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Experimental research and energy saving analysis of an integrated data center cooling and waste heat recovery system

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  • Chen, Xiaoxuan
  • Wang, Xinyi
  • Ding, Tao
  • Li, Zhen

Abstract

To better make use of the waste heat in distributed data centers, a new design of integrated waste heat recovery system that can meet different needs including heating for users and data center cooling is introduced. The system can switch among different operation modes including waste heat recovery mode, natural cooling mode, composite cooling mode and refrigeration mode based on the ambient temperature. The integrated waste heat recovery system is experimented in the enthalpy-difference laboratory, and the experimental results show well consistency compared with the modeling results. The operation strategies to switch among different modes are determined based on the experimental and modeling results. The paper introduced PUE (Power Usage Effectiveness) and ERE (Energy Reuse effectiveness) to comprehensively evaluate the cooling and energy reutilization effectiveness of the system. According to the evaluation result, the integrated waste heat recovery system has well performed energy effectiveness, environmental and economic effect. The ERE values of using the integrated waste heat recovery system in Chinese typical climate cities including Harbin, Beijing, Xi'an, Shanghai and Guangzhou are 0.87, 1.02, 1.04, 1.17 and 1.29 respectively. Using this system at 96 kW distributed data center instead of CRAC (computer room air conditioning) system can save 152.7 MWh electricity, 56.4 tons of standard coal, and 244.7 tons of CO2 emission in Beijing annually. The payback periods of this new system in different climate regions in China are all within 3 years.

Suggested Citation

  • Chen, Xiaoxuan & Wang, Xinyi & Ding, Tao & Li, Zhen, 2023. "Experimental research and energy saving analysis of an integrated data center cooling and waste heat recovery system," Applied Energy, Elsevier, vol. 352(C).
    • Handle: RePEc:eee:appene:v:352:y:2023:i:c:s0306261923012394
    DOI: 10.1016/j.apenergy.2023.121875
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    4. Zhu, Haiping & Wang, Qidong & Zhang, Yuxuan & Gao, Peng & Wu, Weidong & Wang, Liwei, 2026. "A compact R32/DMF absorption refrigeration prototype driven by low-temperature waste heat for the decarbonization of data centers," Renewable Energy, Elsevier, vol. 257(C).
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    7. Shengpeng Chen & Peng Xu & Juan Shi & Lisha Sheng & Chaoling Han & Zhenqian Chen, 2023. "Experimental Study of a Pump-Driven Microchannel-Separated Heat Pipe System," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 15(24), pages 1-20, December.
    8. Ding, Tao & Chen, Xiaoxuan & Li, Ziyong & Liu, Haichao & Zhu, Chaoyi & Zhao, Tian & Li, Zhen & Zhang, Yi & Yang, Jianan & Zhang, Hainan & Hou, Lingyun, 2025. "A review of flow boiling heat transfer: Theories, new methods and emerging applications," Renewable and Sustainable Energy Reviews, Elsevier, vol. 215(C).
    9. Hao, Yueting & Zhou, Haojie & Tian, Tong & Zhang, Wei & Zhou, Xin & Shen, Qingfei & Wu, Tong & Li, Ji, 2025. "Data centers waste heat recovery technologies: Review and evaluation," Applied Energy, Elsevier, vol. 384(C).
    10. Tian, Bo & Wang, Ningbo & Huang, Congqi & Liu, Lu & Wei, Zuyuan & Guo, Yanhua & Shao, Shuangquan, 2025. "Absorption refrigeration heating pump system for year-round waste heat recovery in liquid-cooled data centers," Energy, Elsevier, vol. 338(C).

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