Modular Data Center Container Segmentation for Rapid Deployment
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current data centers face challenges with slow construction speed, difficulty in capacity expansion, and large site area occupancy due to traditional design and construction methods, which limit flexibility and efficiency in accommodating increasing power and cooling demands.
Innovation Solution
A modular data center design that partitions standard containers into functional modules such as information technology, space maintenance, and power supply modules, allowing for quick assembly and expansion by combining these modules in various configurations, including vertical and transverse arrangements, to optimize space usage and power distribution.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If traditional data center construction methods are used, then the data center can be built with complete functionality, but the construction period is too long (about 1.5 years for 1000 m2)
Solution Approach 1:
The data center is divided into multiple standardized modules, each containing complete functional units (IT equipment, power supply, cooling, networking). These modules can be independently manufactured and assembled, reducing the overall construction period from 1.5 years to a much shorter timeframe while maintaining complete functionality.
Solution Approach 2:
All necessary equipment including IT devices, power supplies, cooling systems, and networking components are pre-installed and tested within each module before delivery. This preliminary preparation eliminates on-site installation and debugging time, enabling rapid deployment of fully functional data center modules.
2Productivity
If container-type data centers are used for quick deployment, then construction speed is improved, but the distance between containers must be increased to accommodate maintenance access
Solution Approach 1:
Multiple functional units (IT equipment, power supply, cooling, networking) are merged into a single integrated container module. This consolidation eliminates the need for separate containers and reduces the distance between functional components, thereby reducing the overall coverage area while maintaining quick deployment capabilities.
Solution Approach 2:
Each container module is designed as a universal unit that can serve multiple functions (IT hosting, power distribution, cooling, networking). This multi-functionality allows modules to be densely packed without requiring additional space for separate functional equipment, reducing the total area required.
3Ease of manufacture
If simple container design is used, then manufacturing is easier, but the power capacity is limited to maximum 500 kW per container
Solution Approach 1:
The power capacity limitation is overcome by segmenting the data center into multiple standardized modules. Each module maintains simple design for ease of manufacture, but the overall system achieves high power capacity by paralleling multiple modules, each contributing to the total power load.
Solution Approach 2:
Instead of increasing the power capacity of a single container (which would compromise simplicity), the solution moves to another dimension by deploying multiple containers in parallel. This allows the system to achieve high power capacity (beyond 500 kW) while each individual container remains simple to manufacture.
4Reliability
If each data center unit is physically isolated, then safety and independence are improved, but the plane layout occupies a large area
Solution Approach 1:
Multiple functional units that would traditionally require separate physical locations are merged into a single container module. This integration maintains the reliability and independence of each functional unit while dramatically reducing the plane layout area required for the entire data center.
Data Source
AI summary
A modular data center includes a plurality of first containers and a plurality of second containers. The plurality of first containers and second containers are partitioned into a plurality of functional modules respectively, the functional modules of the plurality of first containers being arranged in parallel, and the functional modules of the plurality of second containers being arranged in parallel on one side of the plurality of first containers and corresponding to the functional modules of the plurality of first containers respectively. The present disclosure combines the functional modules of the plurality of first containers and the plurality of second containers into modular data centers with different forms, capacities, and data center usability tiers, and the assembly of the plurality of first containers and second containers with standardized sizes may facilitate the transportation and reduce the time and cost of assembling and delivery of the modular data center.