Power supply system and method of managing the same

Abstract

A method of managing a power supply system for a data center includes circulating a fluid in a cooling circuit, obtaining data regarding a server located in the data center using a sensor, controlling the transfer of heat energy from the server to the fluid based on the data, coupling the fluid to an electrochemical power generator, and generating power for the server using the fluid in the electrochemical power generator.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A method of managing a power supply system for a data center, comprising:
 circulating a fluid in a cooling circuit;   obtaining data regarding a server located in the data center using a sensor;   controlling the transfer of heat energy from the server to the fluid based on the data;   coupling the fluid to an electrochemical power generator; and   generating power for the server using the fluid in the electrochemical power generator.   
     
     
         2 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein coupling the fluid to an electrochemical power generator comprises receiving the fluid from the cooling circuit by the electrochemical power generator. 
     
     
         3 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein coupling the fluid to an electrochemical power generator comprises:
 generating the fluid by the electrochemical power generator; and   delivering the fluid to the cooling circuit.   
     
     
         4 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the data includes at least one of a temperature of the server, a power demand of the server, a power delivery rate from the electrochemical power generator, a usage level of the server, a temperature of the fluid after receiving heat energy from the server, and a temperature change of the fluid after receiving heat energy from the server. 
     
     
         5 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the data is indicative of a temperature of the server, and the method further comprises at least one of increasing the amount of heat energy transferred from the server to the fluid when the temperature exceeds a threshold value and decreasing the amount of heat energy transferred from the server to the fluid when the temperature is below a threshold value. 
     
     
         6 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the fluid is a reactant for the electrochemical power generator. 
     
     
         7 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the fluid is a first fluid, and wherein the cooling circuit includes a heat transfer device having a second fluid separate from the first fluid. 
     
     
         8 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein exchanging heat energy between the server and the fluid includes using at least one of conduction and a heat pipe. 
     
     
         9 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein controlling the amount of heat energy transferred from the server to the fluid includes controlling an area of contact between the fluid and the heat exchanger. 
     
     
         10 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the cooling circuit includes an intermediate fluid, and wherein controlling the amount of heat energy transferred from the server to the fluid includes adjusting a flow rate of the intermediate fluid. 
     
     
         11 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the power supply system includes a valve, and wherein controlling the amount of heat energy transferred from the server to the fluid includes diverting a portion of the fluid toward or away from the heat exchanger. 
     
     
         12 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein controlling the amount of heat energy transferred from the server to the fluid includes adjusting a flow rate of the fluid. 
     
     
         13 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein generating power for the server includes producing a by-product from an electrochemical reaction. 
     
     
         14 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the electrochemical power generator is at least one of a flow battery and a fuel cell. 
     
     
         15 . A method of managing a power supply system for a data center, comprising:
 circulating a fluid in a cooling circuit;   exchanging heat energy between a server located in the data center and the fluid in the cooling circuit;   transferring the fluid to an electrochemical power generator; and   generating power for the server using the fluid in the electrochemical power generator.   
     
     
         16 . The method of  claim 15 , wherein the fluid is a reactant for the electrochemical power generator. 
     
     
         17 . The method of  claim 15 , wherein the fluid is a by-product of the electrochemical power generator. 
     
     
         18 . The method of  claim 15 , wherein exchanging heat energy between the server and the fluid includes using at least one of conduction and a heat pipe. 
     
     
         19 . The method of  claim 15 , further comprising at least one of receiving the fluid from a storage tank and transferring the fluid to a storage tank. 
     
     
         20 . The method of  claim 15 , wherein generating power for the server includes producing a by-product from an electrochemical reaction. 
     
     
         21 . The method of  claim 20 , further comprising regenerating the by-product into a reactant using electricity received from a power source. 
     
     
         22 . A method of managing a power supply system for a data center, comprising:
 circulating a fluid in a cooling circuit to exchange heat energy between a server located in the data center and the fluid;   coupling the fluid to an electrochemical power generator;   generating power for the server using the fluid in the electrochemical power generator;   receiving data regarding a power demand of the server;   controlling an amount of power generated by the electrochemical power generator based on the power demand data; and   controlling an amount of heat energy transferred between the server and the fluid based on the power demand data.   
     
     
         23 . The method of  claim 22 , wherein coupling the fluid to an electrochemical power generator comprises receiving the fluid from the cooling circuit by the electrochemical power generator. 
     
     
         24 . The method of  claim 22 , wherein coupling the fluid to an electrochemical power generator comprises generating the fluid by the electrochemical power generator and delivering the fluid to the cooling circuit. 
     
     
         25 . The method of  claim 22 , wherein controlling the amount of heat energy includes at least one of increasing the amount of heat energy transferred from the server to the fluid when the power demand of the server exceeds a threshold value and decreasing the amount of heat energy transferred from the server to the fluid when the power demand of the server falls below a threshold value. 
     
     
         26 . The method of  claim 22 , wherein the fluid is at least one of a reactant for the electrochemical power generator and a by-product of the electrochemical power generator. 
     
     
         27 . The method of  claim 22 , wherein the fluid is a first fluid, and wherein the cooling circuit includes a heat transfer device having a second fluid separate from the first fluid. 
     
     
         28 . The method of  claim 22 , wherein exchanging heat energy between the server and the fluid includes at least one of using conduction and using a heat pipe. 
     
     
         29 . The method of  claim 22 , wherein the cooling circuit includes a heat exchanger, and wherein controlling the amount of heat energy transferred between the server and the fluid includes controlling an area of contact between the fluid and the heat exchanger. 
     
     
         30 . The method of  claim 22 , wherein the cooling circuit includes an intermediate fluid, and wherein controlling the amount of heat energy transferred between the server and the fluid includes adjusting a flow rate of the intermediate fluid. 
     
     
         31 . The method of  claim 22 , wherein controlling the amount of heat energy transferred between the server and the fluid includes diverting a portion of the fluid away from the cooling circuit. 
     
     
         32 . The method of  claim 22 , wherein controlling the amount of heat energy transferred between the server and the fluid includes adjusting a flow rate of the fluid. 
     
     
         33 . The method of  claim 22 , further comprising at least one of receiving the fluid from a storage tank and transferring the fluid to a storage tank. 
     
     
         34 . The method of  claim 22 , wherein generating power for the server includes producing a by-product from an electrochemical reaction. 
     
     
         35 . The method of  claim 22 , further comprising regenerating the by-product into a reactant using electricity received from a power source.