Cold row encapsulation for server farm cooling system
Apparatuses, methods, and systems directed to efficient cooling of data centers. Some embodiments of the invention allow encapsulation of cold rows through an enclosure and allow one or more fans to draw cold air from the cold row encapsulation structure to cool servers installed on the server racks. In other particular embodiments, the systems disclosed can be used to mix outside cool air into the cold row encapsulation structure to cool the servers. In some embodiments, the present invention involves fanless servers installed on the server racks and introduces fan units to draw cooling air from the cold row encapsulation structure through the fanless servers on the racks.
1. A server cooling system, comprising:
an encapsulation structure defining an interior region, the interior region including a first plurality of racks arranged along a first interior side of the encapsulation structure and a second plurality of racks arranged along a second interior side of the encapsulation structure such that a cold row encapsulation region is defined between the first and second plurality of racks, each of the plurality of racks having a front face that intersects with the cold row encapsulation region and a back side that faces out towards an exterior of the encapsulation structure, wherein each of the first and second plurality of racks is configured for holding one or more servers, wherein the encapsulation structure is located within a data center, the data center having one or more exhaust fans attached to a ceiling of the data center;
a cooling module for generating cooled air is coupled to the encapsulation structure so that cooled air is directed in towards the cold row encapsulation region, wherein the cooling module is disposed on to a top surface of the encapsulation structure and includes one or more openings at a top face of the cooling module to allow air to enter the cooling module, the interior region is substantially sealed and is defined at a pressure when the cooling module is in operation; and
a fan unit having a face adjacent to the racks of the second plurality, the fan unit having one or more fans installed thereon, wherein the one or more fans of the fan unit are configured to draw the cooled air from the interior region to provide to the servers held in the first and second plurality of server racks during operation, the data center enclosing an exterior region exterior to the fan unit, the cooling module and the encapsulation structure, the one or more fans of the fan unit ejecting heated air emitted from the servers held in the first and second plurality of server racks into the exterior region during operation.
2. The server cooling system of claim 1 , wherein the cooling module comprises one or more cooling coils, the cooling coils including a liquid that cools air to generate the cooled air.
3. The server cooling system of claim 1 , wherein the ceiling has one or more dampers, the dampers configured to open and close.
4. A server cooling system comprising:
an encapsulation structure defining an interior region, the interior region including a first plurality of racks arranged along a first interior side of the encapsulation structure and a second plurality of racks arranged along a second interior side of the encapsulation structure such that a cold row encapsulation region is defined between the first and second plurality of racks, each of the plurality of racks having a front face that intersects with the cold row encapsulation region and a back side that faces out towards an exterior of the encapsulation structure, wherein each of the first and second plurality of racks is configured for holding one or more servers;
a cooling module for generating cooled air is coupled to the encapsulation structure so that cooled air is directed in towards the cold row encapsulation region, wherein the cooling module is disposed on to a top surface of the encapsulation structure and includes one or more openings at a top face of the cooling module to allow air to enter the cooling module, the interior region is substantially sealed and is defined at a pressure when the cooling module is in operation, wherein the cooling module has a bottom face and two side faces, the bottom face located adjacent to the encapsulation structure, the bottom face having one or more openings to interface with a ceiling of the encapsulation structure to facilitate entry of the cooled air into the encapsulation structure; and
one or more fans attached to a top face of the encapsulation structure.
5. The server cooling system of claim 1 , further comprising a plurality of fans defined proximate to the back side.
6. The server cooling system of claim 1 , wherein the cold row encapsulation structure has one or more doors, the one or more doors configured to be opened to allow access to the encapsulation structure.
7. The server cooling system of claim 1 , wherein the encapsulation structure has six sides, one of the six sides includes the server racks of the first plurality and another one of the six sides includes the server racks of the second plurality.
8. An encapsulation structure comprising:
a first side interfacing with a first interior region of a data center and a first plurality of racks;
a second side interfacing with a second interior region of the data center and a second plurality of racks, wherein the second side interfaces with one or more ducts, the one or more ducts facilitating a transfer of air to one or more fans;
a third side integral with a floor of the data center;
a fourth side having a fourth side portion interfacing with a cooling module, a cold row encapsulation region formed between the first plurality of server racks, the second plurality of server racks, a portion of the third side, and a portion of the fourth side, the cooling module for generating cooled air to direct towards the cold row encapsulation region during operation;
a fifth side adjacent to the first, second, third, and fourth sides; and
a sixth side adjacent to the first, second, third, and fourth sides, the first, second, third, fourth, fifth, and sixth sides substantially sealing the cold row encapsulation region at a pressure when the cooling module is in operation.
9. The encapsulation structure of claim 8 , wherein the server racks of the first plurality form the first side and the server racks of the second plurality form the second side.
10. The encapsulation structure of claim 8 , wherein the second side interfaces with a side of a fan unit, the side of the fan unit having one or more fans, the one or more fans for drawing heated air towards the second interior region of the data center during operation.
11. The encapsulation structure of claim 8 , wherein the cooling module has one or more fans, the one or more fans configured to push the cooled air to facilitate a transfer of the cooled air into the cold row encapsulation region during operation.
12. The encapsulation structure of claim 8 , wherein the fifth side has a door, wherein the door is configured to open to access of the cold row encapsulation region.
13. The encapsulation structure of claim 12 , wherein the door is insulated.
14. The encapsulation structure of claim 8 , wherein the server racks of the first and second pluralities are configured to receive servers, the servers emitting heated air during operation.