Stacked Shipping Container Data Center Cooling
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional data center solutions face challenges in power consumption and cooling efficiency due to the integration of cooling, power, and networking infrastructure within shipping containers, leading to increased complexity and reduced space for information handling systems.
Innovation Solution
A system and method that separates the processing subsystem from the infrastructure subsystem, with the processing subsystem housed in one shipping container and the infrastructure subsystem in another, utilizing active and passive thermal management to efficiently allocate resources and enhance computing density.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If cooling, power, and networking infrastructure are integrated within shipping containers with information handling systems, then the system becomes mobile and self-contained, but the space for information handling systems is reduced and complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The system is divided into separate modules: information handling systems in one container and infrastructure equipment in another container. This segmentation allows each container to be optimized for its specific function, maximizing the space available for information handling systems while maintaining mobility through modular deployment.
Solution Approach 2:
Infrastructure equipment (cooling, power, networking) is extracted from the information handling system container and placed in a separate infrastructure container. This extraction removes the bulk and complexity of infrastructure equipment from the confined space of the information handling system container, thereby increasing the available volume for computing hardware.
2Adaptability or versatility
If cooling, power, and networking infrastructure are integrated within shipping containers, then the system becomes self-contained, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The complex infrastructure is segmented into distinct functional modules housed in separate containers. Each infrastructure container can be independently configured and maintained, reducing the overall system complexity while preserving self-containment. The separation allows specialized teams to work on infrastructure without affecting information handling systems.
Solution Approach 2:
By extracting infrastructure equipment to a separate container, the complexity of managing diverse infrastructure components is isolated from the information handling system operations. This extraction simplifies the information handling system container to focus solely on computing functions while the infrastructure container handles all support functions independently.
3Productivity
If infrastructure equipment is distributed to separate containers, then computing density increases, but thermal management complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
Thermal management equipment is extracted to a dedicated infrastructure container, allowing high-density information handling systems to be packed tightly in the processing container without concern for cooling equipment space. The thermal management complexity is contained and managed separately in the infrastructure container through standardized cooling solutions.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces thermal management equipment as an intermediary between the high-density information handling systems and the external environment. This intermediary handles the thermal complexity by providing dedicated cooling pathways and heat dissipation mechanisms, allowing the information handling systems to operate at high density without direct thermal management 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 configuration achieves higher computing density with efficient infrastructure resource allocation, minimizing footprint and reducing infrastructure costs by separating thermal management and power support, allowing for flexible scaling and improved operational efficiency.
Implementation Method 1
at least one air mover in the infrastructure subsystem operable to move air from the exhaust portion to the intake portion
Implementation Method 2
a coil assembly in the infrastructure subsystem having a refrigerant flowing therethrough and positioned to transfer heat to or from the air passing through the coil assembly
Data Source
AI summary
An information technology enclosure has a processing subsystem and infrastructure subsystem in separate shipping containers that cooperate to process information. The processing subsystem has increased information processing density by concentrating information handling systems in a first processing shipping container that is supported with infrastructure equipment in a second infrastructure shipping container. In one embodiment, the shipping containers are arranged in a stacked configuration so that cooled air and exhausted air are exchanged through aligned vents formed in the ceiling and floor of stacked shipping containers.