Net Zero Energy Design for Data Centers: A Multidisciplinary Approach (Competition)

Background

This thesis project is part of the Net Zero Building Design Competition (NZBDC), organized by the American Society of Heating, Refrigerating, and Air-Conditioning Engineers (ASHRAE) Region XIV, which challenges students to develop innovative, sustainable solutions for data centres. The competition focuses on achieving Net Zero Energy (NZE) goals by integrating renewable energy systems, advanced cooling technologies, and energy storage solutions. The project is supported by Bengt Dahlgren, a leading Swedish engineering consultancy, which will provide guidance and expertise in sustainable building design.

The demand for energy-efficient and resilient data centres is increasing due to the rapid growth of digital infrastructure and the global push toward sustainability. Data centres consume significant energy for IT operations and cooling, making them a critical focus for innovative solutions. This project explores designing a NZE data centre by addressing three data halls with distinct operational requirements:

Data Hall 1: Legacy air-cooled IT racks.
Data Hall 2: High-density AI racks with liquid-to-chip cooling.
Data Hall 3: High-density AI racks with dielectric fluid immersion cooling.

Each hall presents unique challenges in energy efficiency and resilience, providing an opportunity for groundbreaking HVAC and renewable energy solutions.

Thesis goal and structure

The primary objective of this thesis is to develop a Net Zero Energy design framework for data centres, focusing on:

Identifying the best combination of renewable energy systems and energy-efficient cooling technologies for various data hall requirements.
Conducting energy and economic analyses to determine the feasibility of proposed solutions.
Ensuring compliance with ASHRAE standards (189.1, 90.1, 90.4, and 62.1) to meet sustainability and operational goals.

Key tasks include:

Conducting a comprehensive review of NZE building standards and best practices for data centers.
Developing simulation models for HVAC systems integrated with renewable energy sources and energy storage.
Evaluating cooling technologies for air, liquid-to-chip, and dielectric fluid immersion systems.
Optimizing design strategies for energy efficiency and operational resilience.

Expected outcomes

This project will:

Provide a detailed design proposal for an NZE data centre.
Deliver a comparison of cooling technologies based on energy efficiency and resilience.
Create a simulation model that can be adapted to other data centre designs.

Proposed time schedule

The study is expected to start in January 2024 (wk. 3) at the latest, and expected to be completed in June 2024 (wk. 23). Intermediate reports will be due at 1/3 and 2/3 intervals, or as needed.

How to apply

This thesis is ideal for students passionate about sustainable building design and innovative cooling/heating technologies. Team applications are encouraged. If you are interested in this project, please send your CV together with your transcript of records to jose.acuna@energy.kth.se and fbeltran@kth.se.