three-dimensional simulation model and a static model of the hardware configuration and layout of the application scene correspond to each other; S2, running a simulation on the basis of a dynamic parameter of the precision air conditioner corresponding to the three-dimensional simulation model, and establishing a correspondence relationship between the dynamic parameter and a simulation result using machine learning, so as to generate a proxy model; and S3, predicting a temperature distribution and change of the application scene on the basis of the proxy model and real-time dynamic data of the precision air conditioner.
In some embodiments, the action of the dynamic prediction control system for a precision air conditioner further comprises iteratively optimizing a control parameter of at least one said precision air conditioner, on the basis of the three-dimensional simulation model and/or the proxy model, wherein the control parameters comprise number of air conditioners turned on, supply air temperature and flow rate.
In some embodiments, the action comprises, according to a load plan of hardware configuration of the application scene and a power curve thereof, comparing a space temperature requirement of said application scene and a first predetermined threshold value, and if it is judged that refrigeration of the precision air conditioner is insufficient or the refrigeration is excessive, then adjusting an operating parameter of the precision air conditioner or adjusting the load plan of the application scene.
In some embodiments, the action comprises comparing an actual value of a physical sensor of the hardware configuration of the application scene with a predicted value of the simulation model, and if a deviation between the actual value and the predicted value exceeds a second predetermined threshold value, then adjusting a static parameter, and on the basis of a change of the static parameter, generating a parameter model, and using a simulator of computational fluid dynamics to make a prediction.
In some embodiments, the three-dimensional simulation model is based on computational fluid dynamics, and numerically simulates and calculates mass, energy and momentum transfer generated in a fluid flow process in three-dimensional space, and graphically presents calculation results of temperature, pressure and speed of fluid in the application scene space by means of a contour plot or line graph.
As another example, some embodiments include a dynamic prediction control apparatus for a precision air conditioner, wherein the apparatus comprises: a generation apparatus, which, according to static information of a hardware configuration and layout of an application scene where the precision air conditioner is located, generates a three-dimensional simulation model on the basis of a simulation template, wherein the three-dimensional simulation model and a static model of the hardware configuration and layout of the application scene correspond to each other; a simulation apparatus, which runs a simulation on the basis of a dynamic parameter of the precision air conditioner corresponding to the three-dimensional simulation and establishes a model, correspondence relationship between the dynamic parameter and a simulation result using machine learning, so as to generate a proxy model; and a prediction apparatus, which predicts a temperature distribution and change of the application scene on the basis of the proxy model and real-time dynamic data of the precision air conditioner.
As another example, some embodiments include a computer program product, the computer program product being tangibly stored on a computer readable medium and comprising a computer executable instruction, and the computer executable instruction, when executed, causing at least one processor to execute one or more of the methods described herein.
As another example, some embodiments include a computer readable medium, a computer executable instruction being stored thereon, and the computer executable instruction, when executed, causing at least one processor to execute any one of the methods described herein.
A dynamic prediction control mechanism for a precision air conditioner incorporating teachings of the present disclosure may fill a gap in dynamic monitoring and optimization systems between hardware and data center management software, for example, energy management and task scheduling, so that an operator may more clearly understand and control heat performance of precision air conditioner operation. The optimized features obtained on the basis of a physical simulator may help to reduce unnecessary energy loss at the power supply side, and do not affect daily operating conditions of IT devices nor require an excessive number of physical sensors. In addition, an irregularity detection module can provide an early warning of a potential system fault, to avoid unnecessary downtime.
Particular embodiments of the present invention are explained below with reference to the accompanying drawings. The teachings of the present disclosure include dynamic prediction control mechanisms for a precision air conditioner. On the basis of a digital twin, a dynamic prediction and optimization system for thermal management of a precision air conditioner application scene uses several data sources to model heating power performance of a hardware configuration and layout of the application scene.
As shown in
A southbound interface 600 is connected to field data and another external system, and moreover, simultaneously provides a current operation state and recommendation, so as to perform adjustment or execute an external application. Demonstratively, the field data comprises a sensor from the precision air conditioner application scene and DDC control, said other external system comprises, for example, an application scene management system, and another external application comprises a task scheduling program. In addition, the dynamic prediction control system for a precision air conditioner further comprises an external interface P2, a sensor S, a data center management tool IT and a software interface P1.
The database 500 saves required system configurations, operating states and parameters of the monitoring prediction apparatus 100, optimization apparatus 200 and abnormality detection apparatus 300, and predetermined predictions or outputs of special analysis. The system configurations comprise data center server and ventilation system layout parameters, IT device IDs and power capacities, precision air conditioner unit IDs and power capacities, energy billing, etc. The operating states comprise sensor reading, load percentage of a single server, main positioning of a precision air conditioner unit, etc. The output data comprises virtual temperature distribution and predicted energy requirements, etc.
The monitoring prediction apparatus 100 executes data extraction from the database 500 at specific time intervals, for example 15 to 30 minutes. Every two groups of data should be considered to make a prediction, and dynamic data describes collected information of a precision air conditioner target application scene, that is dynamic data of operating states. The simulator 400 stores collected data in an XML file format. A simulation engine uses any CFD model; for example, a Flotherm model or proxy model (surrogate model) considers current operation state and temperature information predicted temperature distribution of application scene key positions, and uses a virtual sensor for display, to facilitate a runner to determine potential hotspots and assess an existing operating arrangement. A selection of a simulation policy is based on accuracy and availability of an empirical proxy model. When connected to a task scheduling system, the above-mentioned module can also predict future events, and if the current operating arrangement cannot satisfy expected temperature requirements, an early warning is issued for an operation of a demand end.
In addition, a graphical user interface (GUI) is a user interface of a user and dynamic prediction control for a precision air conditioner provided by the present invention.
The optimization apparatus 200 provides recommendations for operation or external applications from a supply end, for example defines optimized set points. Taking into account a minimization target and constraint of energy costs/losses, such as maximum server entrance data center server temperature, the above-mentioned module calls the optimizer to generate a series of operation parameters within a specific range, and the simulator tests and makes a corresponding prediction, the optimizer uses these predictions to further refine and recommend an optimization combination.
For example, if multiple precision air conditioner units are provided in an application scene, then the optimization module 200 can help to decide an optimized on/off schedule while keeping the temperature of a hardware configuration and layout of an application scene in a safe range. In another scenario, taking into account a specific temperature requirement or actual task load, the optimizer recommends one extra or fewer set point. If the subsequent next task is clear, such as the next task from a task scheduler system, the optimizer helps to search for an optimized task path and schedule, and at the same time, costs and time limits are taken into account.
The abnormality detection apparatus 300 compares saved data of a physical sensor in the database 500 and read data of a virtual sensor. The same deviation indicates a fault in a sensor or IT device, and, in this type of scenario, attention should be paid to operation and maintenance, in order to ensure safety and smooth operation of the hardware configuration and layout of the application scene.
An example dynamic prediction control method for a precision air conditioner incorporating teachings of the present disclosure comprises generating a three-dimensional simulation model, on the basis of a simulation template, according to static information of a hardware configuration and layout of an application scene where the precision air conditioner is located, wherein the three-dimensional simulation model and a static model of the hardware configuration and layout of the application scene correspond to each other.
In the present embodiment, it is supposed that an application scene of the precision air conditioner is a data center, a target data center has multiple cabinets, multiple servers are placed on each cabinet, and the data center is further provided with an individual data center management system (DCIM). To guarantee the regular operation of the data center servers, the data center is equipped with three precision air conditioners (CRAC), which cool the space by supplying air through a perforated floor, the supply air temperature is 15-22 degrees, and if relying on feedback of completely physical temperature sensors to execute control of a precision air conditioner, then problems exist such as timeliness and precision of computer room temperature control being poorer, and a power usage efficiency (PUE) and air conditioner energy consumption being too high.
Therefore, according to static data in the database 500, combined with a software preset parametrized simulation template, a three-dimensional simulation model of the data center is rapidly generated, and said simulation model must mutually correspond with a physical model; for example, numbers of cabinets and air conditioners of the data center and the above-mentioned hardware positions should all correspond to those of the three-dimensional simulation model on a one-to-one basis.
In some embodiments, the three-dimensional simulation model is a three-dimensional simulation model based on computational fluid dynamics, and using a computer, numerically simulates and calculates mass, energy and momentum transfer generated in a fluid flow process in three-dimensional space, and graphically presents calculation results such as temperature, pressure and speed by means of a contour plot or line graph. The graphical presentation is optionally in the monitoring prediction apparatus 100.
In some embodiments, the three-dimensional simulation model is a geometric model, and in the present embodiment, comprises a data center computer room model and layout, cabinet model and layout, precision air conditioner device model, etc., and the above-mentioned models and layouts may be imported from third-party software. Simulation and calculation of the three-dimensional simulation model requires introducing boundary conditions, the boundary conditions comprising environment temperature, surface material heat transfer coefficient, server heating power, inflow air temperature and speed, etc., to correspond to the operating condition to be predicted or simulated. The solver may be generic software, and has mature support in the prior art, and for the sake of simplicity and clarity, is not described here superfluously.
In some embodiments, the static information is system configuration information; for example, in the present embodiment, the static information comprises information such as the number, positions and orientations of cabinets of a data center, and each server serial number and corresponding power curve, ventilation layout, perforated floor layout and degree of opening, air conditioner device number, serial power curve, maximum refrigeration amount, etc.
The example method further includes the simulator 400 running a simulation on the basis of a dynamic parameter of the precision air conditioner corresponding to the three-dimensional simulation model, and establishing a correspondence relationship between the dynamic parameter and a simulation result using machine learning, so as to generate a proxy model.
Subsequently, the example method includes predicting a temperature distribution and change of the application scene on the basis of the proxy model and real-time dynamic data of the precision air conditioner.
In some embodiments, on the basis of an established three-dimensional simulation model, operating conditions of different precision air conditioners corresponding to different dynamic parameters and an application scene thereof are introduced to run simulations multiple times, simulation results comprising temperature, pressure, speed, etc. are stored in a database, and then machine learning is used to establish a correspondence relationship between the dynamic parameters and simulation results, to generate a proxy model (surrogate model). The simulation results are simply values of a virtual sensor. The proxy model is based on a search table or correspondence relationship.
In some embodiments, as shown in
Empirical models or high-fidelity CFD tools are both capable of being used as simulation engines to adapt to actual operation requirements or different accuracies and speeds of a front-end application, for example being Flotherm. CFD tools are simulation software for computational fluid dynamics, and input the above-mentioned parameters, as a parameter model M1, into a three-dimensional model, and the output is a three-dimensional temperature distribution spatial flow field of space. The spatial flow field is velocity of airflow, and spatial streamlines are flow paths of air. Next, a calculator 410 performs a calculation on the basis of the three-dimensional temperature distribution spatial flow field output by the CFD tool and a proxy model M2, and outputs prediction information to the monitoring prediction apparatus 100. Next, the monitoring prediction apparatus 100 sends a reading C of a virtual sensor and warning information D to a client.
The proxy model M2 is a rapid response model returned according to a high-precision simulation model, for example being modeled on the basis of fluid dynamics. After the simulation model has a certain amount of data, a rapid proxy model responds in a timely manner to real-time changes. The parameter model M1 performs rapid modeling according to the above-mentioned parameters on the basis of a simulation template.
Furthermore, as shown in
In some embodiments, the dynamic prediction control method for the precision air conditioner further comprises: according to a load plan of hardware configuration of the application scene and a power curve thereof, comparing a space temperature requirement of said application scene and a first predetermined threshold value, and if it is judged that refrigeration of the precision air conditioner is insufficient or the refrigeration is excessive, then adjusting an operating parameter of the precision air conditioner or adjusting the load plan of the application scene.
Furthermore, as shown in
As shown in
Cabinet inflow air temperature and cabinet supply air temperature of a data center also have a positive correlation relationship, that is, the higher the cabinet inflow air temperature, the higher the cabinet supply air temperature. Demonstratively, cabinet heating powers corresponding to the different bar charts are respectively 1000 W, 2000 W, 3000 W, 4000 W and 5000 W. A maximum range for cabinet inflow air temperature that can be set, for a certain load, in order to control cabinet outflow air temperature, can be roughly obtained from
As shown in
Some embodiments of the teachings herein include a dynamic prediction control system for a precision air conditioner, the system comprising: a processor; and a memory coupled to the processor, the memory having an instruction stored therein, and the instruction, when executed by the processor, causing the dynamic prediction control system for a precision air conditioner to execute an action, the action comprising: S1, according to static information of a hardware configuration and layout of an application scene where the precision air conditioner is located, generating a three-dimensional simulation model on the basis of a simulation template, wherein the three-dimensional simulation model and a static model of the hardware configuration and layout of the application scene correspond to each other; S2, running a simulation on the basis of a dynamic parameter of the precision air conditioner corresponding to the three-dimensional simulation model, and establishing a correspondence relationship between the dynamic parameter and a simulation result using machine learning, so as to generate a proxy model; and S3, predicting a temperature distribution and change of the application scene on the basis of the proxy model and real-time dynamic data of the precision air conditioner.
Furthermore, the dynamic prediction control system for the precision air conditioner further comprises the following step: iteratively optimizing a control parameter of at least one said precision air conditioner, on the basis of the three-dimensional simulation model and/or the proxy model, wherein the control parameters comprise number of air conditioners turned on, supply air temperature and flow rate.
In some embodiments, the action comprises according to a load plan of the hardware configuration of the application scene and a power curve thereof, comparing a space temperature requirement of said application scene and a first predetermined threshold value, and if it is judged that refrigeration of the precision air conditioner is insufficient or the refrigeration is excessive, then adjusting an operating parameter of the precision air conditioner or adjusting the load plan of the application scene.
In some embodiments, the action comprises: comparing an actual value of a physical sensor of the hardware configuration of the application scene with a predicted value of the simulation model, and if a deviation between the actual value and the predicted value exceeds a second predetermined threshold value, then adjusting a static parameter, and on the basis of a change of the static parameter, generating a parameter model, and using a simulator of computational fluid dynamics to make a prediction.
In some embodiments, the three-dimensional simulation model is based on computational fluid dynamics, and numerically simulates and calculates mass, energy and momentum transfer generated in a fluid flow process in three-dimensional space, and graphically presents calculation results of temperature, pressure and speed of fluid in the application scene space, by means of a contour plot or line graph.
Some embodiments of the teachings herein include a dynamic prediction control apparatus for a precision air conditioner, wherein the apparatus comprises: a generation apparatus, which generates a three-dimensional simulation model, on the basis of a simulation template, according to static information of a hardware configuration and layout of an application scene where the precision air conditioner is located, wherein the three-dimensional simulation model and a static model of the hardware configuration and layout of the application scene correspond to each other; a simulation apparatus, which runs a simulation on the basis of a dynamic parameter of the precision air conditioner corresponding to the three-dimensional simulation model, and establishes a correspondence relationship between the dynamic parameter and a simulation result using machine learning, so as to generate a proxy model; and a prediction apparatus, which predicts a temperature distribution and change of the application scene on the basis of the proxy model and real-time dynamic data of the precision air conditioner.
Some embodiments of the teachings herein include a computer program product tangibly stored on a computer readable medium and comprising a computer executable instruction, and the computer executable instruction, when executed, causing at least one processor to execute one or more of the methods described herein.
Some embodiments of the teachings herein include a computer readable medium, a computer executable instruction being stored thereon, and the computer readable instruction, when executed, causing at least one processor to execute any one of the methods described herein.
The dynamic prediction control mechanism for a precision air conditioner provided by the teachings of the present disclosure may fill a gap in dynamic monitoring and optimization systems between hardware and data center management software, for example, energy management and task scheduling, so that an operator may more clearly understand and control precision air conditioner operation to satisfy dynamic thermal management requirements of a data center. The optimized features obtained on the basis of a physical simulator help to reduce unnecessary energy loss at the power supply side, and do not affect daily operating conditions of IT devices nor require an excessive number of physical sensors. In addition, an irregularity detection module can provide an early warning of a potential system fault, to avoid unnecessary downtime.
Although the content of the present disclosure has already been presented in detail by means of the example embodiments above, it should be recognized that the above description should not be regarded as a restriction of the scope of the present disclosure. Various amendments and substitutions will be obvious to those skilled in the art after perusal of the content above. Thus, the scope of protection shall be defined by the appended claims.
In addition, no reference labels in the claims should be regarded as restricting the claims concerned; the word “comprise” does not exclude another apparatus or step not set out in claim or the description; and terms such as “first” and “second” are only used to indicate designations, not any specific order.
This application is a U.S. National Stage Application of International Application No. PCT/CN2021/111276 filed Aug. 6, 2021, which designates the United States of America, the contents of which are hereby incorporated by reference in their entirety.
Filing Document | Filing Date | Country | Kind |
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PCT/CN2021/111276 | 8/6/2021 | WO |