Optimization of cooling operation strategy for server cabinets based on air-cooled chiller

Abstract Currently, liquid cooling is an important development direction for data centers. The existing research is mainly on establishing cooling systems with different cooling sources or optimizing heat dissipation on the cabinet side but does not take both into account. Therefore, this paper focuses on finned water-cooled heat sinks and air-cooled chillers and analyses their comprehensive thermal management. Based on the analysis of the cooling system with minimum energy consumption, the optimum operating parameters were derived. The hourly energy power decreased by 13% with the chilled water outlet temperature of the air-cooled chiller from 6°C to 14°C. Finally, annual operating energy power according to the different control strategies is analyzed, and it is found that when the ambient temperature regulation interval is 5°C, the cooling system with an air-cooled chiller as the cooling source is the most energy-efficient and economical. While the chilled water outlet temperature of the air-cooled chiller is raised from 6°C to 16°C, energy power is reduced by 17.1%, and the PUE is reduced by 3.4%.