A Novel Loop-Heat-Pipe (LHP)-based Data Centre Heat Removal and Recovery System Employing the Micro-channels Cold/Hot Plates

Project Description

Date centres consume 1.1-1.5% of the world’s total electricity supply and remain 15-20% of annual increase rate in power demand. Space cooling, owing to vast dissipation of the heat from the data-processing equipment to data centre space, has a very high cooling capacity, accounting for 30-40% of energy delivered into the space. Developing an effective heat removal and recovery system to prevent excessive equipment heat transmission to the space is critical to reducing energy consumption of the cooling system. The proposed MSCA programme aims to investigate an innovative a novel Loop-Heat-Pipe-based data centre heat removal and recovery system employing the micro-channels-cold/hot-plates(LHP-C/H-PLATE-4-DC), by integrating the excellence of the host applicants in loop-heat-pipe(LHP) and expertise of the researcher applicant in hot/cold plates for data processing equipment. The innovative features of the system lie in (1) microscopic interior spaces increase liquid evaporation rate and heat transfer of the LHPs; (2) sensor-controlled liquid upper-feeding and liquid/vapour separator prevent the dry-out and entrainment effects of the conventional LHPs; (3) flat-plate surface of the cold-plate enables a perfect contact with the skin of the data-processing equipment; and (4) novel heat/mass transfer analysis approaches employing the latest fractal and enthalpy/temperature-difference-driven heat transfer theories. The programme tasks include (a) concept development; (b) computer modelling; (c) prototype construction & testing; and (d) economic & environmental analyses. The programme will attract an experienced researcher with particular knowledge in data centre heat removal technologies into Europe. This will (a) achieve transfer of knowledge from outside into Europe, thus helping growing EU’s knowledge-based economy and society; (b) develop a long-term contact among the researcher and host/partner organisations; and (c) enable the advanced training to the researcher.