Aim and Objectives
The proposed MSCA programme aims to investigate an innovative a novel Loop-Heat-Pipe-based data centre heat removal and recovery system employing the micro-channels-cold/hot-plates(LHP-C/H-PLATE-4-DC), by integrating the excellence of the host applicants in loop-heat-pipe(LHP) and expertise of the researcher applicant in hot/cold plates for data processing equipment.
The specific objectives of the programme are:
(1) concept development of the novel LHP-C-H-PLATE-4-DC;
(2) computer modelling, characterisation and optimisation of the LHP-C-H-PLATE-4-DC;
(3) laboratory testing of the LHP-C-H- PLATE-4-DC and model validation and (or) refinement; and
(4) economic and environmental performance analysis.
Innovation
The innovative features of the system lie in:
(1) microscopic interior spaces increase liquid evaporation rate and heat transfer of the LHPs;
(2) sensor-controlled liquid upper-feeding and liquid/vapour separator prevent the dry-out and entrainment effects of the conventional LHPs;
(3) flat-plate surface of the cold-plate enables a perfect contact with the skin of the data-processing equipment; and
(4) novel heat/mass transfer analysis approaches employing the latest fractal and enthalpy/temperature-difference-driven heat transfer theories.
Impact
Enhancing the future career prospects of the researcher (Dr Wang)
The proposed programme will bring Dr. Wang, the selected researcher, into Europe. This will deliver significant benefits to the European Research in the areas of data centre cooling and heat removal/recovery, owing to Dr. Wang’s expertise in data centre cooling and heat removal technologies, which are the gaps but also most-needing knowledge/skills in the European host organisation in order to improve the performance of data centres. This mobility will therefore enhance the ERA’s excellence and competitiveness in this important sector and help improve the European society and economy.
In return, the researcher will receive systematic and high standard training at the host University and industrial partner. This will allow her to acquire specific scientific knowledge relating to loop heat pipe (LHP) heat & mass transfer, thus enhancing her knowledge scope and standard. More importantly, she will get familiar with the teaching and research system in the UK. Furthermore, dedicated secondment arrangement will allow the researcher to be seconded to an EU industrial organisation, thus enabling her to experience different working environments, touch the world outside academic, and open the eyes to new career options.
Dedicated dissemination, communication & networking activities will create a broad network which can link the researcher to the people outside the research team, thus raising her knowledge and skills of managing social affairs. All these together will accelerate her future professional promotion and widen her job selection scope, thus significantly enhancing her future career.
An innovative heat removal and recovery technology
The proposed programme will deliver an innovative heat removal and recovery technology which can significantly reduce the cooling load of data centres and energy consumption of the installed air conditioners within data centres. This will create a potential to develop an innovation-based business in Europe, which will eventually help grow the EU’s economy, create employment opportunity, reduce CO2 emission, and improve the working conditions of European data centres. Further benefits to the ERA are:
(1) promoting transfer of knowledge and technology;
(2) attracting international human resources to the European science and technology;
(3) making Europe the major centre of attraction to researchers from all over the world and formation of a single labour market;
(4) widening the recruitment opportunity and increasing the portability of grants; and
(5) helping the industry to develop a partnership with the research centres of excellence.