Investigation into the energy consumption of a data center with a thermosyphon heat exchanger

Abstract

A data center test model was used to analyze the energy dissipation characteristics and energy consumption of a data center. The results indicate that adequate heat dissipation from a data center cannot be achieved only from heat dissipation through the building envelope during Beijing winter conditions. This is because heat dissipation through the building envelope covers about 19. 5% of the total data center heat load. The average energy consumption for an air conditioner is 4 to 5 kW over a 24-h period. The temperature difference between the indoor and outdoor air for the data center with a thermosyphon heat exchanger is less than 20°C. The energy consumption of the thermosyphon heat exchanger is only 41% of that of an air conditioner. The annual energy consumption can be reduced by 35. 4% with a thermosyphon system. In addition, the effect of the outdoor temperature on the energy consumption of an air conditioner is greater than the indoor room temperature. The energy consumption of an air conditioner system increases by 5% to 6% for every 1°C rise in the outdoor temperature. © 2011 Science China Press and Springer-Verlag Berlin Heidelberg.