Heat Removal System and Method

Abstract

As air inside a building (e.g., a data center or any building that generates heat) heats up, it rises and is received or captured by a heat containment structure, which is then released from the building. The warm air is not reused, recirculated, or re-cooled. The warm air released from the building creates a pressure differential, with the pressure on the warm side of the building (where the heat containment structure is located) being lower than the cool side of the building. To achieve this goal, cooling units are installed in building openings and supply cooled air at a constant rate. The cooling units do not have an internal controller. Rather, the building's air conditioning (AC) unit acts as the external controller. The AC unit is set to maintain a target temperature and only runs when the temperature inside the building is above the target temperature.

Description

[Technical Field]

[0001] (CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS) This application is a continuation-in-part of, and claims the benefit of priority to, U.S. patent application Ser. No. 16 / 230,799, filed December 21, 2018, entitled "HEAT REMOVAL SYSTEMS AND METHODS," which is a continuation-in-part of, and claims the benefit of priority to, U.S. patent application Ser. No. 15 / 678,961, filed August 16, 2017, now U.S. Patent No. 10,212,855, entitled "DATA CENTER HEAT REMOVAL SYSTEMS AND METHODS," which is a continuation-in-part of, and claims the benefit of priority to, U.S. patent application Ser. No. 14 / 984,149, filed December 30, 2015, now U.S. Patent No. 9,769,960 ... This is a conversion application of Provisional Application No. 62 / 098,176, entitled "METHODS," filed December 30, 2014, and claims the benefit of priority under 35 U.S.C. § 119. All applications listed in this paragraph are hereby fully incorporated by reference in their entirety.

[0002] (Copyright Notice) A portion of the disclosure of this patent document contains material that is subject to copyright protection. The Owner has no objection to the facsimile reproduction of any one of the patent document or patent disclosure documents so long as such reproduction appears in the Patent and Trademark Office patent file or records, but otherwise reserves all copyrights in their entirety.

[0003] (Technical field) FIELD OF THE DISCLOSURE This disclosure relates generally to data centers, and more particularly to new and improved systems and methods for cooling data center servers and removing heat from data centers. [Background technology]

[0004] A data center is a facility used to store computer systems and associated components such as air conditioning systems. Large data centers can contain hundreds of servers and require the energy of a small town to power the data center computer and cooling equipment.

[0005] Therefore, the amount of energy usage consumed by data centers is a major cost concern. Energy costs within data centers arise from computing, networking activity, and power conversion, which uses energy and generates heat as a by-product. However, the majority of energy costs are associated with removing heat from the data center. Active thermal management equipment (i.e., air conditioning systems) are substantially less than 100% efficient, which means that the thermal monitoring and management equipment generates heat through its own operation, adding to the heat removal problem in data centers.

[0006] In a traditional data center environment, the desired temperature is maintained using heating, ventilation, and air conditioning (HVAC). Typically, the ambient temperature is monitored by a thermostat, which turns the heating or air conditioning on and off to maintain the temperature set by the thermostat. Summary of the Invention [Means for solving the problem]

[0007] Embodiments provide systems and methods that enable a combination of active and passive thermal data center processes to remove heat from a data center environment having computing equipment, networking equipment, and / or power distribution systems.

[0008] In some embodiments, a data center heat removal system may include an adjustable thermal feed cold air intake system, a distribution system for cold and warm air including one or more hot aisles and one or more cold aisles, and a convection system for drawing cold air and expelling warm air through the data center equipment using naturally occurring convection processes. That is, some embodiments utilize passive pressure differentials, either alone or in combination with the active use of fans or other air circulation devices, to expel warm air and draw in cold air. Additionally, some embodiments may use heat exchangers.

[0009] In some embodiments, these components are interchangeable and modular and are the basis for a novel solution that provides an efficient way to remove heat from data centers.

[0010] Embodiments utilize natural convection, including the use of pressure differentials between hot and cold aisles, for heat removal from the data center. Embodiments may also use cold air from foggers and / or freezer boxes for cold air intake. Some embodiments may use natural processes to create two distinct pressure regions within the data center. Some embodiments may use natural processes to maximize the pressure differential between an individual server's cold aisle input and its output to the warm aisle. Some embodiments enable natural process-driven multi-stage air cooling.

[0011] Advantageously, embodiments efficiently manage the climate (which may include temperature, humidity, airflow, air quality, etc.) within a data center and minimize the use of energy for air distribution. Some embodiments minimize the use of active thermal management equipment that generates heat through its own operation. Some embodiments minimize or eliminate the use of moving cooling components. Some embodiments minimize maintenance costs associated with server heating and cooling. Some embodiments manage the cost of computing services.

[0012] In some embodiments, a system for data center heat removal includes an adjustable pressure-type cold air intake system, one or more heat exchangers, a distribution system for cold and warm air (cold aisles and warm aisles), and a convection system for drawing the cold air through the data center equipment along with integrated server fans. The system utilizes naturally occurring convection processes to expel warm air, thus creating a relative vacuum and potentially drawing in additional cold air (and optimally using adjustable fans for warm air rejection). Thus, embodiments may include enclosed warm low-pressure areas and cold-pressure areas.

[0013] Although examples herein are described in the context of a data center, some embodiments disclosed herein can be adapted or otherwise implemented to function in other types of environments, situations, etc. Some embodiments may automatically utilize convection for cooling. Some embodiments are designed to allow multi-stage cooling. Some embodiments utilize pressure to expel warm air and draw in cool air. Some embodiments can be constructed into new buildings. Some embodiments can be retrofitted to remove heat from an existing building or environment and provide cool air. Some embodiments can be particularly useful for high-volume applications. Numerous additional embodiments are possible.

[0014] For example, in some embodiments, a method of removing heat from a building and cooling air therein (e.g., a data center or any industrial building that generates heat) can include positioning an exhaust end of a cooling unit within an opening in the building (e.g., within a wall, roof, or ceiling of the building), the cooling unit having an enclosure having an intake end and an exhaust end, and at least one fan positioned within the enclosure and operating at a constant speed (whether the at least one fan is a constant speed fan or a variable speed fan) configured to draw ambient air from the intake end of the enclosure, cool the ambient air, and direct the cooled air toward the opening in the building. The method can further include capturing or receiving warm air inside the building through a heat containment structure inside the building, configuring an air conditioning unit inside the building to maintain a target temperature, and expelling the warm air from the building through an exhaust structure of the building. In some embodiments, the target temperature can be a minimum service temperature required by the building owner or operator. The air conditioning unit can be any existing or commercially available HVAC system.

[0015] Releasing warm air from the building creates a pressure differential, with the air pressure on the warm side of the building being lower than the air pressure on the cool side of the building. This pressure differential draws cooled air supplied by the cooling unit from the warm side of the building to the cool side of the building through an opening in the building. In response to the temperature within the building rising above a target temperature, and with the cooling unit supplying cooled air to the building at a constant rate, the air conditioning unit is operable to run until the temperature within the building drops below the target temperature. In this way, the cooling unit can significantly reduce the energy consumption of the air conditioning unit.

[0016] In some embodiments, the thermal containment structure can be implemented within a server pod that encloses one or more banks of servers. The server pod can have openings for drawing in cooled air and vents for directing air heated by the one or more banks of servers to an exhaust structure. In some embodiments, the thermal containment structure can further include a sealed hood, enclosure, ductwork, or pipes.

[0017] In some embodiments, the cooling unit can include at least one filter, evaporative cooler, evaporative cooling element, refrigeration coil, or chiller to further cool the air drawn in from the intake end of the enclosure.

[0018] These and other aspects of the present disclosure will be further appreciated and understood when considered in conjunction with the following description and the accompanying drawings. It should be understood, however, that the following description, while indicating various embodiments of the present disclosure and numerous specific details thereof, is given by way of illustration and not of limitation. Many substitutions, modifications, additions, and / or rearrangements may be made within the scope of the present disclosure without departing from the spirit thereof, and the present disclosure includes all such substitutions, modifications, additions, and / or rearrangements. [Brief explanation of the drawings]

[0019] The accompanying drawings that form a part of this specification are included to depict certain aspects of the present disclosure. It should be noted that the features illustrated in the drawings are not necessarily drawn to scale. A more complete understanding of the present disclosure and its advantages may be obtained by reference to the following description considered in connection with the accompanying drawings (where like reference numerals indicate like features):

[0020] [Figure 1] FIG. 1 depicts a diagram illustrating an exemplary data center heat removal system having a cooling unit configured for a data center according to some embodiments.

[0021] [Figure 2] FIG. 2 is a perspective view of an example server pod of a data center implementing an example data center heat removal system disclosed herein.

[0022] [Figure 3] FIG. 3 is a block diagram of an exemplary arrangement of cooling units according to some embodiments.

[0023] [Figure 4] 4-7 are diagrams of exemplary cooling units according to some embodiments. [Figure 5A] 4-7 are diagrams of exemplary cooling units according to some embodiments. [Figure 5B] 4-7 are diagrams of exemplary cooling units according to some embodiments. [Figure 5C] 4-7 are diagrams of exemplary cooling units according to some embodiments. [Figure 6] 4-7 are diagrams of exemplary cooling units according to some embodiments. [Figure 7] 4-7 are diagrams of exemplary cooling units according to some embodiments.

[0024] [Figure 8] FIG. 8 is a block diagram illustrating an exemplary data center heat removal system configured to maintain a desired temperature within a data center according to some embodiments.

[0025] [Figure 9] FIG. 9 is a logic control diagram for an exemplary data center heat removal system according to some embodiments.

[0026] [Figure 10A] FIG. 10A depicts a building in which an example of a heat removal system disclosed herein is installed, according to some embodiments.

[0027] [Figure 10B]FIG. 10B depicts a building in which another example of a heat removal system disclosed herein is installed, according to some embodiments.

[0028] [Figure 11] FIG. 11 is a flowchart illustrating an example of a method for removing heat from a building and cooling the air therein according to some embodiments. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0029] The following is a description of one exemplary data center environment in which a heat removal system according to some embodiments may be implemented. Figure 1 depicts a diagram that schematically illustrates the layout of a data center heat removal system according to some embodiments. In the example of Figure 1, the data center heat removal system for a data center 100 includes a cooling unit 102. As will be described in more detail below, the cooling unit 102 may include an enclosure, one or more fans or similar devices configured to draw air from outside the data center, one or more foggers to cool the air, and one or more chiller units to further reduce the air temperature.

[0030] The data center 100 may include one or more server pods 106a and 106b. The server pods 106a and 106b may be embodied as separate rooms or enclosures having walls 107, doors 116a, 116b, 116c, and 116d, and a ceiling (not shown). The server pods 106a and 106b are configured to store one or more banks 108a, 108b, 108c, and 108d of servers, respectively. The server banks 108a, 108b, 108c, and 108d may comprise racks of servers mounted on top of each other. Note that while two server pods are illustrated, in reality, a data center may employ more. Thus, the illustration is by way of example only.

[0031] Server pods 106a and 106b include openings 112 for drawing cool air from cooling units 102 via one or more "cold aisles" 115. In examples where a data center includes multiple server pods, additional cold aisles may be formed between other server pods. Server pods 106a and 106b may be further configured such that banks of servers 108a and 108b (and similarly, server banks 108c and 108d) are separated by "hot aisles" 110a and 110b, respectively. In operation, cool air is drawn from cold aisle 115 and flows across server banks 108a and 108b (and similarly, server banks 108c and 108d), where it is heated by the servers. The heated air isolated in the hot aisles 110a and 110b is then drawn upward to and through vents 117a and 117b in the ceilings of the respective pods 106a and 106b. The heated air exiting the hot aisles 110a and 110b will create lower pressure in the hot aisles 110a and 110b, causing cooler air to be drawn in from the cold aisles 115. Air circulation can be controlled (described in more detail below) by varying the volume of air allowed through the supply side or the exhaust side or both.

[0032] Thus, air heated by server banks 108a, 108b, 108c, and 108d will rise to the top of pods 106a and 106b via natural convection and be vented through vents 117a and 117b. Some embodiments provide an enclosed hood (see, for example, hood 211 shown in FIG. 2) for warm air flow. In some embodiments, additional fans may be provided within or in conjunction with vents 117a and 117b to assist in drawing the heated air and / or maintain a desired pressure differential.

[0033] 1, air flows from cooling units 102 into one or more cold aisles 115, from which it is drawn into server pods 106a and 106b through openings 112. Inside server pods 106a and 106b, internal fans (not shown) in the servers may draw air across the servers and into hot aisles 110a and 110b. From hot aisles 110a and 110b, heated air is vented through vents 117a and 117b.

[0034] In some embodiments, vents 117a and 117b may include or be associated with fans that draw air through them. In some embodiments, the fans are coupled to or controlled by one or more pressure sensors that may be utilized to ensure that the pressure in hot aisles 110a and 110b is lower than the pressure in cold aisle 115. For example, if the pressure in hot aisle 110a or 110b is detected to be the same as or higher than the pressure in cold aisle 115, the respective fans may be operated at a higher speed to draw more air up through vents 117a and 117b in the hot aisles 110a and 110b. This ensures that a desired pressure differential and / or a desired airflow rate can be maintained or otherwise controlled.

[0035] FIG. 2 is a perspective view illustrating an example server pod of a data center that stores multiple server banks (not shown). For clarity, only one server pod is shown. The data center of FIG. 2 may be an embodiment of data center 100 shown in FIG. 1. In this example, server pod 206a and an adjacent server pod (not shown) are separated by a cold aisle 215. The side of server pod 206a includes a screened opening 212 for passing cool air into server pod 206a. As shown, server pod 206a includes an access door 216a that defines an opening to a hot aisle (not shown) inside server pod 206a. In the illustrated example, the server pod hot aisle (inside server pod 206a) extends from the ceiling of server pod 206a to the ceiling of the data center through an enclosure or hood 211. Cold aisle 215 is pressurized with cold air, which is then drawn through the racks of server pod 206a, as illustrated by arrow 214. The air is then drawn out the top of server pod 206a through an enclosed or sealed hood 211.

[0036] As discussed above with respect to FIG. 1, a data center heat removal system may include one or more cooling units, such as cooling unit 102. FIG. 3 is a block diagram of one example arrangement of cooling unit 300 that may be used within a data center according to some embodiments. Cooling unit 300 may include a structure or enclosure for storing various components of the cooling unit, which are described below. In one example, the enclosure may comprise a shipping container enclosure that, according to one non-limiting example, is approximately 20 feet long, 7 feet 10 inches high, and 7 feet 8 inches wide. Other types and sizes may also be used.

[0037] In the example cooling unit 300 shown in FIG. 3 , the direction of airflow through the cooling unit 300 is indicated by arrows at each end of the cooling unit 300. Ambient air enters the cooling unit 300 at the first end 301 (indicated by arrow 303) and exits into the data center at the second end 305 (indicated by arrow 307). In the example illustrated in FIG. 3 , the cooling unit 300 includes a first fan unit 314, a first filter 312, a second fan unit 310, a sprayer 308, a chiller unit 306, a third fan unit 304, and a second sprayer 302. In some embodiments, each of the components may be configured to extend across a cross-section of the container. Additionally, in some embodiments, one or more of the components may not be required. For example, in some embodiments, chiller unit 306 may not be required by a data center heat removal system disclosed herein (e.g., data center 100 shown in FIG. 1) if the air outside the data center configured with the data center heat removal system is typically at a sufficiently cool temperature (e.g., depending on the climate, location, and / or altitude at which the data center is located) that artificial cooling may not be necessary. Further, in some embodiments, the humidity of the air may be such that only one fogger is required.

[0038] In some embodiments, the number and configuration of fan units in cooling unit 300 may be selected based on airflow requirements, as desired. In some embodiments, fan units 314, 310, and 304 may each include four 44-inch drum fans capable of moving approximately 72,000 CFM of air. Control of the fan units is described in detail below. Filter unit 312 may be implemented as a four-stage Hepa filter in some embodiments.

[0039] In some embodiments, the air conditioner units 306 may be configured to include air conditioners on both sides of the air conditioner unit 300, with coils extending from the sides to meet at 45 degrees. In some embodiments, the coil units may be hinged so that they can be hinged to the sides of the air conditioner unit using a motor when not in use.

[0040] In some embodiments of the data center heat removal system, various types of sensors can be installed within the data center to sense various conditions within the data center. In some embodiments, the sensed conditions are stored in a database and used by a control system to control the operation of the cooling units and associated components such as fans, vents, etc. (described below). The control system may be associated with the cooling units 300, the data center itself, or both. The sensors may include temperature sensors, humidity sensors, airflow sensors, pressure sensors, and / or other types of environmental sensors. In some embodiments, each cooling unit 300 may provide up to 60,000 CFM of air to the data center at or below 78 degrees. In other embodiments, each cooling unit 300 may provide more or less capacity, as desired.

[0041] While cooling unit 300 pressurizes the data center, the data center's variable speed ceiling fans (e.g., for vents 117a and 117b in FIG. 1 or hood 211 in FIG. 2) can be adjusted to keep the pressure in the hot aisles lower than the cooling side of the system. If the temperature drops below a threshold (e.g., 65 degrees), one of the fans can be slowed down or shut off, reducing the pressure, and the ceiling fan will slow down and reduce the amount of air being expelled.

[0042] 4-7 are diagrams of exemplary cooling units according to some embodiments. Other configurations and layouts are possible. In FIGS. 4-7, the enclosure walls are hidden to show the cooling unit components inside the enclosure. FIG. 4 is an isometric view of the cooling unit. FIGS. 5A, 5B, and 5C are each a top view of the cooling unit shown in FIG. 4. FIG. 6 is a side view of the cooling unit shown in FIG. 4. FIG. 7 is an end view of the cooling unit shown in FIG. 4.

[0043] As mentioned above, in some embodiments, the cooling unit can be stored using a standard shipping container. A typical shipping container consists of a steel box with a door at one end. While a standard shipping container works well as a cooling unit enclosure, customized enclosures can also be used. In one example, a standard 20-foot reefer shipping container is used. In this example, an intake area (described below) is formed at one end of the container.

[0044] As shown in Figure 4-7, the cooling unit 400 includes a housing 410 having a door 412 at one end. When the cooling unit 400 is in use, the door 412 is opened or removed completely. In Figure 4-6, the direction of airflow through the cooling unit 400 is from right to left.

[0045] At the right end of the cooling unit 400 are multiple vents 414 that form openings within the housing 410 and allow air to be drawn into the cooling unit 400 from outside. In the example shown in FIG. 4, the vents 414 are formed at the end and on three sides of the housing 410. Downstream of the vents 414 are one or more fans 416. In the example shown in FIGS. 4-7, four fans are positioned to substantially cover the cross-section of the housing 410. More or fewer fans may also be used. As described in more detail below, the fans 416 may be single-speed or variable-speed and may be controlled together or independently. The fans 416 draw air into the cooling unit 400 through the vents 414 and force the air through a filter 418. In one example, the fans 416 are 42-inch drum fans, each capable of moving 18,200 cubic feet per minute (CFM) of air. In the examples of Figures 4-7, four fans are installed on the intake side. In other examples (e.g., Figure 3), five or more fans are installed on the exhaust end of the enclosure 410. In one example, the filters are triple stacked filters angled at 45 degrees from both sides to provide more surface area.

[0046] Downstream of filter 418 is sprayer 420. In the example shown, sprayer 420 is located near the top of housing 410 and includes a series of downward-facing spray nozzles. When sprayer 420 is activated, fine mist 422 of water is sprayed downward as air flows through cooling unit 400. Depending on the temperature and relative humidity, sprayer 420 can reduce the temperature of the air by approximately 10 degrees.

[0047] Downstream of the atomizer 420 is the atomizer cooling element 424. For clarity, the atomizer cooling element 424 is not shown in FIG. 4 but is shown in FIGS. 5A-6. The atomizer cooling element 424 is made of a metallic material and serves to further cool the air by providing a surface for the atomized condensation. As the air flows through the atomizer cooling element 424, the air is not only cooled by evaporating the atomized condensation, but also by passing through the atomizer cooling element 424. The atomizer cooling element 424 can be of any configuration that allows air to flow through it while providing a surface (e.g., a metal surface) for the atomized condensation. Examples of the atomizer cooling element 424 include a coil, a metal grid, a mesh, or the like, as would be understood by one skilled in the art.

[0048] Downstream from the sprayer 420 and sprayer cooling element 424 are a pair of chillers 426 mounted on opposite walls of the housing 410. The chillers 426 can be conventional off-the-shelf air conditioning or refrigeration units configured to cool the air. If the air needs further cooling, one or more of the chillers 426 can be turned on. FIGS. 5A-6 also show a chiller element, such as a chiller coil 428, positioned within the housing 410 between the chillers 426. The chiller element 428 is an extension of piping from the chiller 426 that extends into the chiller unit 400 to improve heat transfer with the air. In one example, the chiller element 428 is configured to extend at a 45-degree angle from the side of the housing 410. In one example, the chiller element 428 is movable so that it automatically hinges back against the interior wall of the housing 410 when not in use.

[0049] It should be noted that the configuration of the cooling unit can take on many configurations, as desired. For example, the cooling unit 300 shown in Figure 3 has three sets of fans and two sets of misters. Depending on various factors such as the local climate, data center size, cost limitations, etc., the cooling unit can be configured in a manner that balances desired performance and cost.

[0050] As discussed above, the temperature of a data center can be controlled and maintained by sensing various conditions within the data center and controlling various components of the system accordingly. FIG. 8 is a block diagram illustrating a system 800 configured to maintain a desired data center temperature in the most energy-efficient manner possible. System 800 has a controller 810 that can interface with and control various components of system 800. Controller 810 can consist of a single device that interfaces with the components of system 800 or can include multiple devices that function together. For example, a data center can have separate fan controllers, air conditioner controllers, etc. In one example, a web-based application runs on server 812 and controls the operation of controller 810. One or more client devices 814 can be used by technicians to configure and monitor the controller via the web-based application.

[0051] System 800 uses multiple sensors 816 to sense various conditions within the data center. The sensors may include temperature sensors, humidity sensors, airflow sensors, and / or pressure sensors, as well as any other desired sensors. Temperature sensors may sense temperatures in hot aisles, cold aisles, server pods, cooling units, exhaust vents, individual servers, etc. Ambient temperatures can also be sensed outdoors or at the intake of cooling units. Similarly, humidity sensors can sense humidity anywhere within the data center, as desired. Pressure sensors sense air pressure at various locations within the data center. By monitoring air pressure throughout the data center, a desired airflow through the system can be maintained. In one example, air pressure is sensed in the cold aisles, hot aisles, and exhaust vents. System 800 may also use any other types of sensors as desired.

[0052] System 800 controls the operation of the system's fans 818 to maintain a desired airflow throughout the system. For example, a data center may have fans in cooling units (e.g., fan 416 in FIG. 4 ) and exhaust vents (e.g., vents 117a and 117b in FIG. 1 ). Controller 810 controls whether the fans are on or off and, when variable-speed fans are used, their speed. Controller 810 can determine the most efficient use of the fans to maintain the desired airflow, and therefore the temperature. For example, if a given amount of airflow is needed to maintain a target temperature, the controller can selectively activate individual fans and control them to the desired speed to achieve the desired airflow using the least amount of electricity possible.

[0053] System 800 can also control the opening and closing of vents 820 within the system if the system is equipped with closable vents. For example, the intake vent of a cooling unit may include louvers that can be opened and closed by controller 810. Similarly, the exhaust vent can also be opened and closed by controller 810. Vent 820 can not only be opened and closed, but can also be opened by a desired amount to further control the amount of airflow through vent 820.

[0054] System 800 also controls the operation of the system's fogger 822 (e.g., fogger 420 in FIG. 4) to lower the air temperature within the system. As noted above, activation of fogger 822 can, under the right conditions, lower the air temperature by approximately 10 degrees. Fogger 822 is most effective in low humidity conditions. By knowing the humidity of the air, controller 810 can determine when activating fogger 822 will have a beneficial effect.

[0055] System 800 also controls the operation of the system's air conditioner unit 824 (e.g., air conditioner 426 in FIG. 4) to lower the air temperature. By activating air conditioner unit 824, the air temperature can be lowered significantly, helping to achieve a desired air temperature.

[0056] Controller 810 may also control various other components, as desired. Additionally, controller 810 and web-based applications can monitor, log, and report various aspects of the operation of system 800. System 800 may include monitors, visual indicators, alarms, etc., allowing a user or technician to monitor the operation of system 800, either via a client device or stand-alone indicators and devices.

[0057] System 800 is controlled to achieve a desired target temperature within the server pod in the most efficient manner possible. A major factor in determining the cost of cooling a data center is electricity usage. Each of the various components of system 800 that contribute to lowering the air temperature uses a different amount of electricity. Therefore, controller 810 is configured to achieve and maintain the target temperature by controlling the system components in a way that minimizes electricity usage.

[0058] The goal of the controller is to maintain the desired target temperature using the least amount of electricity possible. When the air conditioner unit may use significantly more power than the fan and fogger, the controller will attempt to maintain the desired target temperature without using the air conditioner unit, or at least minimize its use. Similarly, the controller will selectively activate and control the speed of the fan to achieve the desired airflow using the least amount of power.

[0059] In one example, the controller 810 uses an algorithm to control the system. The algorithm may maintain a desired target temperature without using the air conditioner unit 824 when possible. For example, under the right conditions, the desired target temperature can be maintained by controlling the activation and speed of only the fan 818. Under the right conditions (e.g., relatively low humidity levels), the fogger 822 may be used in conjunction with the fan. Use of the fogger 822 may allow fan usage to be reduced, further lowering power usage.

[0060] The control algorithm can understand the conditions within the system (e.g., temperature, humidity, air pressure differential) via sensors and control the system accordingly. For example, assume a temperature drop of X degrees is required. By knowing the outside ambient air temperature, the various temperatures within the system, and the relative air pressure within the system, the controller can determine that Y cubic feet of airflow is required to reach the desired target temperature. The controller then selectively activates and controls the speed of the fans within the system to achieve the determined airflow rate. The controller also considers the effect that activating the foggers would have on the air temperature and, therefore, the desired airflow rate. When the sensed conditions indicate that using a fogger would be beneficial, the foggers will be activated. As a result, the controller can maintain the desired target temperature in the most efficient manner possible, preferably using a combination of fans and foggers, without relying on a cooling unit. If the outside ambient temperature is high enough (perhaps 78 degrees, in one example), the desired target temperature may be unattainable using only the fans and foggers. In that case, the controller will turn on one or more of the cooling units to reduce the air temperature to the desired target level.

[0061] 9 is a logical control diagram illustrating an example of the control of fans (e.g., fan 416 in FIG. 4) in a cooling unit data center based on sensed conditions. In the example illustrated in FIG. 9, the controller controls the amount of airflow through the system based on, for example, the temperature of the air at the cooling unit intake. Generally, cooler air requires less airflow to cool the data center, while warmer air requires more airflow to cool the data center.

[0062] As shown in FIG. 9 , the controller obtains temperature readings from one or more temperature sensors. The temperature sensors may be located at the intake of the cooling unit, on the outside of the cooling unit, or in any other suitable location. In this example, if the sensors report an air temperature of approximately 50 degrees Fahrenheit, the controller sends a digital signal to the fan to run at 50 CFM / kW. As shown by the airflow value in FIG. 9 , the desired flow rate also depends on the amount of power being consumed within the data center—50 CFM / kW in this example. In other words, when more power is being consumed by the data center, more heat is generated, and therefore more airflow is required. The desired flow rate can be achieved by selectively activating fans and setting the speed of the activated fans. In some examples, the airflow rate can also be fine-tuned by controlling the exhaust fan. If the sensors report an air temperature of approximately 70 degrees Fahrenheit, the controller sends a digital signal to the cooling unit fan to run at 126 CFM / kW. If the sensor reports an air temperature of approximately 90 degrees Fahrenheit, the controller will send a digital signal to the cooling unit fan to run at 225 CFM / kW.

[0063] Other components of the system (e.g., sprayers, chillers, etc.) can be controlled in a similar manner based on any desired sensed condition, as one skilled in the art would understand. It should also be noted that activation of different components of the system may affect each other. For example, if a sprayer is activated, a lower airflow rate may be desired compared to the desired airflow rate without the sprayer.

[0064] Note that it is important not only to lower the temperature of the data center to a desired level, but also not to lower the temperature too far below the desired level. The reliability of some server equipment depends on a relatively constant temperature. Thus, in some conditions (e.g., winter), the outside ambient air will be cold enough for the controller to restrict airflow to keep the air temperature at the desired target value.

[0065] The above-described system can be built into a new data center or retrofitted into an existing data center (utilizing existing structures such as ducts, chimneys, etc.). In instances where the system is retrofitted into an existing data center, one or more cooling units can each be installed within an opening formed in the data center wall, as illustrated in FIG. 1. In each hot aisle, an exhaust vent / hood (e.g., vents 117a and 117b in FIG. 1) is generated to draw warm air out of the data center. A controller and various sensors (e.g., temperature, humidity, and / or pressure, etc.) can also be installed to monitor and control the operation of the system.

[0066] The difference between the system described above and conventional cooling systems is that the system disclosed herein does not recycle or recool air within the building. Conventional cooling systems that recycle and / or recool air within a building may be characterized as “closed-loop” systems in that the indoor air is circulated or primarily circulated within a closed loop. Such systems assume that it is more energy efficient to cool the air already inside the building. Conventional cooling systems, such as HVAC systems, may be required to use economizers to draw outdoor air into the building and to use dampers to control the amount of air drawn, recirculated, and exhausted from the building (depending on the climate zone in which the HVAC system is located). The use of such economizers can reduce the amount of time the AC is running, which reduces HVAC energy consumption. However, the outdoor air must be below a set temperature and have a humidity level below a set percentage. That is, economizers do not work well in locations where the outdoor air is humid and warm. In such locations, economizer cooling is not required as the potential energy savings may not be sufficient to justify the additional cost of implementing it.

[0067] To this end, in some embodiments, the cooling units described above can be modified to work in conjunction with air conditioning (AC) units. However, unlike traditional HVAC systems, the heated air within the building is not reused, recirculated, or recooled. Rather, the warm air is vented or otherwise exhausted from the building (which can be any industrial building that produces heat, such as a data center, manufacturing plant, etc.).

[0068] In this case, the building is structured to have a thermal containment structure. The structure of this thermal containment structure can vary from implementation to implementation depending on the building design. In the example of FIG. 2, the thermal containment structure is structured as a pod (e.g., server pod 206a) with an enclosed hood or enclosure (e.g., hood 211) that directs warm air (heated by the server banks (e.g., server banks 108a, 108b, 108c, and 108d) inside the pod and forced to rise to the top of pod 206a via natural convection) to flow toward a building vent or exhaust opening. Additionally or alternatively, the thermal containment structure can include ductwork (referring to a system of ducts) and / or pipes (e.g., with or without an enclosed hood to direct the warm air toward an exhaust opening). Other implementations are possible.

[0069] Exhausting the warm air from the heat containment structure creates a relative vacuum within the building. In some embodiments, the cooling units disclosed herein can supply cooled air to the building, as described above. However, the fan and / or similar device configured to draw ambient air from the intake end of the cooling unit is set to operate at a constant speed. The cooling unit may or may not include a fogger or evaporative cooler. Because the fan and / or similar device in the cooling unit is set to operate at a constant speed, there is no need for a controller to vary their speed. Thus, in such embodiments, the cooling unit does not require a customer controller. Rather, the AC in the building can function as a controller for the heat removal system to maintain a desired target temperature within the building. The AC unit can be set to a certain temperature to operate only when it senses that the temperature within the building is above its set temperature. In this way, the cooling unit does not replace the AC unit but can reduce the energy consumption of the AC unit.

[0070] This heat removal system, including a cooling unit and an AC unit, can be implemented in many ways. FIG. 10A shows an example in which a cooling unit 1000 is positioned (or installed) within an opening formed in a wall of a building 1010. As illustrated in FIG. 10A, contained warm air is discharged from the building 1010 through a vent or exhaust structure 1030. This creates a pressure differential between the warm air side of the building (e.g., a heat containment structure within the building) and the cool air side (e.g., the intake side of the building). To achieve this goal, the cooling unit 1000 draws ambient air from its intake end and supplies cooled air through its exhaust end to the intake end of the building 1010. The building 1010 has an HVAC system 1020, which is configured to maintain a minimum service temperature of the building. The fan and / or similar device within the cooling unit 1000 is configured to operate at a set speed so that the HVAC system 1020 will only turn on when the ambient air reaches a temperature above the building's minimum service temperature. In this example, both the HVAC system 1020 and the vent or exhaust structure 1030 are mounted on top of the building 1010. However, the HVAC system 1020 could be located on the ground at or near the side of the building 1010, and the exhaust structure 1030 could be located on the side of the building 1010. Additionally, the cooling unit 1000 could be mounted on top of the building 1010, as illustrated in FIG. 10B. Other implementations are possible.

[0071] Thus, referring to FIG. 11 , in some embodiments, a method for removing heat from a building and cooling air therein can include installing or positioning the exhaust end of an air conditioning unit in an opening formed on a wall or roof of the building (1101). If desired, the building can be equipped with a heat containment structure and / or AC unit (1103) if the building does not already have one. The heat containment structure, as described above, can be structured to trap and / or direct heat produced inside the building to a building vent, exhaust structure, or opening (e.g., a pipe). The AC unit can be the building's existing HVAC unit or any commercially available AC unit. The AC unit is set to maintain a target temperature (e.g., a minimum service temperature required by the building owner or operator) (1105). As the air inside the building heats up, it rises and is received or captured by the heat containment structure and then released from the building (1110). Warm air expelled from the building creates a pressure differential, with the pressure on the warm side of the building (where the heat containment structure is located) being lower than the cool side of the building. Therefore, the method further includes supplying cooled air to the building at a constant rate from the cooling unit (1115). The cooling unit supplies cooled air to the building at a constant rate because one or more fans and / or similar devices are set to operate at a constant speed (which in some embodiments can be achieved using one or more fans and / or similar devices). Therefore, a controller is not required to vary the speed of the fans and / or similar devices within the cooling unit, and as a result, no additional temperature sensors are required. Instead, the AC unit acts as an external controller that will activate and begin cooling the air inside the building when it senses that the temperature inside the building is above a target temperature and will stop operating when the temperature inside the building returns to or below the target temperature.

[0072] In some embodiments, a minimum requirement for a cooling unit is one or more fans and / or similar devices set to operate at a constant speed, with or without a filter. In some embodiments, the cooling unit may additionally include an evaporative cooler (e.g., sprayer 420) and / or an evaporative cooling element (e.g., spray cooling element 424). In some embodiments, the cooling unit may include one or more refrigeration coils and / or chillers. Other implementations are possible.

[0073] These and other aspects of the present disclosure, as well as its various features and advantageous details, will be more fully described with reference to the illustrative, and therefore non-limiting, embodiments illustrated herein. It should be understood, however, that the detailed description and specific examples, while indicating preferred embodiments, are given by way of illustration only, and not by way of limitation. Descriptions of known programming techniques, computer software, hardware, operating platforms, and protocols may be omitted so as not to unnecessarily obscure the present disclosure in detail. Various substitutions, modifications, additions, and / or rearrangements within the spirit and / or scope of the underlying concepts of the present invention will become apparent to those skilled in the art from this disclosure.

[0074] Some embodiments described herein can be implemented in the form of control logic in software or hardware or a combination of both. The control logic can be stored in an information storage medium, such as a computer-readable medium, as a plurality of instructions adapted to instruct an information processing device to perform a set of steps disclosed in various embodiments. Based on the disclosure and teachings provided herein, those skilled in the art will appreciate other ways and / or methods for implementing the present invention.

[0075] It is also within the spirit and scope of the present invention to implement any of the steps, operations, methods, routines, or portions thereof described herein in software programming or code, which can be stored in a computer-readable medium and operated by a processor to cause a computer to perform any of the steps, operations, methods, routines, or portions thereof described herein. The present invention can be implemented in one or more control systems by using software programming or code. Various types of sensors, including temperature, humidity, and / or pressure sensors, can be used by using application-specific integrated circuits, programmable logic devices, field-programmable gate arrays, optical, chemical, biological, quantum mechanical, or nanoengineered systems, components, and mechanisms. The functionality of the present invention can be achieved by various means, including distributed or networked systems, hardware components, and / or circuits. In another example, communication or transfer of data (or otherwise moving from one place to another) can be by wire, wireless, or any other means.

[0076] A "computer-readable medium" may be any medium that can contain, store, communicate, propagate, or transport a program for use by or in connection with an instruction execution system, apparatus, system, or device. A computer-readable medium may be, by way of example only and not limitation, an electronic, magnetic, optical, electromagnetic, infrared, or semiconductor system, apparatus, system, device, propagation medium, or computer memory. Such computer-readable media would be machine-readable and would include software programming or code, which may be human-readable (e.g., source code) or machine-readable (e.g., object code). Examples of non-transitory computer-readable media may include random access memory, read-only memory, hard drives, data cartridges, magnetic tape, floppy diskettes, flash memory drives, optical data storage devices, compact disc read-only memory, and other suitable computer memory and data storage devices. In an illustrative embodiment, some or all of the software components may reside on a single server computer or any combination of separate server computers. As one skilled in the art will appreciate, a computer program product implementing embodiments disclosed herein may include one or more non-transitory computer-readable media that store computer instructions translatable by one or more processors in a computing environment.

[0077] A "processor" includes any hardware system, mechanism, or component that processes data, signals, or other information. A processor may include a central processing unit, multiple processing units, systems with dedicated circuitry to achieve functionality, or other systems. Processing need not be limited to a geographic location or have time limitations. For example, a processor may perform its functions in "real time," "offline," "batch mode," etc. Portions of the processing may be performed by different (or the same) processing systems at different times and in different locations.

[0078] Those skilled in the art will appreciate that a suitable control system may include a central processing unit ("CPU"), at least one read-only memory ("ROM"), at least one random access memory ("RAM"), at least one hard drive ("HD"), and one or more input / output ("I / O") devices. I / O devices may include a keyboard, monitor, printer, electronic pointing device (e.g., mouse, trackball, stylus, touchpad, etc.), etc. In an embodiment of the present invention, the control system may have access to at least one database via a network connection.

[0079] ROM, RAM, and HD are computer memories for storing computer-executable instructions that can be executed by a CPU or compiled or interpreted to be executed by a CPU. Suitable computer-executable instructions may reside on a computer-readable medium (e.g., ROM, RAM, and / or HD), hardware circuitry, etc., or any combination thereof. In this disclosure, the term "computer-readable medium" is not limited to ROM, RAM, and HD, but can include any type of data storage medium that can be read by a processor. Examples of computer-readable storage media may include, but are not limited to, volatile and non-volatile computer memory and storage devices such as random-access memory, read-only memory, hard drives, data cartridges, direct-access storage device arrays, magnetic tape, floppy diskettes, flash memory drives, optical data storage devices, compact disc read-only memory, and other suitable computer memory and data storage devices. Thus, computer-readable media may refer to data cartridges, data backup magnetic tapes, floppy diskettes, flash memory drives, optical data storage drives, CD-ROMs, ROMs, RAMs, HDs, etc.

[0080] As used herein, the terms "comprises," "comprising," "includes," "including," "has," "having," or any other variation thereof, are intended to cover a non-exclusive inclusion. For example, a process, product, article, or apparatus that includes a list of elements is not necessarily limited by those elements and may include other elements that are inherent to such process, product, article, or apparatus that are not expressly listed.

[0081] Furthermore, the term "or," as used herein, is generally intended to mean "and / or" unless otherwise indicated. For example, condition A or B is satisfied by any one of the following: A is true (or exists) and B is false (or does not exist), A is false (or does not exist) and B is true (or exists), or both A and B are true (or exist). As used herein, including the accompanying appendices, terms preceded by "a" or "an" (or "the" when the antecedent is "a" or "an") include both the singular and plural of such terms (i.e., a reference to "a" or "an" clearly indicates only the singular or only the plural) unless clearly indicated otherwise. Also, as used in this description and the accompanying appendices, the meaning of "in" includes "in" and "on," unless clearly indicated otherwise by context.

[0082] Additionally, any examples or illustrations provided herein should not be considered in any way as a restriction, limitation, or express definition of any term or terms with which they are utilized. Instead, these examples or illustrations should be considered as merely illustrative, with respect to one particular embodiment. Those skilled in the art will understand that any term or terms with which these examples or illustrations are utilized encompass other embodiments and implementations and adaptations thereof, which may or may not be provided with or anywhere in the specification, and that all such embodiments are intended to be included within the scope of that term or terms. Language designating such non-limiting examples and illustrations includes, but is not limited to, "for example," "for instance," "e.g.," "in one embodiment," and the like.

[0083] Those skilled in the art of the present invention will recognize that the disclosed embodiments have relevance to a variety of fields in addition to the specific examples discussed above. For example, while the examples discussed above are described in the context of a data center, some embodiments disclosed herein can be adapted or otherwise implemented to function in other types of environments, situations, etc. In this context, the specification and figures are to be regarded in an illustrative sense, rather than a restrictive sense, and all such modifications are intended to be included within the scope of the present disclosure. The scope of the present disclosure should therefore be determined by the following claims and their legal equivalents. The present invention further provides the following items. (Item 1) 1. A system for removing heat from a building and cooling air within said building, said system comprising: a cooling unit for supplying cooled air to said building at a constant rate; The building has a heat containment structure for capturing or receiving warm air inside the building, the building further has an exhaust structure for expelling the warm air from the building, and the cooling unit comprises: a housing having an intake end and a discharge end; at least one fan positioned within the housing; Equipped with the at least one fan is configured to operate at a constant speed, draw ambient air from the intake end of the enclosure, cool the ambient air, and direct the cooled air toward an opening in the building; Releasing the warm air from the building creates a pressure differential, the air pressure on the warm side of the building being lower than the air pressure on the cool side of the building; the pressure differential draws the cooled air supplied by the cooling unit through the opening in the building from a warm side of the building to a cold side of the building; The system includes an air conditioning unit configured to maintain a target temperature, and in response to the temperature within the building rising above the target temperature, the air conditioning unit is operable to run with the cooling unit supplying the cooled air to the building at the constant rate until the temperature within the building falls below the target temperature. (Item 2) Item 10. The system of item 1, wherein the building comprises a data center. (Item 3) 3. The system of claim 2, wherein the target temperature is a minimum service temperature required by the data center. (Item 4) Item 3. The system of item 2, wherein the thermal containment structure comprises a server pod enclosing one or more banks of servers, the server pod having openings for drawing in the cooled air and vents for directing air heated by the one or more banks of servers to the exhaust structure. (Item 5) Item 5. The system of item 4, wherein the thermal containment structure further comprises a sealed hood, enclosure, piping, or pipe. (Item 6) Item 1, wherein the constant rate is defined at least in part by the constant speed. (Item 7) Item 10. The system of item 1, wherein the cooling unit further comprises at least one filter, evaporative cooler, evaporative cooling element, refrigeration coil, or air conditioner. (Item 8) Item 1. The system of item 1, wherein the at least one fan comprises a constant speed fan or a variable speed fan. (Item 9) Item 10. The system of claim 1, wherein the opening is formed in a wall, roof, or ceiling of the building. (Item 10) Item 1. The system of item 1, wherein the air conditioning unit comprises a heating, ventilation, and air conditioning (HVAC) system. (Item 11) 1. A method of removing heat from a building and cooling air within said building, said method comprising: Positioning a discharge end of a cooling unit within the building opening, the cooling unit comprising: a housing having the intake end and the discharge end; at least one fan positioned within the housing; and the at least one fan is configured to operate at a constant speed, draw ambient air from the intake end of the enclosure, cool the ambient air, and direct the cooled air into the opening in the building; and capturing or receiving warm air inside the building through a heat containment structure inside the building; setting an air conditioning unit inside the building to maintain a target temperature; Discharging the warm air from the building through an exhaust structure of the building; Including, Releasing the warm air from the building creates a pressure differential, the air pressure on the warm side of the building being lower than the air pressure on the cool side of the building; the pressure differential draws the cooled air supplied by the cooling unit through the opening in the building from a warm side of the building to a cold side of the building; wherein in response to the temperature within the building rising above the target temperature, and with the cooling unit supplying the cooled air to the building at a constant rate, the air conditioning unit is operable to run until the temperature within the building falls below the target temperature. (Item 12) Item 12. The method of item 11, wherein the building comprises a data center. (Item 13) Item 13. The method of item 12, wherein the target temperature is a minimum service temperature required by the data center. (Item 14) Item 13. The method of item 12, wherein the thermal containment structure comprises a server pod enclosing one or more banks of servers, the server pod having openings for drawing in the cooled air and vents for directing air heated by the one or more banks of servers to the exhaust structure. (Item 15) Item 15. The method of claim 14, wherein the heat containment structure further comprises a sealed hood, enclosure, piping, or pipe. (Item 16) Item 12. The method of item 11, wherein the constant rate is defined at least in part by the constant speed. (Item 17) Item 12. The method of claim 11, wherein the cooling unit further comprises at least one filter, evaporative cooler, evaporative cooling element, refrigeration coil, or air conditioner. (Item 18) Item 12. The method of item 11, wherein the at least one fan comprises a constant speed fan or a variable speed fan. (Item 19) Item 12. The method according to item 11, wherein the opening is formed in a wall, roof, or ceiling of the building. (Item 20) Item 12. The method of claim 11, wherein the air conditioning unit comprises a heating, ventilation, and air conditioning (HVAC) system.

Claims

1. 1. A system for removing heat from a building and cooling air within said building, said system comprising:

1. A cooling unit for supplying cooled air to a building at a constant rate, the building having a heat containment structure for capturing or receiving warm air inside the building, the building further having an exhaust structure comprising one or more vents associated with one or more ventilation fans for expelling the warm air from the building, the cooling unit comprising: a housing having an intake end and an exhaust end in communication with the heat containment structure; at least one cooling element disposed between the intake end and the discharge end for reducing the temperature of the ambient air; at least one fan positioned within the enclosure; a cooling unit comprising: the at least one fan configured to operate at a constant speed, draw ambient air from the intake end of the enclosure, cool the ambient air by directing the air through the at least one cooling element, and direct the cooled air to an opening in the building, wherein expelling the warm air from the building creates a pressure differential, and air pressure on a warm side of the building is lower than air pressure on a cool side of the building; a controller for controlling the one or more ventilation fans to maintain a desired pressure differential between the hot side of the building and the cold side of the building based on information from one or more pressure sensors, the pressure differential drawing the cooled air provided by the cooling unit from the hot side of the building to the cold side of the building through the opening in the building; and an air conditioning unit configured to maintain a target temperature, wherein in response to a temperature within the building rising above the target temperature, and with the cooling unit supplying the cooled air to the building at the constant rate, the air conditioning unit is operable to run until the temperature within the building falls below the target temperature; A system comprising:

2. The system of claim 1 , wherein the building comprises a data center.

3. The system of claim 2 , wherein the target temperature is a minimum service temperature required by the data center.

4. 3. The system of claim 2, wherein the thermal containment structure comprises a server pod enclosing one or more banks of servers, the server pod having openings for drawing in the cooled air and vents for directing air heated by the one or more banks of servers to the exhaust structure.

5. The system of claim 4 , wherein the thermal containment structure further comprises an enclosed hood, enclosure, ductwork, or pipe.

6. The system of claim 1 , wherein the constant rate is defined at least in part by the constant speed.

7. The system of claim 1 , wherein the cooling unit further comprises at least a filter, an evaporative cooler, an evaporative cooling element, a refrigeration coil, or a chiller.

8. The system of claim 1 , wherein the at least one fan comprises a constant speed fan or a variable speed fan.

9. The system of claim 1 , wherein the opening is formed in a wall, roof, or ceiling of the building.

10. The system of claim 1 , wherein the air conditioning unit comprises a heating, ventilation, and air conditioning (HVAC) system.

11. 1. A method of removing heat from a building and cooling air within said building, said method comprising: Positioning a discharge end of a cooling unit within the building opening, the cooling unit comprising: a housing having an intake end in communication with the thermal containment structure and the exhaust end; at least one cooling element disposed between the intake end and the discharge end for reducing the temperature of the ambient air; at least one fan positioned within the enclosure; and the at least one fan is configured to operate at a constant speed, draw the ambient air from the intake end of the enclosure, cool the ambient air by directing the air through the at least one cooling element, and direct the cooled air into the opening of the building; capturing or receiving warm air inside the building through the heat containment structure inside the building; setting an air conditioning unit inside the building to maintain a target temperature; Discharging the warm air from the building through an exhaust structure of the building, the exhaust structure comprising one or more vents associated with one or more ventilation fans, wherein discharging the warm air from the building creates a pressure differential, the air pressure on the hot side of the building being lower than the air pressure on the cool side of the building; controlling the one or more ventilation fans to maintain a desired pressure differential between the hot side of the building and the cold side of the building based on information from one or more pressure sensors; Including, the pressure differential draws the cooled air supplied by the cooling unit from the warm air side of the building through the opening in the building to the cold air side of the building; wherein in response to the temperature within the building rising above the target temperature, and with the cooling unit supplying the cooled air to the building at a constant rate, the air conditioning unit is operable to run until the temperature within the building falls below the target temperature.

12. The method of claim 11 , wherein the building comprises a data center.

13. The method of claim 12 , wherein the target temperature is a minimum service temperature required by the data center.

14. 13. The method of claim 12, wherein the thermal containment structure comprises a server pod enclosing one or more banks of servers, the server pod having openings for drawing in the cooled air and vents for directing air heated by the one or more banks of servers to the exhaust structure.

15. The method of claim 14 , wherein the thermal containment structure further comprises a sealed hood, enclosure, ductwork, or pipe.

16. The method of claim 11 , wherein the constant rate is defined at least in part by the constant speed.

17. The method of claim 11 , wherein the cooling unit further comprises at least a filter, an evaporative cooler, an evaporative cooling element, a refrigeration coil, or an air conditioner.

18. The method of claim 11 , wherein the at least one fan comprises a constant speed fan or a variable speed fan.

19. The method of claim 11 , wherein the opening is formed in a wall, roof, or ceiling of the building.

20. The method of claim 11 , wherein the air conditioning unit comprises a heating, ventilation, and air conditioning (HVAC) system.

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