Fireproof Server Enclosure with Cold Thermal Storage
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current data storage solutions are vulnerable to natural disasters such as fires, floods, and earthquakes, as they fail to adequately protect servers from extreme temperatures and water damage, leading to data loss and high costs due to inefficient heat dissipation and refrigeration requirements.
Innovation Solution
A novel cold thermal storage device is integrated with thermoelectric coolers and a waterproof, fireproof enclosure to maintain survivable temperatures during fires, using a low-temperature thermal storage element like frozen water or endothermic reactive substances, which are only activated during a fire event, reducing the need for refrigeration and minimizing weight and cost.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Temperature
If external refrigeration units are used to cool servers, then servers can operate at normal temperatures, but manufacturing costs increase and power consumption increases
Solution Approach 1:
The invention extracts the refrigeration function from external units and integrates it into the fireproof enclosure itself through a cold thermal storage device. This eliminates the need for separate external refrigeration systems while maintaining server cooling capability during fires.
Solution Approach 2:
The cold thermal storage device is pre-charged with frozen water or endothermic reactive substances before a fire event occurs. This preliminary preparation allows the system to provide immediate cooling when needed without requiring active refrigeration during the fire.
2Temperature
If external refrigeration units are used to cool servers, then servers can operate at normal temperatures, but power consumption increases
Solution Approach 1:
The invention extracts the refrigeration function from continuous external power-dependent units and replaces it with a passive cold thermal storage system that does not require external power during fire events.
Solution Approach 2:
The cold thermal storage device serves itself by using frozen water or endothermic reactions that automatically activate and provide cooling without requiring external power input or control systems during the fire event.
3Object-affected harmful factors
If fireproof insulation is used to protect servers from fire, then servers are protected from heat, but heat dissipation during normal operation becomes inefficient
Solution Approach 1:
The system dynamically adjusts its thermal management approach based on conditions: during normal operation, fireproof insulation provides passive fire protection while allowing adequate heat dissipation; during fire events, the cold thermal storage device activates to provide active cooling when needed.
Solution Approach 2:
The cold thermal storage device is pre-prepared with frozen water or endothermic substances ready to activate during fire events, providing immediate cooling capability without compromising normal heat dissipation performance.
4Productivity
If data is asynchronously replicated to offsite location, then performance improves, but data remains vulnerable to natural disaster during backup window
Solution Approach 1:
The fireproof enclosure with cold thermal storage provides a protective buffer that cushions servers against fire damage during the asynchronous backup window, allowing data to remain locally protected while being replicated to offsite locations.
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 solution provides a 70% reduction in manufacturing costs, improves cooling efficiency by 30%, and achieves a 50% power savings by eliminating the need for external refrigeration units, while ensuring near-zero data loss and significant cost savings for businesses.
Implementation Method 1
a low-temperature thermal storage element like frozen water or endothermic reactive substances
Implementation Method 2
endothermic reactive substances, which are only activated during a fire event
Implementation Method 3
A novel cold thermal storage device is integrated with thermoelectric coolers
Data Source
AI summary
A disaster resistant server enclosure is provided. A fire resistant outer enclosure is provided, and may be made of gypsum. A water resistant, thermally conductive container is mounted within the outer enclosure. A server is mounted within the water resistant container. A cold thermal storage device, such as a block of ice, is also mounted within an insulating cover inside said outer enclosure. When a fire is sensed outside the outer enclosure, an actuator thermally connects the cold thermal storage device to the water resistant container to cool the server during the fire.