Data centre, and power and cooling system therefor

Abstract

A data centre having a primary power source and a backup power source, wherein the primary power source comprises a gas pressure reduction station driving at least one generator, and the secondary power source comprises a large scale electricity distribution network.

1 . A data centre having a primary power source and a backup power source, wherein the primary power source comprises a gas pressure reduction station driving at least one generator, and the secondary power source comprises a large scale electricity distribution network. 
     
     
         2 . A data centre as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein the gas pressure reduction station is coupled to heat exchangers within the data centre, such that heat produced by computers or other electronic devices within the data centre can be used by the gas pressure reduction station. 
     
     
         3 . A data centre as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein the gas pressure reduction station is connected to a cooling system of the data centre such that cold from the gas pressure reduction station is used to cool the data centre. 
     
     
         4 . A data centre as claimed in  claim 1 , further including an internal combustion engine adapted to drive at least one of a generator and a compressor, and wherein carbon dioxide in the exhaust gas of the internal combustion engine is captured and cooled, and used as a heat exchange medium to cool the servers or as a fire suppressant in a server space. 
     
     
         5 . A data centre as claimed in  claim 4 , further including an absorption chiller in combination with the internal combustion engine. 
     
     
         6 . A data centre as claimed in  claim 4 , in which the internal combustion engine is diesel or bio-fuel powered. 
     
     
         7 . A data centre as claimed in  claim 1 , in which a heat exchanger is provided downstream of an expansion engine in the gas pressure reduction station. 
     
     
         8 . A data centre in combination with a gas pressure reduction station, wherein cooling for the data centre is provided at least in part by the gas pressure reduction station.