Heat pipe based thermal management systems for energy-efficient data centres

This paper investigates the potential applications for heat-pipe based heat exchangers in enhancing the efficiency of data centres’ cooling. The paper starts by assessing current industry practise and highlighting the challenges facing the data-storage industry; illustrating the legislative, technical and commercial constraints that are now, or will be prevalent in the industry as the sector continues to grow to cater for the ever increasing appetite for public sector, commercial and consumer remote data storage. The concept of free cooling and its potential application in data-centres is then introduced and analysed. A theoretical model is then constructed based on the established, proven performance characteristics of heat-pipe technologies and the weather data for a typical region in the UK. A case study has been conducted thereon and the results indicate potential energy savings of up to 75% are achievable when utilising heat pipe based free cooling systems.