Modular data center

Abstract

A modular data center includes a unitary rack having multiple side-by-side bays which are arranged to carry electronic components. The rack has a first passageway on its front side which provides access to the electronic components mounted in the bays. The rack has a second passageway located adjacent to the back side of the bays. A plurality of fans circulate cooling air vertically in a first direction through either the first or second passageway and then horizontally through the bays. In the preferred embodiment, the air flows vertically in the opposite direction in the other passageway back to the fan to be cooled and recirculated. The rack and fans can either be inserted into a trailer or container or walls can be built around them to provide a modular unit.

Description

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION[0001]Many businesses have extensive computer and telecommunication equipment which needs to be readily accessible and have the components housed in a manner that allow them to be easily replaced. This is accomplished through a data center comprising a series of racks which are configured to carry multiple electronic components. The data center provides a systematic way to provide power to these components along with the wiring necessary to operate them. Because electronic components generate significant heat, the data center also provides cooling air at the required level for the components in the data center. Constructing a data center of any complexity takes considerable time and incurs considerable expense. And yet, data centers often must be provided on short notice. In addition, a data center may be required at a particular location for only a short period of time, after which it may be necessary to disassemble it and move it to a new location. When ...

AI Technical Summary

Benefits of technology

[0002]The subject invention over comes this problem by providing a modular data center which contains all of the necessary infrastructure and can be built off-site in a factory and delivered to its desired location and become operational quickly and at less expense than building a data center from scratch on site. In addition, it can later be easily moved to a different location. This is accomplished with a unitary rack having multiple side-by-side bays configured to carry electronic components. The rack has a first passageway which provides access to the front side of the bays and a second passageway on the back side of the bays. A plurality of fans associated with the rack circulate cool air vertically through either the first or second passageway and then horizontally through the bays to cool the components mounted in the bays. In a preferred embodiment, the rack and fans can be inserted as a unit into a trailer or a container or walls can be built around the rack, either of which allows the entire data center to be easily moved.

Problems solved by technology

Constructing a data center of any complexity takes considerable time and incurs considerable expense.

And yet, data centers often must be provided on short notice.

When this occurs, the data center is out of use while it is being disassembled and reassembled at considerable expense.

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