Climatic applicability of indirect evaporative cooling strategies for data centers in China

Abstract

Modern digital developments have propelled data center (DC) to prominence, with the cooling requirement being an important driver of its energy consumption. This study explores the climate application potential of indirect evaporative cooling (IEC) technology, which utilizes water evaporation for cooling. The IEC technology is considered as a promising avenue for energy-efficient DC cooling system. This study reveals essential insights for optimizing DC cooling performance by analyzing different IEC operation modes, including dry mode, wet mode, and cascading hybrid mode. The selection of operation mode is closely related to climatic conditions, DC working conditions, and IEC cooling efficiency. Higher DC supply air temperatures extend dry mode cooling hours and decrease cascading hybrid mode hours. It enhances energy savings through better utilization of natural free cooling resources. Elevating IEC cooling efficiency expands dry mode cooling hours while reducing reliance on mechanical cooling, contributing to improved power usage effectiveness (PUE) and energy conservation. The analysis is based on a typical data center and considers representative cities in different climate zones of China, emphasizing the importance of reducing the PUE and energy consumption of the DC by adjusting the DC supply air temperature and improving the IEC cooling efficiency. This work provides a useful reference for customizing DC cooling strategies according to various climate differences, optimizing energy efficiency and promoting sustainable development.