Uninterruptible power and cooling for critical power applications

A method comprising:

• receiving first electrical energy from a power source at a meter and providing at least a portion of the first electrical energy to a data center during a first time period, the data center comprising multiple electronic devices that generate heat while in operation;
• converting air at approximately atmospheric pressure to a compressed or liquified state using an electrical-to-mechanical energy conversion device using at least the portion of the first electrical energy received from the power source during the first time period;
• receiving the air from the electrical-to-mechanical energy conversion device and storing the air in a storage container in the compressed or liquified state;
• receiving the air from the storage container in a gaseous, compressed state at a mechanical-to-electrical energy conversion device;
• using the air from the storage container at the mechanical-to-electrical energy conversion device to generate second electrical energy for powering the data center during a second time period in which the meter does not provide the first electrical energy to the data center;
• exhausting cooled air from the mechanical-to-electrical energy conversion device for providing to the data center to cool the electronic devices;
• and
• receiving thermal energy generated by the electrical-to-mechanical energy conversion device and using the thermal energy to heat the air from the storage container from the compressed or liquified state to the gaseous, compressed state before the air is supplied to the mechanical-to-electrical energy conversion device,
• wherein the second time period comprises a period of time during which the first electrical energy from the power source is not cost efficient.

A non-transitory computer readable medium embodying a computer program, the computer program comprising computer readable program code that, when executed by a processor of a computing device, cause the computing device to:

• control a meter to provide first electrical energy, received from a power source, to a data center during a first time period, the data center comprising multiple electronic devices that generate heat while in operation;
• control an electrical-to-mechanical energy conversion device to convert air at approximately atmospheric pressure to a compressed or liquified state using at least a portion of the first electrical energy received from the power source during the first time period and to transfer the air to a storage container for storage of the air in the compressed or liquified state;
• control a mechanical-to-electrical energy conversion device to, during a second time period in which the meter does not provide the first electrical energy to the data center:
• receive the air from the storage container in a gaseous, compressed state;
• generate second electrical energy for powering the data center using the air received from the storage container;
• and
• exhaust cooled air for providing to the data center to cool the electronic devices;
• and
• control a heater to (i) receive thermal energy generated by the electrical-to-mechanical energy conversion device and (ii) use the thermal energy to heat the air from the storage container from the compressed or liquified state to the gaseous, compressed state before the air is supplied to the mechanical-to-electrical energy conversion device,
• wherein the second time period comprises a period of time during which the first electrical energy from the power source is not cost efficient.