Data Centre Cooling

Simple and Efficient Data Centre Server Rack Spray Cooling

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Synopsis

This invention presents a detailed system architecture for a novel spray-cooled data centre tailored for tropical climates. A performance comparison of the new design with a conventional air-cooled data centre provides a blueprint for implementing this cooling methodology.


Opportunity  

The onset of the digital age and the modernisation of computing technology have rendered data centres vital for information management. However, the substantial heat dissipation from high-performance servers necessitates significant electricity for cooling systems. In 2022, data centres accounted for about 3% of global energy consumption, a figure projected to rise to 4% by 2030.1 This invention introduces a novel spray-cooled data centre designed for tropical climates, which outperforms conventional air-cooled systems. The design, featuring a functional laboratory-scale spray-cooled rack system that efficiently cools high-performance servers, serves as a blueprint for implementing efficient cooling. This system prioritises simplicity, independent operation, retrofitting existing units and precise temperature control for essential electronic components. 

A patent for this technology has been filed; please refer to this link for further details. 

 

Technology  

This technology introduces a laboratory-scale spray-cooled rack system for data centre cooling, using a near-ambient temperature coolant of approximately 30oC. This innovation eliminates the need for a chiller unit, which is common in conventional air-cooling schemes. The system efficiently dissipates a maximum heat load of 5.6 kW, outperforming conventional air-cooling in microprocessor cooling despite operating at higher temperatures. A durability study of over 40 cumulative hours of intermittent operation showed no reduction in performance even under high chamber temperatures (>35oC). Systematic evaluation of parameters such as spray nozzle flow rate, condenser fan power, condenser flow rate and heat loads can further optimise the system’s efficiency.  

 

Applications & Advantages  

Main application areas include data centre server cooling, high-performance computing environments and retrofitting existing air-cooled data centres. 

Advantages: 

  • Dissipates heat load density of 23 kW/m3, surpassing the 7 kW/m3 of conventional air-cooled systems. 
  • Increases the heat rejection capability of the cooling system. 
  • Accommodates higher IT load density. 
  • Enables CPU overclocking for superior performance. 
  • Facilitates a 30% reduction in data centre floor space. 
  • Provides excellent optical modulation, response time and stability with either organic or inorganic electrochromic materials. 
1 https://datacentremagazine.com 

Inventor

Prof WONG Teck Neng

Technology Readiness Level (TRL)

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