# US 2014/0190198 A1 · Modular data center > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 2014/0190198 A1 - Document ID: US20140190198A1 - Status: Published application - Kind: A1 - Application number: 13/839,709 - Filed: 2013-03-15 - Published: 2014-07-10 - Earliest claimed: 2013-01-09 - Assignees: IO Data Centers, LLC - Applicants: Io Data Centers, LLC - Inventors: William Slessman; Steve Durand; Rose Gilbert; Andreas Zoll - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US20140190198A1 ## CPC - F24F 11/0001: {for ventilation (F24F11/30 takes precedence)} - F24F 5/001: {Compression cycle type} - F24F 5/0035: {using evaporation} - F24F 11/30: for purposes related to the operation of the system, e.g. for safety or monitoring - F24F 11/46: Improving electric energy efficiency or saving - F24F 11/62: characterised by the type of control or by internal processing, e.g. using fuzzy logic, adaptive control or estimation of values - F24F 11/76: by means responsive to temperature, e.g. bimetal springs - F24F 11/81: by controlling the air supply to heat-exchangers or bypass channels - F25B 25/00: Machines, plants or systems, using a combination of modes of operation covered by two or more of the groups F25B1/00 - F25B23/00 - H05K 7/20745: {within rooms for removing heat from cabinets, e.g. by air conditioning device} - H05K 7/20827: {within rooms for removing heat from cabinets, e.g. air conditioning devices} - H05K 7/20836: {Thermal management, e.g. server temperature control} - F24F 11/63: Electronic processing - F24F 11/87: by controlling absorption or discharge of heat in outdoor units - F24F 2011/0006: {using low temperature external supply air to assist cooling} - F24F 2110/10: Temperature - F24F 2110/22: of the outside air - F24F: AIR-CONDITIONING; AIR-HUMIDIFICATION; VENTILATION; USE OF AIR CURRENTS FOR SCREENING (removing dirt or fumes from areas where they are produced B08B15/00; vertical ducts for carrying away waste gases from buildings E04F17/02; tops for chimneys or ventilating shafts, terminals for flues F23L17/02) - F25B: REFRIGERATION MACHINES, PLANTS OR SYSTEMS; COMBINED HEATING AND REFRIGERATION SYSTEMS; HEAT PUMP SYSTEMS - H05K: PRINTED CIRCUITS; CASINGS OR CONSTRUCTIONAL DETAILS OF ELECTRIC APPARATUS; MANUFACTURE OF ASSEMBLAGES OF ELECTRICAL COMPONENTS ## Abstract Described are methods, systems, and apparatus, including computer program products, relating to an air module and control thereof. An air module can include a controller, an air intake module configured to receive first air from a first air source and to receive second air from a second air source, an evaporative cooling module in fluid communication with the air intake module, and a mechanical cooling module in fluid communication with the evaporative cooling module. The controller can be configured to cause the intake module to mix the first air and the second air to form intake air, and selectively cool the intake air to form supply air by at least one of causing the evaporative cooling module to selectively cool the intake air, and causing the mechanical cooling module to selectively cool the intake. ## Claims ### Claim 1 An air module comprising: a controller; an air intake module configured to receive first air from a first air source and to receive second air from a second air source; an evaporative cooling module in fluid communication with the air intake module; a mechanical cooling module in fluid communication with the evaporative cooling module; and wherein the controller is configured to: cause the intake module to mix, based on at least a supply air temperature set point, the first air and the second air to form intake air, and selectively cool the intake air to form supply air by at least one of causing the evaporative cooling module to selectively cool, based on at least the supply air temperature set point, the intake air, and causing the mechanical cooling module to selectively cool the intake air based on at least the supply air temperature set point. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The air module of claim 1, wherein the first air source is a source of return air. ### Claim 3 (depends on 1) The air module of claim 1, wherein the second air source is a source of outside air. ### Claim 4 (depends on 1) The air module of claim 1, wherein the controller is further configured to: form the supply air substantially from the first air, if: a temperature of the first air is less than the supply air temperature set point. ### Claim 5 (depends on 1) The air module of claim 1, wherein the controller is further configured to: form the supply air by mixing the first air and the second air, if: a first temperature of the first air is greater than the supply air temperature set point, a second temperature of the second air is less than the supply air temperature set point, and a dew point of the second air is within a dew point range. ### Claim 6 (depends on 1) The air module of claim 1, wherein the controller is further configured to: form mixed air by mixing the first air and the second air, if: a first temperature of the first air is greater than the supply air temperature set point, a second temperature of the second air is less than the first temperature, a dew point of the second air is less than a lower limit of a dew point range, and a wet bulb temperature of the second air is less than a wet bulb temperature corresponding to the supply air temperature set point at the lower limit of a dew point range; form the supply air by evaporatively cooling mixed air with the evaporative cooling module. ### Claim 7 (depends on 1) The air module of claim 1, wherein the controller is further configured to: form supply air substantially from the second air by evaporatively cooling the second air with the evaporative cooling module, if: a first temperature of the first air is greater than the supply air temperature set point, a second temperature of the second air is greater than the supply air temperature set point, a dew point of the second air is less than an upper limit of a dew point range, and a wet bulb temperature of the second air is within an evaporative cooling wet bulb temperature range. ### Claim 8 (depends on 1) The air module of claim 1, wherein the controller is further configured to: form supply air substantially from the first air by mechanically cooling the first air with the mechanical cooling module, if: a dew point of the second air is greater than an upper limit of a dew point range. ### Claim 9 (depends on 1) The air module of claim 1, wherein the controller is further configured to: form supply air substantially from the first air by mechanically cooling the first air with the mechanical cooling module, if: a wet bulb temperature of the second air is greater than an upper limit of an evaporative cooling wet bulb temperature range, and a dew point of the first air is less than or equal to an upper limit of a dew point range. ### Claim 10 (depends on 1) The air module of claim 1, wherein the controller is further configured to: form supply air substantially from the first air by mechanically cooling the first air with the mechanical cooling module, if: a dew point of the first air is greater than an upper limit of a dew point range, and a dew point of the second air is greater than the upper limit of a dew point range. ### Claim 11 (depends on 1) The air module of claim 1, wherein the controller is further configured to: form supply air substantially from the second air by mechanically cooling the second air with the mechanical cooling module, if: a first temperature of the first air is greater than the supply air temperature set point, a second temperature of the second air is greater than or equal to the supply air temperature set point; a dew point of the second air is greater than the upper limit of a dew point range, a wet bulb temperature of the second air is less than an upper limit of an evaporative cooling wet bulb temperature range, and a humidity ratio of the second air is less than or equal to a threshold humidity ratio. ### Claim 12 A computer implemented method for controlling an air module comprising: generating, by a controller, a first instruction to cause an intake module to selectively mix, based upon a supply air temperature set point, first air and second air to form intake air; generating, by the controller, a second instruction to selectively cool the intake air to form supply air, wherein the second instruction comprises at least one of instructions to cause an evaporative cooling module to selectively cool, based on at least the supply air temperature set point, the intake air, and instructions to cause a mechanical cooling module to selectively cool, based on at least the supply air temperature set point, the intake air. ### Claim 13 (depends on 12) The method of claim 12, wherein the first instruction comprises instructions to form the intake air substantially from the first air, if: a temperature of the first air is less than the supply air temperature set point. ### Claim 14 (depends on 12) The method of claim 12, wherein the first instruction comprises instructions to form the intake air by mixing the first air and the second air, if: a first temperature of the first air is greater than the supply air temperature set point, a second temperature of the second air is less than the supply air temperature set point, and a dew point of the second air is within a dew point range. ### Claim 15 (depends on 12) The method of claim 12, wherein the first instruction comprises instructions to form intake air by mixing the first air and the second air and the second instruction comprises instructions to cause the evaporative cooling module to selectively cool, based on at least the supply air temperature set point, the intake air, if: a first temperature of the first air is greater than the supply air temperature set point, a second temperature of the second air is less than the first temperature, a dew point of the second air is less than a lower limit of a dew point range, and a wet bulb temperature of the second air is less than a wet bulb temperature corresponding to the supply air temperature set point at the lower limit of a dew point range. ### Claim 16 (depends on 12) The method of claim 12, wherein the first instruction comprises instructions to create intake air substantially from second air and the second instruction comprises instructions to cause the evaporative cooling module to selectively cool, based on at least the supply air temperature set point, the intake air, if: a first temperature of the first air is greater than the supply air temperature set point, a second temperature of the second air is greater than the supply air temperature set point, a dew point of the second air is less than an upper limit of a dew point range, a wet bulb temperature of the second air is within an evaporative cooling wet bulb temperature range. ### Claim 17 (depends on 12) The method of claim 12, wherein the first instruction comprises instructions to create intake air substantially from first air, wherein the second instruction comprises instructions to cause the mechanical cooling module to selectively cool, based on at least the supply air temperature set point, the intake air, if: a dew point of the second air is greater than an upper limit of a dew point range. ### Claim 18 (depends on 12) The method of claim 12, wherein the first instruction comprises instructions to create intake air substantially from first air and the second instruction comprises instructions to cause the mechanical cooling module to selectively cool, based on at least the supply air temperature set point, the intake air, if: a wet bulb temperature of the second air is greater than an upper limit of an evaporative cooling wet bulb temperature range, and a dew point of the first air is less than or equal to an upper limit of a dew point range. ### Claim 19 (depends on 12) The method of claim 12, wherein the first instruction comprises instructions to create intake air substantially from first air and the second instruction comprises instructions to cause the mechanical cooling module to selectively cool, based on at least the supply air temperature set point, the intake air, if: a dew point of the first air is greater than an upper limit of a dew point range, and a dew point of the second air is greater than the upper limit of a dew point range. ### Claim 20 (depends on 12) The method of claim 12, further comprising:: wherein the first instruction comprises instructions to create intake air substantially from second air and the second instruction comprises instructions to cause the mechanical cooling module to selectively cool, based on at least the supply air temperature set point, the intake air, if: a first temperature of the first air is greater than the supply air temperature set point, a second temperature of the second air is greater than or equal to the supply air temperature set point; a dew point of the second air is greater than the upper limit of a dew point range, a wet bulb temperature of the second air is less than an upper limit of an evaporative cooling wet bulb temperature range, and a humidity ratio of the second air is less than or equal to a threshold humidity ratio. ### Claim 21 The method of clam 12, further comprising sending the first instruction to the intake module and sending the second instruction to at least one of the evaporative cooling module and the mechanical cooling module. ### Claim 22 A modular data center comprising: an air module comprising: an air module controller; an air intake module configured to receive first air from a first air source and to receive second air from a second air source; an evaporative cooling module in fluid communication with the air intake module; a mechanical cooling module in fluid communication with the evaporative cooling module; wherein the air module controller is configured to cause the intake module to mix the first air and the second air based on at least a supply air temperature set point to form intake air, and wherein the controller is configured to form supply air by at least one of causing the evaporative cooling module to cool the intake air selectively based on at least the supply air temperature set point, and causing the mechanical cooling module to cool the intake air selectively based on at least the supply air temperature set point; one or more data center modules; and a supply air conduit in fluid communication with the air module and a data center module of the one or more data center modules to carry supply air from the air module to the one or more data center modules. ### Claim 23 (depends on 22) The modular data center of claim 22, wherein the data center module further comprises: a data center module controller; a data center module intake damper configured to control supply air entering the data center module from the supply air conduit; wherein the data center module controller is configured to actuate the data center module intake damper based on at least one of a temperature and humidity of air in the data center module. ### Claim 24 (depends on 22) The modular data center of claim 22, wherein the air module further comprises a fan array. ### Claim 25 (depends on 24) The modular data center of claim 24, wherein the air module controller is further configured to adjust an air flow of the fan array to maintain a substantially constant air pressure in the supply air conduit.