Experimental investigation on application potential of phase change assisted direct ventilation cooling system for Gui'an data center

Abstract

Cooling technology using phase change material (PCM) assisted direct ventilation has demonstrated significant energy-saving potential for data centers in regions with large temperature differences between day and night. However, research on this technology in data centers remains limited. This article presents the design of a novel phase change ventilation device (PCVD) utilizing PCM, and experimental studies are conducted to analyze both the charging and discharging process of the device. The study examines the influence of four control parameters, such as inlet temperature, inlet air speed, the number and thickness of phase change plates (PCP), on the cooling performance and evaluates its applicability in data centers. The results indicate that: (1) The device is capable of reducing air temperature by 1.15-2.23℃ within 8 hrs. (2) The cooling effect of a 3 cm thick PCP is 0.2-0.5℃ greater than that of a 2 cm thick PCP. (3) The temperature difference between the inlet and outlet of the PCVD increases as the inlet temperature and number of PCP increase, but decreases with the air inlet speed increases. (4) In Gui'an, from June to September, the average usage time of PCM-assisted direct ventilation can exceed 300 h, resulting in nearly 70% reduction in mechanical cooling consumption.