Mobile Rack Containers for High-Density Datacenter Cooling
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Solution Overview
Problem
Datacenters face inefficiencies in space utilization due to the need for alternating hot and cold aisles, resulting in up to 50% of floor space being unused, while also requiring increased server density and thermal management without overloading existing cooling systems.
Innovation Solution
A mobile closed container system with flexible tubes for power distribution, network connections, and air circulation allows for increased server density by eliminating the need for free aisles between racks, enabling easy movement and maintenance access, and optimizing space usage.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Temperature
If alternating hot and cold aisles are used for thermal management, then cooling efficiency is improved, but floor space utilization deteriorates (up to 50% of space unused)
Solution Approach 1:
The system segments the datacenter into self-contained rack units with individual cooling zones. Each rack unit has its own cold plate cooling system that operates independently, eliminating the need for large-scale alternating hot and cold aisle configurations while maintaining effective thermal management at the rack level.
Solution Approach 2:
The invention transitions from horizontal aisle-based cooling organization to vertical rack-based cooling organization. By implementing cooling within the vertical dimension of individual racks rather than relying on horizontal air flow through aisles, the system eliminates the need for wide aisles while maintaining thermal management effectiveness.
2Quantity of substance
If server density is increased to reduce facility costs, then space efficiency is improved, but thermal management complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
Each rack unit is equipped with its own cold plate cooling system that autonomously manages its thermal load. This self-service approach allows high server density within each rack without requiring complex centralized thermal management infrastructure, as each rack independently handles its own cooling needs.
Solution Approach 2:
The system implements localized cooling at each rack unit level rather than uniform centralized cooling. Each rack can be customized with appropriate cooling capacity matching its specific thermal load, enabling high density configurations without overwhelming the thermal management system with uniform complex infrastructure.
3Area of stationary object
If racks are placed closer together to increase density, then space utilization is improved, but maintenance accessibility deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The rack units are designed on wheeled platforms that enable dynamic reconfiguration. Racks can be easily moved apart for maintenance access and then repositioned close together for high density operation. This dynamic capability allows the system to switch between high-density configuration and maintenance-accessible configuration as needed.
4Ease of manufacture
If standardized components are used to simplify system construction, then manufacturing ease is improved, but adaptability to different configurations deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The rack units are designed as universal standardized modules that can be configured in various arrangements. Each standardized rack unit can serve multiple functions and be adapted to different space requirements and thermal loads through simple reconfiguration, maintaining both manufacturing simplicity and configurational flexibility.
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 system enhances server density in datacenters by utilizing space more efficiently, reducing unused areas, and maintaining effective thermal management without overloading cooling systems, while providing easy accessibility for maintenance.
Implementation Method 1
a cooling system which supplies the cold air in the container through a flexible tube
Implementation Method 2
an exhaust system which removes the hot air from the container through a flexible tube
Data Source
AI summary
A system. The system includes rack containers and a cooling fluid. The rack containers include rack units stacked in a first direction that is parallel to a floor. Each rack unit has wheels positioned on a supporting structure on the floor which enables adjacent rack containers to move closer to or further from each other. The supporting structure is on the floor and is oriented in the second direction. The second direction is parallel to the floor and perpendicular to the first direction. The cooling fluid is flowed through a flexible tube into each rack container via a cooling conduit secured at a first port on a top surface of each rack container. The cooling conduit encapsulates the flexible tube. The top surface is further from the floor than is any other surface of each rack container.