Containerized Computing Hub With Docking and Liquid Cooling
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current data centers face challenges in efficiently scaling computing power and storage capacity to handle high network traffic and simultaneous data processing demands, particularly in applications like financial transactions and search engine services, where large volumes of data need to be processed and stored quickly and reliably.
Innovation Solution
A modular data center system comprising a connecting hub with docking regions providing electrical power, data network interfaces, and cooling fluid supply and return, along with shipping containers that house modular computing environments. Each container includes processing units, heat exchangers for cooling, and docking members for easy connection to the hub, allowing incremental addition of computing power and storage capacity.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Productivity
If traditional data centers expand computing power and storage capacity, then data processing and storage capabilities improve, but system complexity and deployment time increase
Solution Approach 1:
The data center is divided into modular computing environments (containers) that can be independently deployed and scaled. Each container encapsulates complete computing, storage, and cooling functionality, allowing the system to expand capacity by simply adding more containers rather than redesigning the entire system.
Solution Approach 2:
The modular containers are designed with universal interfaces that can connect to various hub configurations and support multiple computing workloads. The standardized docking regions provide power, cooling, and network connectivity in a unified manner across all containers, simplifying system integration.
2Productivity
If data centers scale up to handle high network traffic volume, then data processing capability improves, but deployment time and scalability flexibility worsen
Solution Approach 1:
Computing environments are pre-assembled into complete functional containers with all necessary components (processing units, storage, cooling systems) integrated before deployment. This preliminary configuration allows containers to be rapidly deployed by simply connecting them to the hub without requiring on-site assembly or complex installation procedures.
Solution Approach 2:
The system allows dynamic addition and removal of containers based on computing demands. Containers can be quickly connected to or disconnected from the hub, enabling the data center to scale capacity up or down flexibly without shutting down the entire system or undergoing lengthy reconfiguration.
3Productivity
If multiple computing devices are networked together to share resources, then data processing capability improves, but heat generation and cooling requirements worsen
Solution Approach 1:
Multiple computing devices within each container share a common cooling system and thermal management infrastructure. The containers consolidate processing units, storage devices, and cooling components into integrated units, allowing efficient heat dissipation through shared heat exchangers and cooling fluid circulation systems rather than requiring separate cooling for each device.
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
Enables rapid deployment and expansion of computing power and storage capacity, efficiently handling high network traffic and simultaneous data processing, while maintaining reliability and scalability, thus addressing the limitations of traditional data centers.
Implementation Method 1
a heat exchanger configured to remove heat generated by the plurality of processing units by circulating cooling fluid from the supply through the heat exchanger and discharging it into the return
Data Source
AI summary
A computer system may include a connecting hub having a plurality of docking regions and be configured to provide to each docking region electrical power, a data network interface, a cooling fluid supply and a cooling fluid return; and a plurality of shipping containers that each enclose a modular computing environment that incrementally adds computing power to the system. Each shipping container may include a) a plurality of processing units coupled to the data network interface, each of which include a microprocessor; b) a heat exchanger configured to remove heat generated by the plurality of processing units by circulating cooling fluid from the supply through the heat exchanger and discharging it into the return; and c) docking members configured to releaseably couple to the connecting hub at one of the docking regions to receive electrical power, connect to the data network interface, and receive and discharge cooling fluid.