Arrangement of computing assets in a data center
View Patent ↗A system of computing assets arranges a plurality of backplanes to form a perimeter of a central region of a backplane structure. A plurality of computing assets are coupled to the backplanes and extend away from the central region of the backplane structure. A plurality of air intake openings are located along the perimeter of the backplane structure. An exhaust duct is coupled to an exhaust opening of the backplane structure and configured to direct air away from the backplane structure and is coupled to an air moving device. When the air moving device is operational, air flows across the computing assets through the air intake openings towards the central region of the backplane structure and into the exhaust duct, which directs the air away from the backplane structure.
1. A system comprising:
a plurality of backplanes arranged to form a perimeter of a cylindrical backplane structure, the plurality of backplanes surrounding a central axis of the cylindrical backplane structure and positioned parallel to the central axis;
a plurality of computing assets coupled to the backplanes and extending radially away from the central axis of the cylindrical backplane structure;
a plurality of air intake openings located along the perimeter of the cylindrical backplane structure and between pairs of the backplanes that form the perimeter of the cylindrical backplane structure;
an exhaust duct coupled to an exhaust opening of the backplane structure and configured to direct air away from the cylindrical backplane structure; and
an air moving device coupled to the exhaust duct, the air moving device arranged to cause an airflow across the computing assets through the air intake openings towards the central axis of the backplane structure and into the exhaust duct.
2. The system of claim 1 , wherein the computing assets comprise storage drives.
3. The system of claim 1 , wherein the air moving device comprises a fan.
4. A system comprising:
a plurality of backplanes arranged to form a perimeter surrounding a central region of a backplane structure;
a plurality of computing assets coupled to the backplanes and extending away from the central region of the backplane structure;
a plurality of air intake openings located along the perimeter of the backplane structure;
an exhaust duct coupled to an exhaust opening of the backplane structure and configured to direct air away from the backplane structure; and
an air moving device coupled to the exhaust duct, the air moving device configured to cause an airflow across the computing assets through the air intake openings towards the central region of the backplane structure and into the exhaust duct.
5. The system of claim 4 , wherein one or more air intake openings are positioned between pairs of the backplanes forming the perimeter surrounding the central region of the backplane structure.
6. The system of claim 4 , wherein the backplane structure is cylindrical and the central region of the backplane structure is a central axis of the backplane structure.
7. The system of claim 6 , wherein the computing assets extend radially away from the central axis of the backplane structure.
8. The system of claim 6 , wherein the computing assets are rotatable around the central axis of the backplane structure.
9. The system of claim 6 , wherein the backplanes are parallel to the central axis of the backplane structure.
10. The system of claim 4 , wherein the backplane structure is half-cylindrical or prism shaped.
11. The system of claim 4 , wherein the backplanes include electrical connectors, and the computing assets are coupled to the electrical connectors of the backplanes.
12. The system of claim 4 , further comprising:
a distribution board coupled to backplanes and to a power supply, the distribution board configured to provide power from the power supply to the backplanes and configured to provide and signaling connections to the backplanes, the exhaust duct coupled to an opening in the distribution board.
13. The system of claim 4 , wherein the computing assets comprise storage drives.
14. The system of claim 4 , wherein the computing assets comprise at least one of storage controllers, computer servers, or networking equipment.
15. The system of claim 4 , wherein the air moving device comprises a fan.
16. The system of claim 4 , further comprising:
a plurality of additional backplanes arranged to form a perimeter of a central region of an additional backplane structure;
a plurality of computing assets coupled to the additional backplanes and extending away from the central region of the additional backplane structure; and
a plurality of additional air intake openings located along the perimeter of the additional backplane structure,
wherein the air moving device is configured to cause an airflow across the additional computing assets through the additional air intake openings towards the central region of the additional backplane structure and into the exhaust duct.
17. The system of claim 16 , wherein an opening of the backplane structure opposite to the exhaust opening of the backplane structure is coupled to an exhaust opening of the additional backplane structure.
18. The system of claim 16 , wherein the exhaust duct is coupled to an exhaust opening of the additional backplane structure and configured to direct air away from the additional backplane structure.
19. A system comprising:
an equipment rack;
a backplane structure mounted within the equipment rack that includes a plurality of backplanes arranged to form a perimeter surrounding a central region of the backplane structure;
a plurality of computing assets coupled to the backplanes and extending away from the central region of the backplane structure;
a plurality of air intake openings located along the perimeter of the backplane structure;
an exhaust duct coupled to an exhaust opening of the backplane structure and configured to direct air away from the backplane structure; and
an air moving device coupled to the exhaust duct, the air moving device configured to cause an airflow across the computing assets through the air intake openings towards the central region of the backplane structure and into the exhaust duct.