Waste Heat Recovery and Reuse from Data Centers
Most electrical power delivered to a data center is dissipated as heat. Few data centers attempt to recover and reuse waste energy despite huge opportunities for energy savings and sustainability; its relatively low temperatures make it difficult.
The goal of this project is to comprehensively analyze and optimize two key methods of waste heat recovery, and produce validated computer models for use in analyzing the potential benefits, choosing the best system, and calculating and optimizing the return on investment. Ongoing research will ensure that the identified and optimized heat recovery systems can be implemented with confidence such that they will deliver the expected economic and environmental benefits.
Primary Goal:
Assess all technologies available for recovery and re-use of data center dissipated energy
- New and legacy data center designs
- Technical and economic point of view
ES2 RESEARCHERS
Dr. Aaron Wemhoff
Dr. Wemhoff is an associate professor of Mechanical Engineering and director of the Methods for Systems Analysis Laboratory. He performs research in energy sustainability and teaches courses in the areas of thermodynamics, heat transfer and fluid mechanics. Prior to joining Villanova University, he spent three years as a staff engineer at Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory.
Dr. Gerard F. “Jerry” Jones
Mechanical Engineering Professor Dr. Jones is the College’s senior associate dean for Graduate Studies and Research. He also directs the Thermal and Flow Management of Multiscale Systems Laboratory and has taught in the areas of heat transfer, fluid mechanics, thermodynamics, analysis and design, and gravity-driven water networks.
Dr. Alfonso Ortega
ES2 Site Director
Mechanical Engineering Professor Dr. Ortega is the Birle Endowed Chair in Energy Systems. He is internationally recognized for his work in data center energy and thermal management, electronics cooling, convective heat and mass transfer, experimental methods in thermal sciences and energy technology.