Cooling system and method for data center

Abstract

Cooling system for a data center includes at least one air-conditioner, at least one air-guiding fan, a first temperature sensor, a second temperature sensor, and a control unit. The air-guiding fan exchanges air between the data center and an external environment of the data center. The first temperature sensor senses an interior temperature of the data center. The second temperature sensor senses an environmental temperature outside of the data center. The control unit controls operating state of the air-conditioner, the first air-guiding fan, and the second air-guiding fan. When the environmental temperature is lower than the interior temperature, the control unit turns off the air-conditioner and the air-guiding fan.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A cooling system for a data center, comprising:
 at least one air-conditioner;   at least one air-guiding fan exchanging air between the data center and an external environment of the data center;   a first temperature sensor sensing an interior temperature of the data center;   a second temperature sensor sensing an environmental temperature of the external environment; and   a control unit controlling an operating state of each of the air-conditioner, the first air-guiding fan, and the second air-guiding fan;   wherein when the environmental temperature is lower than the interior temperature, the control unit turns off the air-conditioner and turns on the air-guiding fan.   
     
     
         2 . The cooling system of  claim 1 , wherein the at least one air-guiding fan comprises a first air-guiding fan guiding internal air of the data center to the external environment and a second air-guiding fan guiding external air of the external environment into an interior of the data center, the first and second air-guiding fan cooperatively define an airflow route in the data center. 
     
     
         3 . The cooling system of  claim 2 , wherein the control unit comprises a processor electrically connected to the first temperature sensor and the second temperature sensor, a driver electrically connected to the first air-guiding fan, the second air-guiding fan, and the air-conditioner, an input unit receiving a plurality of temperature ranges and a plurality of control command groups, and a storage that stores a table recording the temperature ranges and the control command groups. 
     
     
         4 . The cooling system of  claim 3 , wherein each control command group comprises a first control command controlling an operating state of the air-conditioner and a second control command controlling an operating state of the first and second air-guiding fans. 
     
     
         5 . The cooling system of  claim 4 , wherein an initial temperature of the air-conditioner is set via the input unit. 
     
     
         6 . The cooling system of  claim 5 , wherein when the interior temperature and the environmental temperature are both higher than the initial temperature, the processor controls the air-conditioner to keep working. 
     
     
         7 . The cooling system of  claim 5 , wherein when the environmental temperature is lower than a first temperature and the first temperature is lower 15 degrees Celsius than the initial temperature, the processor turns off the air-conditioner and turns on the first air-guiding fan and the second air-guiding fan. 
     
     
         8 . The cooling system of  claim 7 , wherein when the environmental temperature is between the first temperature and the initial temperature, and the interior temperature is higher than the initial temperature, the processor controls the air-conditioner to keep working and to turn on the first and second air-guiding fans simultaneously. 
     
     
         9 . The cooling system of  claim 7 , wherein when the environmental temperature is between the first temperature and the initial temperature, and the interior temperature is lower than the initial temperature, the processor controls the air-conditioner to keep working. 
     
     
         10 . A cooling method for a data center having an air-conditioner and an air-guiding fan for exchanging air between an interior of the data center and an external environment outside of the data center, the method comprising:
 turning on the air-conditioner and receiving different temperature ranges and control command groups;   sensing an interior temperature of the interior of the data center and an environmental temperature of the external environment;   generating a control command group according to the interior temperature and the environmental temperature;   determining whether present operating states of the air-conditioner and air-guiding fan match the control command group; and   switching the operating states of the air-conditioner and the air-guiding fan to match the interior temperature and the environmental temperature when the present operating states of the air-conditioner and the air-guiding fan do not match the control command group.   
     
     
         11 . The method of  claim 10 , wherein the control command group comprise a first control command controlling the at least one air-conditioner and a second control command controlling the air-guiding fan. 
     
     
         12 . The method of  claim 11 , further comprising:
 storing the temperature ranges and the control command groups in a table.   
     
     
         13 . The method of  claim 11 , wherein when the interior temperature and the environmental temperature are both higher than the initial temperature, the air-conditioner is kept working. 
     
     
         14 . The method of  claim 11 , wherein when the environmental temperature is lower than a first temperature and the first temperature is lower 15 degrees Celsius than the initial temperature, turning off the air-conditioner and turning on the first air-guiding fan simultaneously. 
     
     
         15 . The method of  claim 11 , wherein when the environmental temperature is between the first temperature and the initial temperature, and the interior temperature is higher than the initial temperature, the air-conditioner is kept working and turning on the air-guiding fan simultaneously. 
     
     
         16 . The method of  claim 11 , wherein when the environmental temperature is between the first temperature and the initial temperature, and the interior temperature is lower than the initial temperature, the air-conditioner is kept working.