Patent Application
20170122633
Not Applicable
This invention relates to the assembly and integration of Variable Refrigerant Flow (VRF) inverter compressors, variable speed pumps, valves, control modules, sensors and closed loop variable volume refrigerant piping into a plurality configuration to be installed and operated within a data center to provide point to point, point to multipoint or multipoint to multipoint cooling capacity to various air handling systems located within a data center used to provide air conditioning throughout the data center and adjacent rooms. The invention also relates to the simultaneous supply of various temperature levels as temperature zones within the same environment utilizing the same system.
For many decades now telecommunications, cable television and large scale information services companies have constructed and operated “data” centers as central nodes for housing equipment, interconnecting voice and data circuits and storing information in large databases. These data centers have evolved from telephone switching centers and large scale computer rooms to modern day “server farms”.
Equipment miniaturization has increased the density of data traffic served by a single chip, computer processor and server array. Increases in fiber optic cable capacity, wireless network expansion and over-all density in deployment of broadband facilities which interconnect buildings, networks and people has increased the number of data centers and the density of equipment housed within these data center facilities.
Several standards for building and operating data centers exist and one of the standards is the control of the ambient air temperature within the data center which is integral in cooling of the electronics. It may be desirable to control the temperature within the data center within zones to conserve energy. The present invention introduces a new configuration for using variable refrigerant flow technology integrated with traditional air handlers used to cool the data center environment.
Traditionally, cooling systems were designed to operate on/off and thus are not efficient at partial loads. Existing facilities may need more cooling but have limited space for additional system components. The piping and ducting for typical systems is large and requires use of flame/welding to install. Also, compressors are typically located inside the indoor cooling cabinet.
Existing heat loads can be located inside a facility, which often times may be too far from the outside location of condenser equipment to be economically served by conventional systems.
The system in the present embodiment integrates Variable Refrigerant Flow (VRF) components and optimal placement of these components into indoor and outdoor units interconnected with a closed loop refrigerant piping network to: 1) Provide efficient cooling at all load conditions; 2) provide point to point, point to multipoint, or multipoint to multipoint configuration; and 3) allow long runs of refrigerant piping to reach existing heat loads.
The present invention simplifies the deployment of multipoint distributed variable refrigerant flow cooling systems within the data center. In short, the present invention works equally well in either a primary system or auxiliary system within the data center.
Although there are several apparatuses which may have various functions related to the variable refrigerant flow multipoint distributed chilled water cooling and control system for data centers, none of these either separately or in combination with each other, teach or anticipate the current invention. Therefore, there remains an unmet need in the field of data center cooling. The current invention will fulfill this unmet need.
The following presents a simplified summary in order to provide a basic understanding of some aspects of the disclosed invention. This summary is not an extensive overview, and it is not intended to identify key/critical elements or to delineate the scope thereof. Its sole purpose is to present some concepts in a simplified form as a prelude to the more detailed description that is presented later.
The present embodiment presents a multipoint capable cooling and control system consisting of integrated variable speed pumps, valves, coils, control modules, sensors and closed loop variable flow rate refrigerant piping network. The present embodiment consists of outdoor and indoor units within a data center which provides data center operators greater flexibility in deploying electronics requiring in-row temperature control and cold air flow circulation. The present invention provides for an integrated cooling and control package which remains compatible with traditional air handler systems and data center environments while expanding capacity of such systems.
The present embodiment as described provides for controllability of four aspects of the system which have not existed in combination prior to now. The first aspect is the variable refrigerant flow sub-system which allows for independent control of the refrigerant flow rate within the closed loop refrigerant piping and distribution system. The second aspect is the cascading assembly of coils and associated variable refrigerant flow closed loop piping which create zone cooling capacity. The third aspect is the integrated variable control manifold configuration to manage refrigerant distribution within the multipoint environment. The forth aspect is the multi-zone configuration assembly which provides secondary and tertiary stage temperature control within the data center.
The present embodiment is a system which integrates Variable Refrigerant Flow (VRF) components with an in-row cabinet configuration loop to: 1) provide variable cooling capacity under all load conditions; 2) eliminate the need for indoor compressor installation; 3) allow for long runs of refrigerant piping to reach existing heat loads; and 4) provide multiple temperature control zones utilizing the same cooling system.
This system shown in the present embodiment varies its energy use with the heat load and is more efficient at partial loads. It requires no indoor compressor nor does it require large piping or ducting. It is also capable of supplying cooling to locations within a facility that cannot be reached by typical systems. Additionally, the system is configurable as a point to point, point to multipoint or a multipoint to multipoint system.
The VRF Inverter Compressor Condenser(s) utilized in the present embodiment are required to enable the system to vary its capacity to the heat load. Refrigerant to coils contained within the indoor cabinet are critical to the operation and integration of the system. The variable speed pump allows refrigerant to be pumped at flow rates that match the flow required by the facility cooling equipment (Heat Load). Multiple temperature zones are accomplished by routing variable refrigerant flows to separate coils which are configured in serial or parallel and which are regulated by controllable valves.
The present embodiment consisting of components in the system to cool a facility in a unique way by integrating a VRF refrigerant system with a regulated variable flow rate refrigerant loop. The process begins when refrigerant is cooled and routed to a coil located in the indoor cabinet. Variable speed fans force air across the coil in a traditional fashion. Circulating chilled air within the data center effectively envelops the data center equipment to maintain a constant operating temperature within the data center or within zones within the data center.
The present embodiment improves upon the traditional system by incorporating VFR technology with a control system used to regulate both the flow rate of the refrigerant and the destination of the refrigerant to coils installed within the indoor cabinets. Using combinations of controllable pumps, fans, compressors and routing valves, the control system within the present embodiment functions to operate a network of components to maintain air temperature within the data center.
The present embodiment consists of outdoor units (ODUs) equipped with a VRF inverter compressor and corresponding condenser(s) which are installed outside the facility. The indoor unit (IDUs) consists of coils, fans and valves and the associated control system which is located inside the facility. The copper piping loops for refrigerant run from connection points located at the ODUs VFR to the connections points at the IDUs. A network of refrigerant piping is formed using additional controllable vales to create multipoint distribution networks of cooling capacity.
Sensors are installed which air temperature temp and refrigerant temp, flow and pressure. This measurement data is processed by the control system which controls the automatic valves, the pump and the ODUs to signal necessary changes in capacity (compressor speed).
The facility equipment (heat load) to be cooled by the system shown in the present embodiment should be identified and the required cooling capacity calculated. Then the system is sized and configured to deliver the required flow rate and fan speed.
The logic required to make the system presented in the present embodiment work efficiently and seamlessly is programmed into the controls. Data from various sensors is used as follows:
Still other objects of the present invention will become readily apparent to those skilled in this art from the following description wherein there is shown and described the embodiments of this invention, simply by way of illustration of the best modes suited to carry out the invention. As it will be realized, the invention is capable of other different embodiments and its several details are capable of modifications in various obvious aspects all without departing from the scope of the invention. Accordingly, the drawing and descriptions will be regarded as illustrative in nature and not as restrictive.
Various exemplary embodiments of this invention will be described in detail, wherein like reference numerals refer to identical or similar components, with reference to the following figures, wherein:
The claimed subject matter is now described with reference to the drawings. In the following description, for purposes of explanation, numerous specific details are set forth in order to provide a thorough understanding of the claimed subject matter. It may be evident; however, that the claimed subject matter may be practiced with or without any combination of these specific details, without departing from the spirit and scope of this invention and the claims.
The present embodiment shown in
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The preferred embodiment as illustrated in
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The capacity of cooling provided by the system 100
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The multipoint to multipoint system is created as shown in
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The control system 500
It may be advantageous to set forth definitions of certain words and phrases used in this patent document. The term “couple” and its derivatives refer to any direct or indirect communication between two or more elements, whether or not those elements are in physical contact with one another. The terms “include” and “comprise,” as well as derivatives thereof, mean inclusion without limitation. The term “or” is inclusive, meaning and/or. The phrases “associated with” and “associated therewith,” as well as derivatives thereof, may mean to include, be included within, interconnect with, contain, be contained within, connect to or with, couple to or with, be communicable with, cooperate with, interleave, juxtapose, be proximate to, be bound to or with, have, have a property of, or the like.
What has been described above includes examples of the claimed subject matter. It is, of course, not possible to describe every conceivable combination of components or methodologies for purposes of describing the claimed subject matter, but one of ordinary skill in the art can recognize that many further combinations and permutations of such matter are possible. Accordingly, the claimed subject matter is intended to embrace all such alterations, modifications and variations that fall within the spirit and scope of the appended claims. Furthermore, to the extent that the term “includes” is used in either the detailed description or the claims, such term is intended to be inclusive in a manner similar to the term “comprising” as “comprising” is interpreted when employed as a transitional word in a claim.
While this disclosure has described certain embodiments and generally associated methods, alterations and permutations of these embodiments and methods will be apparent to those skilled in the art. Accordingly, the above description of example embodiments does not define or constrain this disclosure. Other changes, substitutions, and alterations are also possible without departing from the spirit and scope of this disclosure, as defined by the following claims.
