초록 ▼

New data center heat removal systems and methods allow a combination of active and passive thermal processes for removing heat from and cooling air in data center environments. Systems and methods include a data center heat removal system including an adjustable thermal feed cold air intake system,

New data center heat removal systems and methods allow a combination of active and passive thermal processes for removing heat from and cooling air in data center environments. Systems and methods include a data center heat removal system including an adjustable thermal feed cold air intake system, a distribution system for cold and warm air including one or more hot aisles and one or more cold aisles, and a convection system to draw cool air through data center equipment using a naturally-occurring convection processes to expel hot air. Misters, cooling elements, and/or freezer boxes may further cool the intake of air. A controller is programmed to efficiently manage and control the climate (e.g., temperature, humidity, air flow, pressure, air quality, etc.) within a data center to minimize the use for energy for air distribution and cooling.

대표청구항 ▼

1. A system for removing heat and cooling the air in a data center environment, the system comprising: a chilling unit for supplying cooled air to a data center, the data center including a hot side and a cool side;at least one vent for drawing hot air out of the data center;at least one fan;a tempe

1. A system for removing heat and cooling the air in a data center environment, the system comprising: a chilling unit for supplying cooled air to a data center, the data center including a hot side and a cool side;at least one vent for drawing hot air out of the data center;at least one fan;a temperature sensor, the temperature sensor located at an intake of the chilling unit, outside of the chilling unit, or at a location in the data center; anda controller communicatively connected to the chilling unit and the at least one vent for controlling air circulation in the data center through the chilling unit and the at least one vent, the controller comprising a processor, a non-transitory computer-readable medium, and stored instructions translatable by the processor to perform: receiving a temperature reading from the temperature sensor;responsive to the temperature reading, varying a volume of air allowed through the chilling unit and the at least one vent so as to maintain a target temperature for the data center, the varying including sending a digital signal to the chilling unit and to the at least one vent when the temperature reading reaches or exceeds a first threshold, the varying further including restricting air flow through the chilling unit or the at least one vent when the temperature reading nears or drops below a second threshold; andwhile the chilling unit is pressurizing the data center by supplying the cooled air to the cool side of the data center, adjusting operation of the least one fan to keep pressure in the hot side of the data center lower than pressure in the cool side of the data center such that the hot air is exhausted from the data center through the at least one vent. 2. The system of claim 1, wherein the chilling unit comprises: a housing having an intake end and an exhaust end;one or more fans disposed within the housing for directing air to flow through the housing from the intake end to the exhaust end of the housing;an evaporative cooler for providing evaporating mist to cool the air in the housing; and at least one mist cooling element disposed downstream from the evaporative cooler and having a surface for mist condensation such that the air in the housing is cooled by the evaporating mist provided by the evaporative cooler and by passing through the at least one mist cooling element. 3. The system of claim 2, wherein the chilling unit further comprises: at least one filter unit for filtering the air flowing through the housing. 4. The system of claim 2, wherein the chilling unit further comprises: at least one chiller unit positioned downstream from the at least one mister cooling element for further cooling the air flowing through the at least one mister cooling element. 5. The system of claim 2, wherein the chilling unit further comprises: a first chiller unit positioned at or near the intake end of the housing; anda second chiller unit positioned at or near the exhaust end of the housing. 6. The system of claim 5, wherein the chilling unit further comprises: at least one freezer element disposed within the housing between the first chiller unit and the second chiller unit. 7. The system of claim 6, wherein the at least one freezer element is movable to automatically swing back against an interior wall of the housing of the chilling unit when not in use. 8. The system of claim 1, further comprising: a plurality of sensors for sensing conditions in the chilling unit, the at least one vent, the data center, or a combination thereof, the plurality of sensors generating sensor readings reflective of the conditions in the chilling unit, the at least one vent, the data center, or a combination thereof, the controller performing the controlling based at least in part on the sensor readings. 9. The system of claim 1, wherein the controller comprises a web-based application hosted on a server machine, the web-based application comprising a user interface for controlling and monitoring operation of the controller. 10. The system of claim 1, wherein the controller is configured for controlling activation and deactivation of the at least one fan, speed of the at least one fan, closing and opening of the at least one vent, closing and opening of at least one louver of the chilling unit, or a combination thereof, so as to control the volume of air needed to maintain the target temperature. 11. A method for removing heat and cooling the air in a data center environment, the method comprising: supplying, by a chilling unit, cooled air to a data center, the data center including a hot side and a cool side;drawing, by at least one vent, hot air out of the data center; andcontrolling, by a controller communicatively connected to the chilling unit and the at least one vent, air circulation in the data center, the controlling comprising: receiving a temperature reading from a temperature sensor, the temperature sensor located at an intake of the chilling unit, outside of the chilling unit, or at a location in the data center;responsive to the temperature reading, varying a volume of air allowed through the chilling unit and the at least one vent so as to maintain a target temperature for the data center, the varying including sending a digital signal to the chilling unit and to the at least one vent when the temperature reading reaches or exceeds a first threshold, the varying further including restricting air flow through the chilling unit or the at least one vent when the temperature reading nears or drops below a second threshold; andwhile the chilling unit is pressurizing the data center by supplying the cooled air to the cool side of the data center, adjusting operation of the least one fan to keep pressure in the hot side of the data center lower than pressure in the cool side of the data center such that the hot air is exhausted from the data center through the at least one vent. 12. The method according to claim 11, wherein the chilling unit comprises: a housing having an intake end and an exhaust end;one or more fans disposed within the housing for directing air to flow through the housing from the intake end to the exhaust end of the housing;an evaporative cooler for providing evaporating mist to cool the air in the housing; andat least one mist cooling element disposed downstream from the evaporative cooler and having a surface for mist condensation such that the air in the housing is cooled by the evaporating mist provided by the evaporative cooler and by passing through the at least one mist cooling element. 13. The method according to claim 12, wherein the chilling unit further comprises: at least one filter unit for filtering the air flowing through the housing. 14. The method according to claim 12, wherein the chilling unit further comprises: at least one chiller unit positioned downstream from the at least one mister cooling element for further cooling the air flowing through the at least one mister cooling element. 15. The method according to claim 12, wherein the chilling unit further comprises: a first chiller unit positioned at or near the intake end of the housing; anda second chiller unit positioned at or near the exhaust end of the housing. 16. The method according to claim 15, wherein the chilling unit further comprises: at least one freezer element disposed within the housing between the first chiller unit and the second chiller unit. 17. The method according to claim 16, wherein the at least one freezer element is movable to automatically swing back against an interior wall of the housing of the chilling unit when not in use. 18. The method according to claim 11, further comprising: sensing conditions in the chilling unit, the at least one vent, the data center, or a combination thereof via a plurality of sensors, the plurality of sensors generating sensor readings reflective of the conditions in the chilling unit, the at least one vent, the data center, or a combination thereof, the controller performing the controlling based at least in part on the sensor readings. 19. The method according to claim 11, wherein the controller comprises a web-based application hosted on a server machine, the web-based application comprising a user interface for controlling and monitoring operation of the controller. 20. The method according to claim 11, wherein the controller is configured for controlling activation and deactivation of the at least one fan, speed of the at least one fan, closing and opening of the at least one vent, closing and opening of at least one louver of the chilling unit, or a combination thereof, so as to control the volume of air needed to maintain the target temperature.