Ionic Wind Technology: 60% Server Cooling Energy Savings 6 comments
Image: empa
A team of researchers from Switzerland wants to apply the air power amplifier principle by using ionized air to cool data centers and high-performance electronics. So far, the principle of action has been shown in the laboratory on a non-thermal drying system for food.
With the spin -off and patent submission, “Ionic Wind Technologies” wants to reduce the energy required by data centers for cooling in the next step. Air flow amplifiers must gain an advantage over conventional air, where low air pressure differences must be generated. Electrostatic fields are supposed to ionize the air and set it in motion, which should not only be suitable for cooling, but also for air purification and drying processes. The breakthrough would now be achieved via an optimized housing shape and new electrodes. Instead of wires, needle tip researchers as an electrode promise a benefit that is incorporated into the housing. The Coandă effect is intended to take advantage of a current principle used for aircraft wings and Dyson fans.
Wolfram electrodes make the difference
According to the research team, the biggest challenge is expected to be manufacturing the needle electrodes. “Our custom conifers achieve up to two times higher air flow compared to conventional electrodes – and even with less energy,” explains Donato Rubinetti. “A trick is not infinite, but ends up at the end. This plays an extremely important role in the performance of needle electrodes. “By producing an asymmetry in the electrostatic field, the air flow can be directed and enhanced. Compared to wires, there is also the advantage that the electrodes can be accommodated in a housing much more compactly.
A key figure relevant to the profitability of a data center is the coefficient of efficiency (COE), which puts the entire electrical output of the data center relative to the electrical output of the IT hardware. Among other things, cooling losses, energy conversion processes and lighting are taken into account. Depending on the redundancy of the infrastructure, it is generally between 2.4 and 2.8.
In the future, the company also wants to offer its own products as a cooling solution in the area of data centers. At what level air power amplifiers should be used is not named. Another key figure – the cooling efficiency ratio (CER) – can, for example, be improved by reducing the flow of leakage passing the server racks, which would require less airflow overall.
Topics: cooling Source: EMPA
A cooling systems specialist, Sophie helps enthusiasts optimise their setups with watercooling.
