Data Centre
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Solution Overview
Problem
Data centres face inefficiencies in cooling systems, leading to high power usage and space constraints due to rapid growth in IT capacity, with traditional methods taking years to construct new facilities and current designs spreading IT equipment thinly to manage heat, resulting in bottlenecks and inefficiencies.
Innovation Solution
A data centre design featuring controllable air circulation systems, over-floor air supply corridors acting as cooling ducts, and modular construction allowing for efficient air flow and reduced need for under-floor ducts, enabling high air flow rates while optimizing space, and allowing for rapid expansion of IT capacity without additional cooling infrastructure.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Productivity
If traditional under-floor air duct cooling systems are used, then cooling coverage is provided, but construction time increases and space is wasted
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts the cooling function from the traditional under-floor air duct system and relocates it to overhead air supply corridors. This removes the complex under-floor ductwork infrastructure while maintaining cooling coverage, thereby reducing construction complexity and time without sacrificing cooling functionality.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent transitions the cooling air supply from a horizontal under-floor system to a vertical overhead system. By moving air supply corridors to the ceiling space and using vertical drop-down ducts, the system achieves the same cooling coverage with a different spatial arrangement that eliminates the need for extensive under-floor ductwork.
2Productivity
If IT capacity is increased to meet demand, then processing power improves, but heat generation increases requiring more cooling infrastructure
Solution Approach 1:
The overhead air supply system leverages the natural buoyancy and flow patterns of hot air rising from server racks to create self-sustaining air circulation. Hot air naturally rises and is captured by overhead return air corridors, while cool air is supplied from above, creating an efficient natural convection loop that reduces the energy required for mechanical cooling.
3Adaptability or versatility
If data centre facilities are expanded to accommodate growth, then IT capacity increases, but construction time takes years
Solution Approach 1:
The patent divides the data centre into modular rack rooms that can be independently configured and expanded. Each rack room is a self-contained unit with standardized overhead air supply corridors, allowing facilities to be built incrementally and scaled according to demand without requiring lengthy construction projects for entire facilities.
Solution Approach 2:
The overhead air supply corridor system serves multiple functions simultaneously: it provides cooling air distribution, acts as a structural element, and can be integrated with lighting and other ceiling-mounted infrastructure. This multi-functionality reduces the number of separate construction projects needed.
4Temperature
If IT equipment is spread thinly to manage heat, then cooling requirements are reduced, but space efficiency decreases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent moves the cooling air supply from the horizontal plane (under-floor) to the vertical plane (overhead), allowing for higher rack densities. By supplying cool air from above and capturing hot air rising to the ceiling, the system effectively utilizes vertical space for thermal management, enabling tighter equipment spacing without compromising heat dissipation.
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
This approach enhances cooling efficiency, reduces power usage, and allows for rapid expansion of IT capacity, improving data centre performance and energy efficiency by utilizing ambient air cooling and minimizing the need for refrigerant-based systems, thus lowering operational costs and construction times.
Implementation Method 1
one or more controllable air circulation systems... an air supply corridor for transporting cooling air, above the floor, to the one or more cold aisles
Data Source
AI summary
A data centre (100) includes at least one rack room (in for example module 140) having a floor and a plurality of rack storage areas on the floor, each rack storage area being arranged to accommodate a plurality of racks (143) in which a plurality of rack-mountable electronic components may be housed, one or more controllable air circulation systems (in for example module 122), one or more cold aisles (144) in the rack room, each cold aisle being adjacent to a rack storage area, and one or more hot aisles (145) in the rack room, each hot aisle being adjacent to a rack storage area. There may be a large air duct, in the form of a personnel corridor (123), for transporting, under the control of the one or more air circulation systems, cooling air, above the floor, to the one or more cold aisles. The air supply corridor/duct (123) may have a height greater than 1.5 m above the floor and a cross-sectional area of at least 2 m2 and a maximum dimension in the plane of the cross-section of less than 3 m.