Passively Cooled Dome Structure for Data Center Thermal Regulation
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Solution Overview
Problem
Modern data centers face challenges in meeting high equipment density power and cooling requirements, with traditional HVAC systems consuming significant power and increasing operating costs, while also being vulnerable to environmental conditions and disasters.
Innovation Solution
The development of free air, passively cooled structures that eliminate the need for traditional HVAC systems, utilizing subterranean construction for thermal regulation and seismic protection, with controllable air inlets and vents, and integrated air cooling elements like earth cooling chambers and biofilters to maintain ambient temperatures and secure equipment.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Temperature
If traditional HVAC systems are used for cooling, then cooling requirements are met, but power consumption and operating costs increase significantly
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts and eliminates the traditional HVAC system from the data center infrastructure, replacing it with a passive cooling architecture that uses naturally cool ambient air from underground sources, thereby removing the primary source of high power consumption while maintaining adequate cooling capability
Solution Approach 2:
The cooling system is designed to be self-regulating using natural convection currents and the temperature differential between underground and surface environments, eliminating the need for active mechanical cooling components and their associated energy consumption
2Ease of operation
If data centers are built above ground for accessibility, then ease of operation is improved, but vulnerability to environmental hazards and disasters increases
Solution Approach 1:
The data center equipment rooms are nested within protective above-ground structures that contain HVAC equipment and environmental controls, creating a hierarchical arrangement where sensitive equipment is protected within enclosed spaces while maintaining overall system accessibility
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces intermediate protective structures including enclosed equipment rooms with controlled access, fire suppression systems, and environmental monitoring that mediate between the need for accessibility and the need for protection against environmental hazards
3Reliability
If subterranean construction is used for thermal regulation and protection, then reliability and protection are improved, but device complexity and construction difficulty increase
Solution Approach 1:
The data center is segmented into distinct functional zones including above-ground equipment rooms, transition zones, and subterranean equipment housings, allowing each segment to be optimized independently for its specific function while simplifying the overall construction approach
Solution Approach 2:
The subterranean structures serve multiple functions simultaneously: thermal regulation through earth contact, physical protection from environmental hazards, and housing for cooling equipment, thereby reducing the need for separate specialized structures and simplifying overall system complexity
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
This solution significantly reduces power consumption and operating costs, enhances equipment protection against environmental hazards, and maintains efficient temperature regulation, thereby improving the resilience and efficiency of data centers.
Implementation Method 1
air cooling elements such as earth cooling chambers
Implementation Method 2
biofilters
Data Source
AI summary
A building may include a floor, a dome having a vent, and an internal ceiling that divides areas underneath the dome into first and second chambers. The internal ceiling may have an aperture that is structured to allow air to pass from the first chamber into the second chamber. The building may also include an air inlet configured to allow air to travel from outside the building into the first chamber and an air moving device that is configured to facilitate the movement of the air. The building may also include an air cooling element that is configured to cool the air as it travels from outside the building into the first chamber.