Data center cooling system

#Embodiments of the present invention are directed to cooling of rack-mounted devices, and more particularly to a data center infrastructure having a cooling system.

#Electronic equipment racks generally are designed to receive a number of electronic components arranged vertically in the rack, mounted on shelves, and/or to front and rear mounting rails. The electronic equipment may include, for example, printed circuit boards, communications equipment, computers, including computer servers, or other electronic components.

#Electronic equipment housed in racks produces a considerable amount of heat, which undesirably affects performance and reliability of the electronic equipment. Often the heat produced by the rack-mounted components is not evenly distributed in the racks. Temperature gradients causing elevated inlet temperatures at tops of racks, for example, reduce equipment reliability substantially. Equipment reliability may be reduced by as much as half the reliability of specific equipment function for each 10° F. rise in temperature. Accordingly, rack-mounted computer systems typically require effective cooling systems to maintain operational efficiency. Cooling can be accomplished by introducing cooled air into an equipment rack causing the air to flow through equipment in the rack and exit the rack at an increased temperature, thereby removing some of the heat. The heat removed from the rack is typically returned into the room containing the racks and the entire room is cooled using a relatively large air conditioning system.

#For a better understanding of the present invention, reference is made to the figures which are incorporated herein by reference and in which:

#FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a modular data center cooling system for rack-mounted equipment in accordance with one embodiment of the invention;

#FIG. 2 is a top view of another modular data system, similar to the system of FIG. 1; and

#Embodiments of the invention provide a data center infrastructure having a cooling system for cooling rack-mounted electronic equipment. Embodiments of the invention provide a modular data center for rack-mounted equipment, wherein the modular data center provides power distribution, cooling and structural support for the rack-mounted equipment. The power distribution unit and cooling is provided in some embodiments using redundant systems to prevent downtime due to electrical or mechanical failures. As understood by those skilled in the art, other embodiments are within the scope of the invention, such as embodiments used to provide infrastructure for equipment other than electronic equipment.

#A system for providing power distribution for rack-mounted equipment which can be used with embodiments of the present invention is described in U.S. patent application Ser. No. 10/038,106, entitled, “Adjustable Scalable Rack Power System and Method,” which is herein incorporated by reference.

#Referring to FIG. 1, a perspective view of a modular data center 10 is shown. The modular data center 10 includes a power distribution unit 14, a power protection unit 12, a floor mounted cooling unit 16, equipment racks 18, and a hot room 22. The modular data center 10 also has a door 52 having a window 54, a roof 56, a cold water supply and return 60, and a voltage feed 58. The data center 10 is a modular unit comprised of the power distribution unit 14, the power protection unit 12 the floor mounted cooling unit 16, and equipment racks 18 positioned adjacent to each other to form a row 32 and a row 34. Row 32 and row 34 are substantially parallel. The power distribution unit 14 and the power protection unit 12 can be located directly adjacent to one another, and can be located at the end of one of the rows. The floor-mounted cooling unit 16 may be located and positioned adjacent to the power distribution unit 14. Remaining enclosures forming the at least one additional row in the data center 10 are equipment racks 18. The hot room 22 is located between row 32 and row 34, and rows 32 and 34 comprise two of the perimeter walls of the modular data center 10.