机房空调应用于数据中心冷却的生命周期环境影响分析

Life cycle environmental impact analysis of data center cooling using computer room air-conditioning

在数据中心行业高速发展的同时,机房空调生命周期能源消耗、制冷剂排放等也为环境带来负面效应。为了辨识机房空调全生命周期内环境影响的关键因素,为产品的绿色设计提供依据,运用生命周期评价方法(LCA)对机房空调全生命周期的环境影响水平进行了量化分析。分析结果如下:产品环境影响的主要影响因素是全球气候变暖效应和酸化效应,分别占比56.25%和34.07%;主要影响阶段来自运行阶段,占整个生命周期环境影响水平超过99%;通过敏感度分析表明,机组运行阶段能耗是产品环境影响的主要影响因素,机房空调系统采用自然冷源、提高回风温度等手段可以有效降低机房空调对环境的影响水平;采用更低GWP值的制冷剂也可以降低全球气候变暖效应,但对环境的整体影响效应有限;产品加工和运输过程的环境影响在整个生命周期的占比较小,基本可以忽略。

Along with the rapid development of the data center industry,the life cycle energy consumption and refrigerant emissions of the air conditioner in machine room have also brought negative effects to the environment.In order to identify the key factors of environmental impact in the whole life cycle of the air conditioner in machine room and provide the basis for green design of products,the life cycle assessment method(LCA)is used to quantitatively analyze the environmental impact of the air conditioner in machine room.The analysis results are as follows.The main influencing factors of product environmental impact are global warming potential and acidification potential,accounting for 56.25%and 34.07%respectively.The main impact stage is operation stage,accounting for over 99%of the environmental impact in the whole life cycle.Sensitivity analysis shows that energy consumption of operation stage is the main influencing factor in environmental impact.The use of natural cold sources and increasing return air temperature can effectively reduce the environmental impact of the air conditioner in machine room.Using refrigerants with lower GWP can also reduce the global warming potential,but the overall impact on the environment is limited.The environmental impact of processing and transportation stage in the whole life cycle is relatively small and can be ignored.