Energy-saving Potential Study on Telecommunication Base Station Free Cooling With a Thermosyphon Heat Exchanger in China

The energy consumption of air conditioning for a telecommunication base station (TBS) in China can be significantly decreased when an air to air thermosyphon heat exchanger is used for free cooling in low atmosphere temperature days. The model for the typical TBS in China was established and the air conditioning energy consumption was analyzed for the cities with climatic data in China. Taking the sandwich steel panel envelope with the thickness of 50 mm for an example, the energy consumption of an air conditioner combined with a thermosyphon heat exchanger in a TBS and the energy-saving potential for using ambient energy were calculated, and were shown on the map of China by different colors according to the energy-saving rates. The static payback periods were also presented. The results demonstrate that the operation mode of the combined system of an air conditioner and a thermosyphon heat exchanger for controlling the indoor temperature can bring enormous energysaving potential for a TBS in different Chinese cities except the southern areas.