为高效冷却数据中心而开发的两相混合系统   

 Two-phase hybrid system developed to efficiently cool data centers

 BY UNIVERSITY OF MISSOURI FEBRUARY 20, 2024

密苏里大学工程学院科研人员设计了一种两相混合系统来更高效、更有效地冷却数据中心。

A Missouri Engineering researcher devised a system to cool data centers down more efficiently and effectively with a two-phase hybrid system.

对人工智能需求的不断增长给服务于 AI 的数据中心带来能源压力。大量的计算活动产生了巨大的热量——以至于冷却系统占用了数据中心40%的能耗。这（耗能）相当于为 32,000 个家庭供电。

The demand for artificial intelligence is rising, which is putting energy strains on the data centers that power the technology. And that massive computational activity generates a tremendous amount of heat—so much so that cooling systems account for up to 40% of the energy used in data centers. That’s the equivalent of powering some 32,000 households.

目前，密苏里大学工程学院科研人员正在设计一种更高效的数据中心冷却系统。Chanwoo Park 正在管理一个由美国能源部高级能源计划研究署(Advanced Research Projects Agency-Energy ARPA-E) 资助的项目并与国家可再生能源实验室合作。这个项目是耗资 4000 万美元的计划COOLERCHIPS的一部分，COOLERCHIPS (Cooling Operations Optimized for Leaps in Energy, Reliability and Carbon Hyperefficiency for Information and Processing Systems）)全称为“实现信息处理系统的能源、可靠性和碳效率飞跃的优化冷却技术”。 

Now, a Mizzou Engineering researcher is devising a system to cool data centers down more efficiently and effectively. Chanwoo Park is leading a project funded by the U.S. Department of Energy’s Advanced Research Projects Agency-Energy (ARPA-E) in collaboration with the National Renewable Energy Lab. It’s part of a $40 million endeavor called COOLERCHIPS, which stands for Cooling Operations Optimized for Leaps in Energy, Reliability and Carbon Hyperefficiency for Information and Processing Systems.

密苏里大学机械和航空航天工程副教授 Park 是这项耗资 160 万美元的项目的首席研究员，该项目旨在开发一种混合两相回路，作为数据中心冷却解决方案。 

Park—an associate professor of mechanical and aerospace engineering—is the Principal Investigator of a $1.6 million project to develop a hybrid two-phase loop to serve as a cooling solution for data centers.

“我对此感到自豪，因为多年来我们一直在开发这项技术，” Park说。“ARPA 的资助给了我们许多资源来解决问题，并允许我们与国家实验室和行业合作。” 

“I’m proud of this because we’ve been developing our technology over many years,” Park said. “This ARPA award gives us a lot of resources to solve the problem and allows us to work with the national lab and industry.”

数据中心的传统冷却方式是使用强迫对流风机或通过液体流动将热量从存放计算机处理器的机架中带走。这两种过程都存在问题，因为它们需要大量的电能和水资源。 

Traditionally, data centers have been cooled using air-moving fans or by flowing liquid to move heat away from the racks that hold computer processors. Both processes are problematic in that they suck up enormous amounts of energy and water resources.

Park的解决方案（两相冷却技术）有主动和被动两种模式，这意味着冷却系统可以根据（数据中心）冷却需求来实现被动或主动运行。 

Park’s method has an active and passive mode, meaning the cooling system can run either passively or actively depending on cooling requirements.

“如果计算机处于闲置状态，（它的）冷却需求是最小的，在这种情况下，（冷却）系统将进入被动模式，”他说。“我们不使用像泵这样的主动器件，所以不会消耗能源。当计算机开机并提高运行负载，此时需要提高冷却能力，它（冷却系统）就会切换到主动模式，开启水泵。”。这就像现代汽车——当你在红绿灯前停车时，发动机会停止，这样就不会耗油。当你再次加速时，发动机就会再次自动启动。 

“If a computer is idling, the cooling demand is minimal, and in that case, the system goes into passive mode,” he said. “We don’t use active components like pumps so there’s no energy consumption. When a computer turns on and is running harder, requiring more cooling, it switches to active mode, turning on the pump. This is like modern cars—when you stop at a light, the engine stops so there’s no fuel consumption. When you accelerate again, the engine automatically turns back on.”

混合（冷却）设计还集成了毛细管和机械泵送。在蒸发器内，毛细结构产生能够蒸发的薄液体层，从而以最小的热阻实现服务器芯片高效散热。同时，机械泵送通过高效吸收大量热量来增强冷却能力。 

The hybrid design also integrates capillary pumping with mechanical pumping. Within the evaporator, the capillary structure generates thin liquid layers capable of evaporating to efficiently dissipate heat from server chips with minimal thermal resistance. Simultaneously, mechanical pumping enhances cooling capacity by efficiently absorbing a substantial amount of heat.

“通过使用该混合（冷却）设计，我们正为数据中心创造理想的冷却解决方案”Park说，“这（理想冷却解决方案的开发）非常困难，需要大量的分析和制造工作。它（混合冷却设计）涉及先进的制造技术，设计目的是处理高（热）流量，并可以在扩展到大系统的同时保持低功耗。它非常接近我们在寻找的理想冷却系统。 

“Using this hybrid design, we are creating an ideal cooling solution for data center cooling,”Park said. “It’s very difficult, and it requires a lot of analysis and a lot of fabrication. It involves advanced manufacturing techniques, but it is designed to handle high flux and can scale up to very large systems with low power consumption. It’s very close to the ideal cooling system we’re looking for.”

“通过使用该混合（冷却）设计，我们正为数据中心创造理想的冷却解决方案”Park说，“这（理想冷却解决方案的开发）非常困难，需要大量的分析和制造工作。它（混合冷却设计）涉及先进的制造技术，设计目的是处理高（热）流量，并可以在扩展到大系统的同时保持低功耗。它非常接近我们在寻找的理想冷却系统。 

Park is five months into the three-year project. Ultimately, the goal is to find a system that can be commercialized and mass-produced for use in high-end data centers. He’s optimistic that the partnership with government and industry will result in large-scale commercialization.

“多亏与国家实验室和行业同仁的合作，我们取得了重大进展，”Park 说，他强调这已经达到初步里程碑。“最后，我看好这种冷却系统，（它）将被数据中心所采用，以提高整体效率。” 

“Thanks to collaboration with national labs and industry partners, we’re making significant strides,” Park said, highlighting the successful achievement of initial milestones. “Ultimately, I’m optimistic that this cooling system will be adopted by data centers to enhance overall efficiency.”

● 翻译：

章子寒

科华数据股份有限公司 制冷工程师 

DKV（DeepKnowledge Volunteer）计划成员

● 校对：

贾梦檩

DKI（DeepKnowledge Intelligence）高级研究员

编辑：中国电源产业网