Container Cooling Unit Layout for Portable Data Center Heat Control
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Portable modular data centers face significant heat generation issues due to electronic modules, leading to elevated temperatures that can impact performance, reliability, and lifespan of equipment, necessitating effective cooling solutions.
Innovation Solution
An integrated air conditioning unit is designed for shipping containers, featuring a casing with a specific width to form an air plenum, air movers, heat exchangers, mist eliminators, and flow balancing plates, which circulates cooled air through the container to remove heat and maintain optimal temperatures for electronic equipment.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If electronic modules are housed in a transportable container, then portability and flexibility are improved, but heat accumulation and temperature control become problematic
Solution Approach 1:
The cooling unit is integrated directly into the transportable container structure, merging the housing and cooling systems into a single unified unit. The casing is configured to fit within the container interior, with the front wall facing the electronic modules and side walls forming air plenums that utilize the container's internal space for air circulation.
Solution Approach 2:
The cooling unit utilizes the third dimension (depth) by extending into the container interior rather than only utilizing surface area. The air plenums are formed by the side walls extending perpendicularly from the front wall, creating volumetric air circulation paths that efficiently cool the container environment.
2Reliability
If cooling capacity is increased to maintain lower temperatures, then equipment reliability is improved, but device complexity and space requirements increase
Solution Approach 1:
The integrated cooling unit performs multiple functions within a single device: it houses the heat exchanger, air movers, and air filters; it forms air plenums using its side walls; and it provides both cooling and air circulation functions simultaneously, reducing the need for separate cooling components.
Solution Approach 2:
The cooling unit utilizes the container's own interior space to form air plenums, effectively using the environment as part of the cooling system. The side walls of the cooling unit create the plenum chambers, eliminating the need for additional external plenum structures.
3Temperature
If air circulation is enhanced to improve cooling efficiency, then temperature uniformity is improved, but energy consumption increases
Solution Approach 1:
The cooling unit provides localized cooling directly at the source of heat generation by positioning the front wall facing the electronic modules. The air movers are strategically positioned within the casing to create targeted air circulation patterns that address specific hot spots near the electronic equipment.
Solution Approach 2:
The integrated design ensures continuous air circulation through the container by utilizing the air plenums formed by the side walls. The air movers continuously draw air through the heat exchanger and distribute it throughout the container, maintaining constant cooling action without interruption.
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
The solution effectively cools the environment within the container, maintaining temperatures between 55° F and 75° F, ensuring the reliability and performance of electronic equipment while fitting within standard ISO shipping containers.
Implementation Method 1
A heat exchanger is disposed within the interior chamber upstream with respect to air flow of the air mover for cooling the air flow passing through the interior chamber
Implementation Method 2
An air mover is disposed within the interior chamber. The air mover has an inlet in flow communication with the air inlet and an outlet in flow communication with the air outlet
Data Source
AI summary
A shipping container having an interior and a plurality of electronic equipment modules disposed within the interior of the container is cooled by an air conditioning unit adapted to be disposed within the interior of the container. The electronic equipment may include computing equipment and electronic data storage equipment.