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

Hao Cheng (), Tongzhi Yang, Quan Cheng, Yifan Zhao, Leixin Wang and Weixing Yuan
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Hao Cheng: School of Aeronautical Science and Engineering, Beihang University, Beijing 100191, China
Tongzhi Yang: School of Aeronautical Science and Engineering, Beihang University, Beijing 100191, China
Quan Cheng: School of Aeronautical Engine, Zhengzhou University of Aeronautics, Zhengzhou 450015, China
Yifan Zhao: School of Aeronautical Science and Engineering, Beihang University, Beijing 100191, China
Leixin Wang: School of Aeronautical Science and Engineering, Beihang University, Beijing 100191, China
Weixing Yuan: School of Aeronautical Science and Engineering, Beihang University, Beijing 100191, China

Energies, 2025, vol. 18, issue 4, 1-23

Abstract: 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.

Keywords: non-uniform airflow; two-phase cooling; parallel-flow heat exchanger; server rack; thermal characteristics (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: Q Q0 Q4 Q40 Q41 Q42 Q43 Q47 Q48 Q49 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2025
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