Influence of Non-Uniform Airflow on Two-Phase Parallel-Flow Heat Exchanger in Data Cabinet Cooling System

The energy consumption of data center cooling systems is rapidly increasing, necessitating urgent improvements in cooling system performance. This study investigates a pump-driven two-phase cooling system (PTCS) utilizing a parallel-flow heat exchanger (PFHE) as an evaporator, positioned at the rear...

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Main Authors: Hao Cheng, Tongzhi Yang, Quan Cheng, Yifan Zhao, Leixin Wang, Weixing Yuan
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: MDPI AG 2025-02-01
Series:Energies
Subjects:
Online Access:https://www.mdpi.com/1996-1073/18/4/923
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author Hao Cheng
Tongzhi Yang
Quan Cheng
Yifan Zhao
Leixin Wang
Weixing Yuan
author_facet Hao Cheng
Tongzhi Yang
Quan Cheng
Yifan Zhao
Leixin Wang
Weixing Yuan
author_sort Hao Cheng
collection DOAJ
description The energy consumption of data center cooling systems is rapidly increasing, necessitating urgent improvements in cooling system performance. This study investigates a pump-driven two-phase cooling system (PTCS) utilizing a parallel-flow heat exchanger (PFHE) as an evaporator, positioned at the rear of server cabinets. The findings indicate that enhancing the vapor quality at the PFHE outlet improves the overall cooling performance. However, airflow non-uniformity induces premature localized overheating, restricting further increases in vapor quality. For PFHEs operating with a two-phase outlet condition, inlet air temperature non-uniformity has a relatively minor impact on the cooling capacity but significantly affects the drop in pressure. Specifically, higher upstream air temperatures increase the pressure drop by 7%, whereas higher downstream air temperatures reduce it by 7.7%. The implementation of multi-pass configurations effectively mitigates localized overheating caused by airflow non-uniformity, suppresses the decline in cooling capacity, and enhances the operational vapor quality of the cooling system.
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issn 1996-1073
language English
publishDate 2025-02-01
publisher MDPI AG
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series Energies
spelling doaj-art-1f25ca79d6834033be6cd9c6d0d14aa92025-08-20T03:12:20ZengMDPI AGEnergies1996-10732025-02-0118492310.3390/en18040923Influence of Non-Uniform Airflow on Two-Phase Parallel-Flow Heat Exchanger in Data Cabinet Cooling SystemHao Cheng0Tongzhi Yang1Quan Cheng2Yifan Zhao3Leixin Wang4Weixing Yuan5School of Aeronautical Science and Engineering, Beihang University, Beijing 100191, ChinaSchool of Aeronautical Science and Engineering, Beihang University, Beijing 100191, ChinaSchool of Aeronautical Engine, Zhengzhou University of Aeronautics, Zhengzhou 450015, ChinaSchool of Aeronautical Science and Engineering, Beihang University, Beijing 100191, ChinaSchool of Aeronautical Science and Engineering, Beihang University, Beijing 100191, ChinaSchool of Aeronautical Science and Engineering, Beihang University, Beijing 100191, ChinaThe energy consumption of data center cooling systems is rapidly increasing, necessitating urgent improvements in cooling system performance. This study investigates a pump-driven two-phase cooling system (PTCS) utilizing a parallel-flow heat exchanger (PFHE) as an evaporator, positioned at the rear of server cabinets. The findings indicate that enhancing the vapor quality at the PFHE outlet improves the overall cooling performance. However, airflow non-uniformity induces premature localized overheating, restricting further increases in vapor quality. For PFHEs operating with a two-phase outlet condition, inlet air temperature non-uniformity has a relatively minor impact on the cooling capacity but significantly affects the drop in pressure. Specifically, higher upstream air temperatures increase the pressure drop by 7%, whereas higher downstream air temperatures reduce it by 7.7%. The implementation of multi-pass configurations effectively mitigates localized overheating caused by airflow non-uniformity, suppresses the decline in cooling capacity, and enhances the operational vapor quality of the cooling system.https://www.mdpi.com/1996-1073/18/4/923non-uniform airflowtwo-phase coolingparallel-flow heat exchangerserver rackthermal characteristics
spellingShingle Hao Cheng
Tongzhi Yang
Quan Cheng
Yifan Zhao
Leixin Wang
Weixing Yuan
Influence of Non-Uniform Airflow on Two-Phase Parallel-Flow Heat Exchanger in Data Cabinet Cooling System
Energies
non-uniform airflow
two-phase cooling
parallel-flow heat exchanger
server rack
thermal characteristics
title Influence of Non-Uniform Airflow on Two-Phase Parallel-Flow Heat Exchanger in Data Cabinet Cooling System
title_full Influence of Non-Uniform Airflow on Two-Phase Parallel-Flow Heat Exchanger in Data Cabinet Cooling System
title_fullStr Influence of Non-Uniform Airflow on Two-Phase Parallel-Flow Heat Exchanger in Data Cabinet Cooling System
title_full_unstemmed Influence of Non-Uniform Airflow on Two-Phase Parallel-Flow Heat Exchanger in Data Cabinet Cooling System
title_short Influence of Non-Uniform Airflow on Two-Phase Parallel-Flow Heat Exchanger in Data Cabinet Cooling System
title_sort influence of non uniform airflow on two phase parallel flow heat exchanger in data cabinet cooling system
topic non-uniform airflow
two-phase cooling
parallel-flow heat exchanger
server rack
thermal characteristics
url https://www.mdpi.com/1996-1073/18/4/923
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AT yifanzhao influenceofnonuniformairflowontwophaseparallelflowheatexchangerindatacabinetcoolingsystem
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