NL2004885C2

NL2004885C2 - System for providing a data centre.

Info

Publication number: NL2004885C2
Application number: NL2004885A
Authority: NL
Inventors: Hubertus Antonius Meulenbroeks; Remco Hermanus Gerardus Sloothaak
Original assignee: Siemens Nederland
Priority date: 2010-06-14
Filing date: 2010-06-14
Publication date: 2011-12-15
Also published as: WO2011159150A1

Description

P91597NL00

Title: System for providing a data centre

FIELD AND BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The invention relates to a data centre and more in particular to a system for realising a data centre. Industrial sized data centres are 5 equipped with data server equipment, power-supplies and major cooling systems in order to operate. The planning and design of such data centres is very complex, foremost with regard to power consumption and cooling capacity. In addition, the time needed for building such industrial sized data centres can take op to two or three years. Therefore the capacity 10 expenditures of constructing and developing such data centres are considerable high, and the decision to build one is only taken when the demand for server capacity justifies such investments. However, due to the long construction time, the market for server capacity may have changed over time, resulting in the data centre being superfluous or the initially 15 planned capacity being too small. In addition, the operational expenditures of a data centre are dependent on the power consumption and cooling requirements. Once built the power consumption and cooling capacity of the data centre, designed and optimised for a certain specific server capacity, is not easily adapted to changes in the demand of server capacity.

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SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

It is an object of the present invention to provide a data centre of which the capacity may relatively easily adapted over time, while 25 maintaining an optimum of operational expenditures.

According to the invention, this object is achieved by providing a system according to claim 1.

2 A system is provided having a server space module and a coupling module which are arranged for providing a closed lower space layer and a closed upper space layer, the layers extending horizontally across the modules. The server module is arranged for providing an air communication 5 opening for allowing transport of air from the lower space layer to the upper space layer. Each module includes at least one pair of stacked containers, of which the upper containers of the pairs of stacked containers provide the upper space layer and the lower containers of the pairs of stacked containers provide the lower space layer. The system is thus constructed 10 from containers, i.e. containerised, which provide modular building blocks that can easily be assembled into a data centre. Providing a separate coupling module allows various functions to be provided as separate modules that can be easily hooked to the coupling module, and thus become part of the whole data centre. By providing these modules in a containerised 15 manner, the capacity of each module can be expanded in accordance with the growing demand for capacity by merging further containers with the already present module or by assembling a further module of the required function. In addition, by providing containerised modules, the containers can comply with ISO-standards for international transport. Once the 20 containers reached their location, the containers can be assembled into the module. Additional modules for providing the functions of power supply, cooling and cooling power supply, can be connected to the coupling module which acts as the electrical and cooling interface of the system. The coupling module thus provides the function of a backbone of the data centre; for the 25 IT-infrastructure, the power supply, as well as cooling. The functions performed in the datacentre may thus be provided by separate containerized modules. The containers in which these functions are embodied may advantageously comprise: a hot floor container for placement of data servers, an energy supply system container with backup 30 system for providing uninterrupted power supply, a cooling system 3 container for air-conditioning, a cooling system energy supply container for providing power to the cooling system, a distribution system container for distribution and linkage of electrical power and of data capacity, and containers for general facilities such as fuel supply and storage, electrical 5 grid connection, fencing and gate control and a control room.

Particular embodiments of the invention are set forth in the dependent claims.

Further objects, features, effects and details of the invention are described below.

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BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING

The invention shall be explained further using an exemplary embodiment that is shown in a drawing. In the drawing: 15

Fig. 1 is a schematic perspective view of an example of a system according to the invention;

Fig. 2 is a schematic perspective view of a coupling module of the system of Fig. 1; 20 Fig. 3 is a schematic perspective view of a server module of the system of Fig. 1;

Fig. 4 is a schematic perspective view of an universal power supply module of the system of Fig. 1;

Fig. 5 is a schematic perspective view of a cooling module of the 25 system of Fig. 1;

Fig. 6 is a schematic perspective view of a cooling power supply module of the system of Fig. 1; and

Fig. 7 is the system of Fig. 1 expanded with further modules.

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The figures are schematical representations of the invention, and are provided as a non-limiting, exemplary embodiment.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

5 A data centre 1 as shown in Fig. 1 is provided by a system that includes a coupling module 2, a server space module 3, an universal power supply module 4, 7, a cooling module 5, 8, and a cooling power supply module 6, 9. The coupling module 2 and the server module 3 are arranged for providing a closed lower space layer 10 and a closed upper space layer 11, the layers 10, 10 11 extending horizontally across the coupling module 2 and server module 3. The server module is arranged for providing an air communication opening 12 for allowing transport of air from the lower space layer 10 to the upper space layer 11.

The coupling module 2 and the server module 3 are each assembled 15 from pairs of stacked containers 13, 14, as shown in more detail in Figs. 2 and 3. The pairs of containers 13 of the coupling module 2 are positioned such that the coupling module 2 extends in longitudinal direction. The pairs of containers 14 of the server module 3 are positioned such that a rectangular server space is constructed. The upper containers 15, 17 of the 20 pairs of stacked containers 13, 14 provide the upper space layer 11 and the lower containers 16, 18 of the pairs of stacked containers 13, 14 provide the lower space layer 10. The height of the lower containers 16, 18 is at least man-sized, in order to allow human operators to walk freely through the lower space layer and move about so that they can access equipment 25 installed within the various modules. Preferably, the same applies for the upper containers 15, 17.

The modules 2 — 9 of the system 1 are made up of containers having a container frame and removable wall portions. The containers are 5 convertible from closed wall containers to partially open containers by removing wall portions. The specifications of the containers are preferably such that they comply with the ISO-standards for freight containers, and in particular may be in accordance with the specifications of ISO 668, and 5 related standards laid down in ISO 1161 en ISO 1496-1. In addition, the relevant DIN standards and/or the technical annexes of CSC (International Convention for Safe Containers, 1972) may be applied.The length may e.g. be 20 ft., the width may e..g. be 8 ft, and the height may e.g. be 8 ft 6 in.

As shown in Fig. 2, the coupling module is equipped with a 10 transport/distribution system for electrical energy and cable ducts for data cables 19, 20. A switching station 21 is also provided. In this embodiment, a basic unit 22 of the coupling module 2 is made up of two pairs of containers. The pairs of containers are positioned next to each other to provide a backbone corridor 23 where all the cable-wiring can be installed and a 15 walking corridor 24 for operators to walk through.

Shown in Fig. 3, the server module 3 is equipped with two rows of server racks 25, 26 positioned with the heat exhausting sides directed towards each other. The space between the server racks 25, 26 is closed off, or at least screened off, by walls 27 at the sides, while the air 20 communication opening 12 of the server module is directly above the space between the server racks 25, 26. In this manner the heat coming form the servers is conducted upwards form the lower space layer 10 to the upper space layer 11. In this embodiment, the server racks are 1.20 metres in depth and occupy half of the width of the containers. In another 25 embodiment, server racks of 0.60 metres may be installed which may be arranged in a different configuration.

Shown in Fig. 4 is the universal power supply system module 4, which houses the power supply system 32 for supplying electrical power for the server racks 25, 26. The universal power supply system module 4 is made 30 up of containers forming a compartment not standing in air conducting 6 contact with the coupling module 2 or the space layers 10, 11 thereof. In a preferred embodiment, the module has an inner wall 28 which is provided with sockets 29 required for connecting to wiring within the coupling module 2 in order to the deliver the electrical power. Moreover, in further 5 preferred embodiments other module types may be equipped likewise with sockets. The coupling module 2 thus provides the electrical interface between the server module 3 and the universal power supply module 4. The universal power supply -system provided in the module 4, provides the electrical interface with the electrical power grid. In addition, a back up 10 supply system is provided, e.g. as a diesel generator or batteries. The required electrical power is supplied to the coupling module 2 which serves as the electrical backbone. The backbone allows hooking up of various modules with the electrical system powered on.

The cooling module 5 interfaces with the coupling module 2, as best 15 seen in Fig. 1, and is arranged for taking in and cooling air 30 from the upper space layer 11 of the coupling module 2 and for recirculating the cooled air 31 into the lower space layer 10 of the coupling module 2, as shown in Fig. 5. The cooling module 5 is therefore preferably also assembled of at least one pair of stacked containers, in order to be linked fittingly to 20 the coupling module 2. The cooling is achieved by the recirculation of air, such that the air of the lower space layer 11 is conditioned at a predetermined level. Any technique can be applied for the cooling, as long as it is capable of delivering the cooling and displacement of air with regard to the required amount. For example, for a data centre wherein only half of 25 the server module 3 is provided with server racks 25, 26 in operation the required amount of cooling and thus transport of air is less than the data centre operating at full capacity. In the first situation an air displacement of e.g. 3 m/s may suffice, in the latter situation the air displacement may be e.g. 5 m/s. The cooling can be controlled by switching on and off of different 30 cooling modules 5, 8.

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Shown in Fig. 6 is the cooling power supply (CPS) system module 6, which houses the power supply system 33 for supplying electrical power for the cooling module 5. The CPS-system provides the interface with the electrical power grid as well as a backup power supply system, such as a 5 diesel generator. The CPS-module 6 is made up of containers forming a compartment not standing in air conducting contact with the coupling module 2 or the space layers 10, 11 thereof. In a preferred embodiment, the coupling module 2 provides an electrical interface between the cooling module 5 and the cooling power supply module 6. In this manner switching 10 control over the CPS-system can be performed with e.g. one of the switching stations 21 provided in the coupling module 2.

As shown in Fig. 7, the data centre of Fig. 1 is expandable with additional modules thus enlarging the capacity of the data centre. In this example, the server module 3 is expanded by the addition of further pairs of 15 containers 37. Furthermore, the cooling capacity is expanded by adding further pairs of containers to the cooling module 8 and the addition of a further cooling module 36. The universal power supply system and CPS-system capacity is expanded by the addition of respectively, a further universal power supply module 34 and a cooling power supply module 35.

20 When the various modules are constructed by placement of containers next to each other, there will remain some space between the containers. Where the side walls of these containers are removed, as e.g. for creating the closed lower space layer, the clefts are sealed off in a suitable manner e.g. by strips of rubber, flexible plastics or other suitable material for 25 providing an air tight, as well as water tight seal.

The data centre provided by the system can be located inside a facility. Such a facility may provide additional means for security measures such as fencing and gate control, shelter from weather conditions, storage for fuels, connection to the electrical grid and supply of external cooling medium.

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While the invention has been illustrated and described in detail in the drawing and foregoing description, such illustration and description are to be considered illustrative or exemplary and not restrictive; the invention is not limited to the disclosed embodiments. For example, the control over the 5 various power supply modules may be provided in a control room located in the facility. Furthermore, the cooling module may also provide a system for monitoring air quality with regard to e.g. composition particles and humidity.

Other variations to the disclosed embodiments can be understood and 10 effected by those skilled in the art in practicing the claimed invention, from a study of the drawings, the disclosure, and the appended claims.

Claims

A system for providing a data center, comprising: a server-space module; and a coupling module; wherein the coupling module and the coupling module are adapted to provide a closed lower space layer and to provide a closed upper space layer, the layers extending horizontally across the modules; 10 wherein the server-space module is adapted to provide an air communication opening for enabling transport of air from the lower-space layer to the upper-space layer; wherein each module comprises at least a pair of stacked containers; and wherein the upper containers of the pairs of stacked containers provide the upper space layer and lower containers of the pairs of stacked containers provide the lower space layer.

2. System as claimed in claim 1, further comprising: a cooling module coupled to the coupling module and adapted for: taking in and cooling air originating from the upper space layer of the coupling module; and recirculating the cooled air inside the lower space layer of the coupling module. 25

The system of claim 2, wherein the server room module provides a hot floor; the coupling module provides a distribution system; and the cooling module provides a cooling system; and the system further comprising at least one further module, the further module being: a universal power supply module for providing an electricity supply system with a back up system; or a cooling power supply module for providing a cooling power supply system; and wherein the modules are integrated by the distribution system of the coupling module.

The system of claim 2 or 3, further comprising: a cooling power supply module for supplying electrical power to the cooling module.

5. System as claimed in claim 4, wherein an electrical coupling between the cooling module and the cooling supply module is provided by the coupling module.

6. System as claimed in any of the foregoing claims, further comprising: a universal power supply module for supplying electric power for server-space module, wherein an electrical coupling between the server-space module and the universal power supply module is provided by the coupling module.

7. System as claimed in any of the foregoing claims, wherein the containers comprise a container frame and removable wall parts.

8. System as claimed in any of the foregoing claims, wherein the containers are convertible from a closed-wall containers into partially open containers by removing at least one wall part.

A building for a data center, comprising the system according to any one of the preceding claims.