数据中心为何押注废热回收

The Data Center Heat Problem

Data centers use a large share of the world’s electricity, and almost all of it ends up as heat. Traditionally that heat is dumped outdoors through cooling towers and chillers. With energy costs climbing, operators are asking a simple question: can that heat be used instead of wasted?

Two Main Recovery Paths

第一条路径是空气-空气回收。热通道空气通过板式或旋转式空气-空气换热器，用来加热流入的新风或邻近空间。数据中心环境下的显热回收，板式换热器与间接蒸发（IEC）机组是常见选择。旋转轮因送风与排风间的交叉污染和泄漏风险，通常在此避用。

第二条路径基于水。服务器热量被送入水环路，输送到区域供热网或邻近建筑。这在热需求稳定、人口密集的寒冷城市效果最佳。

Why the Timing Is Right

• 能源成本：每回收1千瓦时，就少从电网买1千瓦时。
• ESG 目标：复用热量把废物流变成可报告的可持续性成果。
• 监管：部分地区已要求大型设施回收或报告废热。
• 区域供热：与公用事业合作使复用在城市尺度上切实可行。

What to Specify

空气侧回收：选择板式换热器或 IEC 回收显热，并保持送风与排风隔离。水侧回收：按部分负荷而非峰值设计环路，并以适当过滤保护。无论哪条路径，都应给换热器配上计量，以便测量并报告回收能量。

Outlook

预期回收将从试点项目走向新建数据中心的默认设计。随着电网更清洁、热需求居高不下，把废热变成共享资源将是高效计算最明确的赢面之一。

常见问题

Why recover heat from data centers?
Almost all the electricity a data center draws ends up as heat. Instead of dumping it through chillers and cooling towers, recovery puts that energy to use, cutting the site energy bill and carbon footprint.

What recovery paths exist?
Air-to-air recovery passes hot aisle air through a plate or rotary exchanger to warm incoming air or nearby spaces. Where higher-grade heat is available, heat pumps or Organic Rankine Cycle units can lift it for district heating or power.

Why are rotary wheels often avoided in data centers?
Rotary wheels rotate exhaust and supply through a shared matrix, so a small amount of contaminated exhaust can carry into the clean supply air, a risk most operators avoid in IT spaces.

What can the recovered heat be used for?
Nearby office or lobby heating, domestic hot water, greenhouses, swimming pools, or district heating networks where the data center sits close to heat demand.

常见问题

Why recover heat from data centers?

Almost all the electricity a data center draws ends up as heat. Instead of dumping it through chillers and cooling towers, recovery puts that energy to use, cutting the site energy bill and carbon footprint.

What recovery paths exist?

Air-to-air recovery passes hot aisle air through a plate or rotary exchanger to warm incoming air or nearby spaces. Where higher-grade heat is available, heat pumps or Organic Rankine Cycle units can lift it for district heating or power.

Why are rotary wheels often avoided in data centers?

Rotary wheels rotate exhaust and supply through a shared matrix, so a small amount of contaminated exhaust can carry into the clean supply air, a risk most operators avoid in IT spaces.

What can the recovered heat be used for?

Nearby office or lobby heating, domestic hot water, greenhouses, swimming pools, or district heating networks where the data center sits close to heat demand.