Modular Data Center Access Space via Segmented Building Modules
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Solution Overview
Problem
Traditional modular data centers using shipping containers face limitations due to their fixed width, which restricts access space for server racks, making it difficult to accommodate the required access space for efficient maintenance and cooling.
Innovation Solution
The modular data center is constructed using adjoining building modules with combined access space, allowing for the housing of multiple server racks while ensuring sufficient access space by bolting modules together to form a larger contiguous data center, with separate cooling systems for optimized airflow and maintenance access.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If shipping containers are used for modular data centers, then transportability is improved, but access space for server racks is insufficient
Solution Approach 1:
The data center is divided into multiple modular units that can be independently transported and then assembled together. Each module contains server racks and can be separately shipped, allowing the system to maintain transportability while achieving larger overall dimensions for adequate access space when modules are combined.
Solution Approach 2:
The design transitions from two-dimensional space utilization within a single container to three-dimensional arrangement of multiple stacked or adjacent modules. By stacking modules vertically or arranging them in rows, the system achieves sufficient access space in horizontal dimensions while maintaining compact transportable units.
2Quantity of substance
If multiple server racks are installed in a single module, then space utilization is improved, but access space for maintenance is reduced
Solution Approach 1:
Instead of crowding multiple server racks into a single confined space, the design segments them into separate modular units. Each module contains a manageable number of server racks with adequate access space, and multiple modules are arranged to provide sufficient maintenance access while achieving high overall density.
3Ease of operation
If modules are combined to form larger data center, then access space is improved, but structural complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
Each modular unit is designed as a universal, self-contained module that can be independently transported, housed, and operated. The standardized modules can be stacked or arranged in various configurations to create data centers of different sizes, simplifying the structural complexity through repetition of identical units rather than custom designs.
Solution Approach 2:
All necessary components including server racks, cooling systems, and electrical infrastructure are pre-installed within each module during manufacturing. This preliminary configuration eliminates the need for complex on-site assembly and reduces structural complexity by transferring complexity to the factory setting where it can be more efficiently managed.
Data Source
AI summary
A modular data center is constructed utilizing two building modules, wherein each of two modules includes a computer rack disposed therein which computer rack is spaced apart from an exterior wall to define an exterior access space and spaced apart from an interior opening to define an interior access space. When the two building modules are joined so that the openings abut one another, the interior access spaces of the two modules form a contiguous space between the two computer racks, which space satisfies access requirements for each computer rack. The interior access space between the two computer racks may be enclosed to form an environment that can be separately cooled from the remainder of the modular data center. A method provides two building modules, each containing a computer rack, which modules are joined so that the access spaces for the computer racks overlap, wherein a portion of the computer rack access space of one module forms part of the computer rack access space of the other module.