Modular data center

Abstract

A modular data center includes a unitary rack having multiple side-by-side bays which are arranged to carry electronic components. The rack has a first passageway on its front side which provides access to the electronic components mounted in the bays. The rack has a second passageway located adjacent to the back side of the bays. A plurality of fans circulate cooling air vertically in a first direction through either the first or second passageway and then horizontally through the bays. In the preferred embodiment, the air flows vertically in the opposite direction in the other passageway back to the fan to be cooled and recirculated. The rack and fans can either be inserted into a trailer or container or walls can be built around them to provide a modular unit.

1 . A data center comprising:
 (a) a unitary rack having multiple side-by-side bays, said bays having a front side and a rear side;   (b) said bays being configured to carry multiple electronic components;   (c) said rack having a first passageway which provides access to said electronic components from said front side of said bays;   (d) said rack having a second passageway located adjacent said rear side of said bays; and   (e) a plurality of fans having inlets and outlets, at least one of said fans in said plurality of said of fans being arranged to circulate air exiting its outlet vertically through one of said first and second passageways, then horizontally through one or more of said bays.   
     
     
         2 . The data center of  claim 1  wherein said at least one of said fans is arranged to normally pull air that passes horizontally through said one or more of said bays vertically back into its inlet. 
     
     
         3 . The data center of  claim 1  further comprising cooling coils associated with said fans to cool air being circulated through said rack. 
     
     
         4 . The data center of  claim 1  wherein said rack has two rows of said bays, one row on each side of said first passageway. 
     
     
         5 . The data center of  claim 4  wherein said rack has two second passageways, one located adjacent the rear side of each row of said bays. 
     
     
         6 . The data center of  claim 1  wherein said fans are located below said rack. 
     
     
         7 . The data center of  claim 6  wherein said fans are configured such that air exits the outlets of said fans into said first passageway. 
     
     
         8 . The data center of  claim 7  wherein one of said fans is associated with each of said bays. 
     
     
         9 . The data center of  claim 6  wherein said plurality of fans are part of a self-contained fan unit which is separate from said rack. 
     
     
         10 . The data center of  claim 9  including a porous panel which forms a floor in said first passageway and through which said air passes. 
     
     
         11 . The data center of  claim 10  wherein said porous panel is removably mounted in said fan unit. 
     
     
         12 . The data center of  claim 9  including a grated panel which forms a floor in said first passageway. 
     
     
         13 . The data center of  claim 12  wherein said panel is removably mounted in said fan unit. 
     
     
         14 . The data center of  claim 1  wherein said fans are plenum fans. 
     
     
         15 . The modular data center of  claim 1  including an equalizer which allows controlling how much of said air passes through different portions of said bays. 
     
     
         16 . The modular data center of  claim 9  wherein said plurality of fans are part of a self-contained unit which is located below said rack and is separate from said rack and said self-contained unit is configured to support said porous panels. 
     
     
         17 . The modular data center of  claim 3  including a chiller which provides refrigerant to said cooling coils. 
     
     
         18 . The modular data center of  claim 1  including a trailer which said rack and said plurality of fans is placed into. 
     
     
         19 . The modular data center of  claim 1  including walls which are attached to said rack outwardly of second passageway. 
     
     
         20 . The modular data center of  claim 1  including a wire raceway which is mounted on said rack. 
     
     
         21 . The modular data center of  claim 20  wherein said wire raceway is located above said rack. 
     
     
         22 . The modular data center of  claim 18  including a vestibule located adjacent to said rack which is accessible from said first passageway. 
     
     
         23 . The modular data center of  claim 22  including a chiller which is located in said vestibule and provides refrigerant to said cooling coil. 
     
     
         24 . The modular data center of  claim 18  wherein said fans are configured such that air exits out of said outlets of said fans into said first passageway, including:
 (a) said trailer has at least one wall which encloses said second passageway,   (b) said at least one wall having first vent openings located therein, proximate an upper extremity of said rack;   (c) first shutters located adjacent said first vent openings which move between open positions where air can exit said trailer through said first vent openings and closed positions where air cannot exit said trailer through said first vent openings;   (d) said at least one wall having second vent openings located therein proximate the inlets of said fans;   (e) second shutters located adjacent said second vent openings which are movable between open positions where air can enter said trailer through said second vent openings and closed positions where air cannot enter said trailer through said second vent openings; wherein   (f) when said first and second shutters are in their open positions, said fans draw air from outside of said trailer through said second vent openings and circulate it vertically through said first passageway then horizontally through said bays and then out of said trailer through said first vent openings.   
     
     
         25 . The modular data center of  claim 19  wherein said fans are configured such that air exits out of said outlets of said fans into said first passageway including:
 (a) said rack having at least one wall associated therewith which encloses said second passageway;   (b) said at least one wall having first vent openings located therein proximate an upper extremity of said rack;   (c) first shutters located adjacent said first vent openings which are movable between open positions where air can exit said at least one wall through said first vent openings and closed positions where air cannot exit said at least one wall through said first vent openings;   (d) said at least one wall having second vent openings located therein proximate the inlets of said fans;   (e) second shutters located adjacent said second vent openings which are movable between open positions wherein air can enter said fans through said second vent openings and closed positions where air cannot enter said fans through said second vent openings; wherein   (f) when said first and second shutters are in their open positions said fans draw outside air through said second vent openings and circulate it vertically through said first passageway then horizontally through one or more of said bays and then out of said rack through said first vent openings.