Casualty-resistant enclosure for a micro data center
An enclosure for micro data center equipment includes an interior chamber, an exterior housing, an air intake pipe, and a void. The interior chamber houses heat-generating micro data center equipment. The exterior housing substantially surrounds the interior chamber and is fabricated from a material that is both casualty-resistant and resistant to hostile environments. The air intake pipe is coupled between an opening in the interior chamber and an opening in the exterior housing. The air intake pipe receives outdoor air from a location external to the exterior housing at the opening in the exterior housing and delivers the outdoor air to the interior chamber at the opening in the interior chamber; the outdoor air delivered to the interior chamber serves to cool the heat-generating micro data center equipment. The void is intermediate the interior chamber and the exterior housing and receives a weight-enhancing material.
1 . An enclosure for micro data center equipment, comprising:
an interior chamber that houses heat-generating micro data center equipment;
an exterior housing that substantially surrounds the interior chamber, wherein the exterior housing is comprised of a material that is casualty-resistant and is resistant to hostile environments;
an air intake pipe that is coupled between an opening in the interior chamber and an opening in the exterior housing, wherein the air intake pipe receives outdoor air from a location external to the exterior housing at the opening in the exterior housing, wherein the air intake pipe delivers the outdoor air and wherein the outdoor air serves to cool the heat-generating micro data center equipment; and
a void intermediate the interior chamber and the exterior housing that receives a weight-enhancing material.
2 . The enclosure of claim 1 , further comprising a vent opening extending from the interior chamber through the exterior housing, wherein the vent opening enables heat generated by the heat-generating micro data center equipment to escape the interior chamber and the exterior housing.
3 . The enclosure of claim 2 , wherein the vent opening includes a coupling at the exterior housing.
4 . The enclosure of claim 3 , wherein the coupling comprises an attachment collar.
5 . The enclosure of claim 1 , wherein the material that is casualty-resistant and resistant to hostile environments comprises a mild steel.
6 . The enclosure of claim 5 , wherein the mild steel is coated with a thermal coating.
7 . The enclosure of claim 6 , wherein the interior chamber is welded to the exterior housing.
8 . The enclosure of claim 1 , further comprising a bullet-proof access panel that is removably secured to the interior chamber and further comprising a door that is hingedly secured to the exterior housing that is openable to reveal the bullet-proof access panel.
9 . The enclosure of claim 1 , wherein the exterior housing is of a circular configuration.
10 . The enclosure of claim 9 , wherein the interior chamber is of a square or rectangular configuration.
11 . The enclosure of claim 1 , wherein the exterior housing includes forklift tine openings enabling the enclosure to be lifted and lowered by a forklift.
12 . The enclosure of claim 1 , wherein the exterior housing includes one or more lifting attachments enabling the enclosure to be lifted and lowered by a load line of a crane.
13 . The enclosure of claim 1 , wherein the weight-enhancing material comprises a plain concrete.
14 . The enclosure of claim 1 , wherein the weight-enhancing material comprises a low density cellular concrete (LDCC).
15 . The enclosure of claim 1 , wherein the exterior housing includes a stacking feature that enables the enclosure to be stacked atop another enclosure.
16 . The enclosure of claim 15 , wherein the stacking feature includes an opening that enables the enclosure to be in electrical and/or data communication with the another enclosure.
17 . The enclosure of claim 1 , wherein the opening in the exterior housing directly interfaces with an air intake box that includes an air filter.
18 . An enclosure for electronic equipment/electrical components, comprising:
an exterior housing that includes an exterior shell having a first end and a second end, a bottom plate secured to the first end of the exterior shell, and a top plate secured to the second end of the exterior shell, wherein the exterior housing is comprised of a material that is both casualty-resistant and resistant to hostile environments;
an interior chamber substantially surround by the exterior housing, wherein the interior chamber houses heat-generating electronic equipment/electrical components and wherein the interior chamber includes an airflow opening;
an access panel removably secured to the interior chamber;
a door hingedly coupled to the exterior housing that is openable to reveal the access panel;
an air intake opening in at least one of the exterior shell and the top plate, wherein the air intake opening receives air from a location external to the exterior housing;
an air intake pipe coupled between the air intake opening and the airflow opening that delivers the air received at the air intake opening to the interior chamber via the airflow opening;
a vent opening extending from the interior chamber through the exterior housing, wherein the vent opening enables heat generated by the heat-generating electronic equipment/electrical components to escape the interior chamber and the exterior housing; and
a void intermediate the exterior shell and the interior chamber that receives concrete.
19 . A method of assembling the enclosure of claim 18 , comprising:
at a first location:
welding the bottom plate to the first end of the exterior shell;
welding the interior chamber to the exterior shell;
coupling the air intake pipe between the air intake opening and the airflow opening;
shipping the exterior shell welded to the bottom plate along with the top plate positioned atop second end of the exterior shell to a second location that is remote from the first location;
at the second location:
filling the void with concrete; and
welding the top plate to the second end of the exterior shell.
20 . The method of claim 19 further comprising:
at the first location: utilizing a stacking feature of the bottom plate of the enclosure to interface with a stacking feature of a top plate of another enclosure to stack the enclosure atop the another enclosure prior to shipping.