Modular Data Center Cooling and Power Control for Compact Deployment
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional data centers are energy intensive, time-consuming to construct, and not suited for compact or constrained spaces, necessitating a solution for energy efficiency and self-containment in smaller environments.
Innovation Solution
A self-sustained data center facility with rear door heat exchangers, a closed loop coolant distribution unit, and a power management system that adjusts based on environmental and infrastructure conditions, using wireless sensors and algorithmic control to optimize energy use and automate cooling and power management.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of manufacture
If conventional data centers are constructed entirely on-site with all electrical, mechanical and cooling equipment installed after building completion, then the data center can be built with standard construction methods, but the construction time becomes excessively long and the facility becomes energy intensive
Solution Approach 1:
The data center facility is divided into modular container units that can be manufactured separately and then assembled. Each container is a self-contained module with integrated electrical, mechanical, and cooling systems, allowing parallel manufacturing of multiple units before final assembly at the deployment site.
Solution Approach 2:
All electrical, mechanical, and cooling equipment are pre-installed and pre-tested within each container module during manufacturing, before the containers are transported to the final location. This preliminary assembly and testing eliminates time-consuming on-site installation and commissioning work.
2Productivity
If data centers are made large in surface area to accommodate more equipment, then more computation resources can be provided, but energy consumption increases and the facility becomes less suitable for constrained spaces
Solution Approach 1:
Multiple standalone data center elements including heat exchangers, cooling units, power distribution systems, and server racks are merged into integrated container modules. This consolidation reduces the overall surface area required while maintaining full computational capacity through efficient spatial arrangement and shared infrastructure.
Solution Approach 2:
Each container module is designed as a universal unit that can be deployed independently or combined with other modules. The multi-functional design allows a single container to house servers, cooling systems, power distribution, and monitoring equipment, maximizing computation resources per unit area and reducing total energy consumption through shared systems.
3Adaptability or versatility
If standalone data center elements are combined to increase efficiencies and reduce costs, then compactness and simplicity are improved, but the system complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
Multiple functional systems are nested within each container module in a hierarchical structure. Heat exchangers are embedded within closed-loop cooling unit piping, which is integrated with power distribution and server racks. This nested arrangement achieves compactness by placing smaller components within the structural framework of larger systems, reducing overall volume while managing complexity through organized layering.
4Adaptability or versatility
If traditional data center deployment methods are used with extensive on-site construction, then all systems can be customized to specific requirements, but the deployment time extends over many weeks including rack installation
Solution Approach 1:
The system incorporates dynamic configuration capabilities where container modules can be easily added, removed, or reconfigured based on computational demands. The modular design allows flexible adaptation to changing requirements without extensive construction work, as containers can be deployed or relocated by simple transportation and connection operations rather than permanent installation.
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
Enables efficient, cost-effective, and compact data center operations in constrained spaces by dynamically managing power and cooling, allowing for efficient load balancing and disaster recovery across multiple data centers.
Implementation Method 1
a thermal heat exchange system which further comprises a closed loop coolant distribution unit
Data Source
AI summary
Systems and methods disclose self-contained data center facility operations, management and build comprising, in the data center facility, installing a plurality of computer servers contained in a corresponding plurality of configurable rack mounted containers, a single or plurality of heat exchangers operatively coupled to the configurable rack mounted containers, and comprised in a thermal heat exchange system which further comprises a closed loop cooling unit. The closed loop cooling unit is caused to absorb heat from the single or plurality of heat exchangers. Additionally, systems and methods disclosed include power management functionality operatively coupled to control functionality, wherein the power management functionality is configured to assess a data center power requirement, and to draw and supply power based on the assessed requirement, and wherein the data center control unit is configured to calculate a data center environment, infrastructure and component condition, and based on the calculated condition, control the environment, infrastructure and component condition for optimal efficiency.