Prefabricated Data Centre Assembly for Cold Aisle Cooling
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current data centre construction methods, such as bespoke and modular designs, face challenges including high costs, lengthy construction times, limited energy efficiency, and constraints on site selection due to cooling system demands and transportation limitations of modular units.
Innovation Solution
A method involving the installation of prefabricated data centre elements, including air handling modules and cold aisle services modules, within an existing or new building, allowing for flexible layout and efficient cooling air management, using 'plug-and-play' components that can be easily assembled without specialized tools or knowledge, and utilizing locally available materials to meet thermal conductivity and air tightness criteria.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Loss of energy
If bespoke data centre construction methods are used, then energy efficiency and customization are improved, but construction time and costs increase
Solution Approach 1:
The data centre is divided into modular prefabricated elements (cold aisle services modules, hot aisle services modules, racks, etc.) that can be manufactured independently and assembled on-site. This segmentation allows parallel production of multiple components, significantly reducing overall construction time while maintaining the energy efficiency benefits of customized design.
Solution Approach 2:
Service modules and structural elements are pre-fabricated off-site with integrated services (cooling, power, containment) before delivery to the construction site. This preliminary action enables quality control and energy efficiency optimization in a controlled manufacturing environment while accelerating on-site assembly.
2Loss of time
If modular data centre units are used, then construction time is reduced, but adaptability and energy efficiency deteriorate
Solution Approach 1:
The service modules are designed with universal connection interfaces and standardized service distributions that can accommodate different configurations and scales. Each module can serve multiple functions (cooling, power distribution, containment) and can be adapted to various site conditions and future expansion requirements, maintaining versatility despite modular construction.
3Productivity
If modular data centre units are used, then construction speed increases, but site selection flexibility decreases
Solution Approach 1:
By segmenting the data centre into transportable modular units with standardized connection points, the system can be deployed to diverse locations including sites with limited access or restrictive building regulations. The modular nature allows adaptation to local conditions while maintaining construction speed benefits.
4Strength
If traditional data centre construction is used, then structural integrity is ensured, but construction costs and time increase
Solution Approach 1:
Structural elements and service modules are pre-assembled and tested in controlled manufacturing environments before delivery. This preliminary action ensures structural integrity through quality control while reducing on-site construction time and labor costs, making the overall process more cost-effective despite the precision required.
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 approach reduces construction time, lowers costs, enhances energy efficiency, and increases flexibility in data centre design and expansion, while accommodating various site conditions and local building regulations.
Implementation Method 1
multiple parallel spaced apart cold aisles for entraining and encapsulating the flows of cooling air to the IT equipment in the racks
Implementation Method 2
an air handling module, for providing cooling capacity for the data centre during use
Data Source
AI summary
A method of making a data centre is disclosed, comprising making a data centre in an existing building (3010) having a floor, walls and a roof, an air inlet and an air outlet. The method includes: installing prefabricated data centre elements by (a) connecting to the inlet an air handling module (3001, 3002); and (b) installing cold aisle services modules (3011) each having one or more integrated blanking portions and one or more data centre services extending along its length terminating with a connection to an adjacent module (3011); and installing racks of IT equipment arranged in parallel rows; the method being so performed that the floor, racks, and cold aisle services modules (3011) together define parallel cold aisles for entraining cooling air flows to the IT equipment. Also disclosed are a data centre, a service carrying frame and a cold aisle services module for a data centre and a supporting frame for supporting prefabricated data centre elements.