초록 ▼

A pumped refrigerant cooling system for use in a row of equipment racks is configured to contain electronic equipment. The system includes a communication network and a refrigerant distribution unit in fluid communication with a chilled refrigerant supply and a heated refrigerant return. A cooling m

A pumped refrigerant cooling system for use in a row of equipment racks is configured to contain electronic equipment. The system includes a communication network and a refrigerant distribution unit in fluid communication with a chilled refrigerant supply and a heated refrigerant return. A cooling module is in fluid communication with the refrigerant distribution unit by a supply line and a return line. The cooling module is coupled to the communication network, and includes an evaporator and a fan configured to direct air over the evaporator. A sensor package is configured to monitor temperature and pressure reference points provided in the pumped refrigerant cooling system and the equipment racks. The system further includes a controller forming part of the cooling module and coupled to the communication network and the sensor package. The controller, based on information obtained from the sensor package, is configured to manipulate the flow of refrigerant through the evaporator by controlling the delivery of refrigerant to the evaporator and is configured to manipulate the flow of air over the evaporator by controlling the speed of the fan.

대표청구항 ▼

1. A pumped refrigerant cooling system for use in a row of equipment racks configured to contain electronic equipment, the pumped refrigerant cooling system comprising: a communication network;a refrigerant distribution unit in fluid communication with a chilled refrigerant supply and a heated refri

1. A pumped refrigerant cooling system for use in a row of equipment racks configured to contain electronic equipment, the pumped refrigerant cooling system comprising: a communication network;a refrigerant distribution unit in fluid communication with a chilled refrigerant supply and a heated refrigerant return, the refrigerant distribution unit being coupled to the communication network;at least one cooling module in fluid communication with the refrigerant distribution unit by a supply line and a return line, the cooling module being coupled to the communication network, the cooling module including an evaporator and at least one fan configured to direct air over the evaporator;a sensor package coupled to the communication network, the sensor package being configured to monitor temperature and pressure reference points provided in the pumped refrigerant cooling system and the equipment racks; anda controller forming part of the cooling module and coupled to the communication network and the sensor package, the controller, based on information obtained from the sensor package, being configured to manipulate the flow of refrigerant through the evaporator by controlling the delivery of refrigerant to the evaporator and being configured to manipulate the flow of air over the evaporator by controlling the speed of the fan. 2. The pumped refrigerant cooling system of claim 1, wherein the cooling module further includes a pressure regulating valve disposed in the return line between the evaporator and the refrigerant distribution unit. 3. The pumped refrigerant cooling system of claim 2, wherein the sensor package is configured to obtain information directed to a saturation temperature, and wherein the controller, based on the information directed to the saturation temperature, is configured to open and close the pressure regulating valve to achieve a preset saturation temperature of the cooling module. 4. The pumped refrigerant cooling system of claim 1, wherein the cooling module further includes an expansion valve disposed in the supply line between refrigerant distribution unit and the evaporator, the expansion valve being configured to meter mass flow of refrigerant into the evaporator. 5. The pumped refrigerant cooling system of claim 4, wherein the controller is configured to manipulate the flow of refrigerant entering the evaporator by controlling the operation of the expansion valve, the arrangement being such that the controller manipulates the expansion valve to regulate refrigerant mass flow to the evaporator so that the refrigerant mass flow coincides with a thermal demand of the evaporator to assure complete evaporation of the refrigerant before exiting the evaporator. 6. The pumped refrigerant cooling system of claim 5, wherein the sensor package includes a pressure sensor located immediately before the expansion valve and a pressure sensor positioned to sense the pressure of evaporating refrigerant within the evaporator. 7. The pumped refrigerant cooling system of claim 1, wherein the controller is configured to calculate cooling demand of the evaporator of the cooling module and established a refrigerant mass flow requirement to support a needed cooling demand of the evaporator. 8. The pumped refrigerant cooling system of claim 1, wherein the controller is configured to anticipate an evaporating temperature necessary to satisfy a desired cooled air temperature leaving the evaporator and a corresponding saturation pressure of the refrigerant entering within the evaporator. 9. The pumped refrigerant cooling system of claim 1, wherein the controller is configured to determine a position of an electronic expansion valve of the cooling module, the electronic expansion valve being disposed in the supply line between refrigerant distribution unit and the evaporator, the electronic expansion valve being configured to meter mass flow of refrigerant into the evaporator based on needed mass flow, valve flow characteristics and/or a pressure differential between refrigerant supply pressure and anticipated evaporating pressure. 10. The pumped refrigerant cooling system of claim 1, wherein the cooling module further includes an electronic evaporator pressure regulating valve disposed in the return line between the evaporator and the refrigerant distribution unit, the electronic evaporator pressure regulating valve being configured to regulate evaporator pressure to maintain a desired cooled air exit temperature from evaporator. 11. The pumped refrigerant cooling system of claim 10, wherein the controller of the cooling module further includes a PID loop that regulates the electronic evaporator pressure regulating valve position as needed to maintain a predetermined saturated evaporating temperature. 12. The pumped refrigerant cooling system of claim 1, wherein the controller is configured to allow multiple groups of evaporators of cooling modules to share a common communications network while enabling an association of evaporators to specific groups of cooling modules to aggregate and synchronize with other members of the same group. 13. A method of controlling an operation of a pumped refrigerant cooling system for use in a data center having one or more rows of equipment racks, each equipment rack being configured to contain electronic equipment, the method comprising: determining a configuration of the one or more rows of equipment racks within the data center;maintaining a constant supply air temperature for air entering into the equipment racks within the one or more rows of equipment racks; andmaintaining a constant temperature differential between the supply air temperature and air entering one or more cooling modules of the pumped refrigerant cooling system, wherein maintaining a constant temperature differential includes estimating an actual air flow within the cooling module and controlling at least one fan in the cooling module based on a required cooling capacity used to obtain the constant temperature differential. 14. The method of claim 13, wherein maintaining a constant supply air temperature includes obtaining a supply air temperature of air entering the equipment rack and controlling the supply air temperature. 15. The method of claim 13, further comprising manipulating a flow of refrigerant entering an evaporator of the cooling module by controlling the operation of an expansion valve so that a refrigerant mass flow coincides with a thermal demand of the evaporator so as to assure complete evaporation of refrigerant before exiting the evaporator. 16. The method of claim 13, further comprising calculating cooling demand of an evaporator of the cooling module and establishing a refrigerant mass flow requirement to support a needed cooling demand of the evaporator. 17. The method of claim 13, further comprising calculating an evaporating temperature necessary to satisfy a desired cooled air temperature leaving an evaporator of the cooling module and a corresponding saturation pressure of the refrigerant entering the evaporator of the cooling module. 18. The method of claim 13, further comprising determining a position of an electronic expansion valve of the cooling module, the electronic expansion valve being disposed in a supply line delivering refrigerant to an evaporator of the cooling module, the electronic expansion valve being configured to meter mass flow of refrigerant into the evaporator based on needed mass flow, valve flow characteristics and/or pressure differential between refrigerant supply pressure and anticipated evaporating pressure. 19. The method of claim 13, further comprising regulating an electronic evaporator pressure regulating valve position as needed to maintain a predetermined saturated evaporating temperature. 20. The method of claim 13, further comprising allowing multiple groups of evaporators of cooling modules to share a common communications network while enabling an association of evaporators to specific groups of cooling modules to aggregate and synchronize with other members of the same group.