Application of the integrated technology of heat pipe and air conditioner in communication cabinet cooling

Abstract

To solve the issues of high energy consumption of traditional air conditioner (TAC) in communication cabinets and ineffective temperature control of baseband unit (BBU), integrated equipment of heat pipe and air conditioning (IEHA) is developed. After a year of the field test, the operational effects of IEHA in different seasons are explored, and the application of the integrated technology of heat pipe and air conditioner (ITHA) is analyzed. The results show that the working temperature of BBU regulated by IEHA meets the relevant standards. Compared with TAC, the IEHA achieves energy saving rates (ESR) of 57.3 %, 67.2 %, and 89.9 % in summer, transitional seasons, and winter, respectively, and the power use efficiency (PUE) is 1.34, 1.23, and 1.05, respectively. The annual ESR is 68.5 %, the annual PUE is reduced from 1.67 to 1.21, and the payback period is 1.15 years. The ESR of ITHA under different cities in China is 55.5–80.8 %, the payback period is 0.97–1.41 years, and the PUE is 1.13–1.30. The fitting functions of the three indexes and the annual average outdoor temperature of the cities are obtained, respectively. This study provides references for the temperature control and energy savings of communication cabinets and the wide application of ITHA.

Keywords

• 5G base station
• Communication cabinet
• Heat pipe
• Air conditioning
• Energy conservation