Mobile Data Centre Liquid Cooling for Rack Density
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional data centers require significant energy for cooling, which can exceed 50% of their energy consumption, and are often not suitable for temporary or fluctuating demand for computing power, necessitating a more efficient and mobile solution for data center infrastructure.
Innovation Solution
A mobile data center unit that eliminates the need for guided cooling air through racks, optimizes energy usage, and allows for denser rack arrangements, using passive and active airflow methods within open racks and a coolant conduit system that can expand with external heat exchangers, enabling efficient heat dissipation and reduced energy consumption.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Use of energy by stationary object
If conventional data centers use cold air pumping through false floors to cool racks, then cooling function is provided, but energy consumption exceeds 50% of total energy usage
Solution Approach 1:
The invention extracts the heat dissipation function from the ambient air cooling system and implements a dedicated liquid cooling circuit. Each rack is equipped with its own coolant conduit system that directly contacts the electronic equipment, separating the cooling function from general facility air conditioning and enabling efficient heat removal with minimal energy consumption.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent employs hydraulic cooling through coolant conduits that circulate cooling fluid directly through or alongside electronic equipment racks. This liquid-based cooling system replaces the pneumatic air-based cooling method, providing more efficient heat transfer and reduced energy consumption for cooling operations.
2Adaptability or versatility
If data centers are designed as stationary buildings with extensive cooling infrastructure, then cooling capacity is sufficient, but adaptability to temporary or fluctuating demand is reduced
Solution Approach 1:
The invention segments the cooling system into modular rack-level units, where each rack has its own coolant conduit and heat exchanger. This modular approach allows individual racks to be cooled independently, enabling the system to scale with actual demand and be easily deployed in mobile or temporary configurations without requiring extensive centralized cooling infrastructure.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent implements a dynamic cooling system where coolant conduits can be selectively activated or deactivated based on actual thermal loads and demand fluctuations. The system adapts to changing conditions by adjusting cooling capacity at the rack level, providing versatility for temporary or mobile deployments while maintaining simplicity.
3Quantity of substance
If racks are arranged with sufficient spacing for air flow, then cooling is effective, but rack density and storage capacity are reduced
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces pneumatic air flow cooling with hydraulic liquid cooling through integrated coolant conduits. This allows racks to be positioned in dense configurations without requiring significant spacing for air circulation, as the liquid cooling system delivers cooling capacity directly to heat-generating components regardless of rack proximity.
4Use of energy by stationary object
If closed racks are used to control air flow, then cooling efficiency is improved, but device complexity and manufacturing cost increase
Solution Approach 1:
The invention extracts the cooling function from the rack enclosure itself and implements it through separate coolant conduits that can be integrated with standard open or closed rack designs. This separates the thermal management function from the structural rack design, allowing manufacturers to produce simple rack enclosures without complex air flow control features while maintaining high cooling efficiency through the liquid cooling system.
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 mobile data center unit achieves efficient heat dissipation with reduced energy consumption, allowing for higher rack densities and flexible deployment, while minimizing the need for additional cooling infrastructure and reducing fan power consumption.
Implementation Method 1
heat exchanging means (7), located at least in part on the back wall of the at least one rack (5)... adapted to transfer heat generated by electronic equipment to be contained inside the rack (5) to a fluid coolant
Implementation Method 2
internal airflow within the rack is predominantly effectuated by passive means... heat generated by the electronic equipment
Implementation Method 3
coolant conduit (11)... conveying the heated coolant away to external heat exchangers
Implementation Method 4
external heat exchangers, enabling efficient heat dissipation and reduced energy consumption
Data Source
Figure 1
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AI summary
The present invention relates to a mobile data centre unit (1), which is adapted to house a multiplicity of racks (5) being designed to provide storage space for IT equipment (6). The mobile data centre unit (1 ) is equipped with passive cooling means and/or with active components (25) already present with the IT equipment (6) in order to provide dissipation of heat being generated by the IT equipment (6.)