Note: Descriptions are shown in the official language in which they were submitted.
CA 02900825 2015-08-18
A Truly Modular Building Datacenter Facility
BACKGROUND
[01]. In general, an embodiment relates to building a datacenter facility.
Information
Technology operations are a crucial aspect of most organizational operations
in the
western world. One of the main concerns is business continuity. Companies rely
on their information systems to run their operations. If a system becomes
unavailable, company operations may be impaired or stopped completely. It is
necessary to provide a reliable infrastructure for IT operations, in order to
minimize
any chance of disruption. Information security is also a concern, and for this
reason
a data center has to offer a secure environment, which minimizes the chances
of a
security breach. A data center must therefore keep high standards for assuring
the
integrity and functionality of its hosted computer environment. Telcordia GR-
3160,
NEBS Requirements for Telecommunications Data Center Equipment and Spaces,
provides guidelines for data center spaces within telecommunications networks,
and
environmental requirements for the equipment intended for installation in
those
spaces.
[02]. Most conventional thinking is that the only way to build a datacenter
facility on a
cost-effective basis is to do so at scale. The common thesis is that the only
way to
get amount of dollars need per square foot low enough is to have scale-buying
power (building 100,000 square feet and up). Additionally, from a modular
perspective, the current industry thought process is to build the data hall as
well as
the mechanical/electrical plant on a shipping containerized basis.
CA 02900825 2015-08-18
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SUMMARY
[03]. Various methods and apparatuses are described for a modular datacenter
facility
constructed with a set of building modules of different types of functionality
to form
/make up an entire datacenter facility having a standardized pre-approved
architectural design and layout. Each type of building module in the set has a
specific collection of functionality associated with that type of building
module. Each
building module of the different types is a pre-engineered, standardized
building
block containing architectural features to allow easy configuration and
integration
with the other building modules that form the modular datacenter facility. All
instances of a particular building module with that type of functionality will
have
approximately a same floor plan and architectural design. The modular
datacenter
facility houses computing systems. The computing systems includes servers and
storage devices housed in hot and cool zones, routers and switches that
transport
data traffic between the servers as well as transport traffic to a world
exterior to the
modular data center facility. An initial set of building modules can be built
upon a
parcel of land, and then as the number of customers needing a datacenter
functionality increase or the needs of current customer's space and additional
capacity of the modular datacenter facility increases, then at a later/future
point in
time additional building modules of the different types can be rapidly
adjoined/added
to the initial set of building modules; and thus, a data center facility
transformation
takes a step-by-step approach carried out over time through an addition of
more
building modules added to existing building modules. This rapid addition of
building
modules to the existing modules allows for a truly modular built data center.
The
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building modules of the different types use one or more connecting corridors
architected into at least a first type of building module and corresponding
aligned
doorways between both building modules to interconnect two building modules
adjacent and abutted to each other.
[04]. According to one aspect of the present invention, there is provided an
apparatus,
comprising: a modular datacenter facility constructed with a set of building
modules
of different types of functionality to form an entire datacenter facility,
where each
type of building module in the set has a specific collection of functionality
associated
with that type of building module, where each building module of the different
types
is a pre-engineered, standardized building block having a standardized pre-
approved architectural design and layout, where a first type of building
module in
the modular datacenter facility is a data-floor building module that is pre-
engineered
and has the pre-approved architectural design and layout to house computing
systems, where the computing systems include servers and storage devices that
are housed in hot and cool zones, and routers and switches that transport data
traffic between the servers as well as transport traffic to a world exterior
to the
modular datacenter facility, where each wall section forming a hardened shell
of the
building module has a reinforced framework at least five and a half inches
thick,
where each wall section is pre-fabricated to interconnect and secure in place
with
another wall section, where each roof section has a reinforced framework and
are
tied to the wall sections, where the wall sections forming the hardened shell
are tied
to a foundation.
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[05]. According to another aspect of the present invention, there is provided
a method
for constructing a modular datacenter facility with a standardized set of
building
modules of different types of functionality, comprising: constructing the
modular
datacenter facility with the set of building modules of different types of
functionality
to form an entire datacenter facility, where each type of building module in
the set
has a specific collection of functionality associated with that type of
building module,
where each building module of the different types is a pre-engineered,
standardized
building block having a standardized pre-approved architectural design and
layout,
where a first type of building module in the modular datacenter facility is a
data-floor
building module that is pre-engineered and has the pre-approved architectural
design and layout to house computing systems; and constructing each wall
section
to interconnect and secure in place with another wall section, where the wall
sections forming the hardened shell are connected to a foundation, where the
computing systems that include servers and storage devices that are housed in
hot
and cool zones, and routers and switches that transport data traffic between
the
servers as well as transport traffic to a world exterior to the modular
datacenter
facility in the data-floor building module, where each wall section forming
the
hardened shell of the building module has a reinforced framework at least 5
1/2
inches thick.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[06]. The multiple drawings refer to the example embodiments of the invention.
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[07]. Figure 1 illustrates a block diagram of an embodiment of an initial
modular
datacenter facility constructed with a set of building modules of different
types of
functionality to form an entire datacenter facility having a standardized pre-
approved
architectural design and layout.
[08]. Figure 2A illustrates a block diagram of an embodiment of the connecting
corridor in the hardened-structure building module wrapping around a data
floor
containing the servers and storage devices housed in hot and cool zones in the
data-floor building module.
[09]. Figure 2B illustrates a block diagram of an embodiment of the office-
support
building module with a fishbowl security center that looks over the both the
lobby
man-trap area and the loading dock, and a hardened-structure building module
that
has a dedicated customer storage and staging space as well as connecting
corridors.
[010]. Figure 3 illustrates a block diagram of an embodiment of the power-
center
building module and the office-support building module having the aligned
doors
fabricated into the building module in order to interconnect with the
connecting
corridor.
[011]. Figure 4 illustrates a block diagram of an embodiment of a physical
composition
and geographic arrangement of building modules matched to a current capacity
and
space needs of a user of the modular datacenter facility as well as to a
geography
of the parcel of land that the modular data center facility will be located
on.
[012]. Figure 5 illustrates a block diagram of an embodiment of an expansion
of an
initial set of building modules built upon a parcel of land, and then at a
future point
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in time, additional building modules of the different types are added to the
initial set
of building modules over time.
[013]. Figure 6 illustrates a block diagram of an embodiment of the data-floor
building
module with partitioned floor space into private suites for portions of the
computing
systems via erection of non-weight bearing walls from floor to ceiling to
separate
each private suite within the single data-floor building module.
[014]. While the invention is subject to various modifications and alternative
forms,
specific embodiments thereof have been shown by way of example in the drawings
and will herein be described in detail. The invention should be understood to
not be
limited to the particular forms disclosed, but on the contrary, the intention
is to cover
all modifications, equivalents, and alternatives falling within the spirit and
scope of
the invention.
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DETAILED DISCUSSION
[015]. In the following description, numerous specific details are set forth,
such as
examples of specific heights and dimensions, named components, connections,
types of offices, etc., in order to provide a thorough understanding of the
present
invention. It will be apparent, however, to one skilled in the art that the
present
invention may be practiced without these specific details. In other instances,
well
known components or methods have not been described in detail but rather in a
block diagram in order to avoid unnecessarily obscuring the present invention.
Thus, the specific details set forth are merely exemplary. The specific
details may
be varied from and still be contemplated to be within the spirit and scope of
the
present invention. Example processes for and apparatuses to provide a truly
modular building datacenter facility are described. The following drawings and
text
describe various example implementations of the design.
[016]. A modular datacenter facility may be constructed with a set of building
modules
of different types of functionality to form an entire datacenter facility
having a
standardized pre-approved architectural design and layout. All instances of a
particular type of building module will have approximately a same floor plan
and
architectural design. An initial set of building modules can be built upon a
parcel of
land, and then as needs of space and additional capacity of the modular
datacenter
facility increase, then at a future point in time additional building modules
of the
different types can be rapidly added to the initial set of building modules.
The
building modules of the different types use one or more connecting corridors
architected into at least a first type of building module and corresponding
aligned
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a
doorways between both building modules to interconnect two building modules
adjacent and abutted to each other.
[017]. Figure 1 illustrates a block diagram of an embodiment of an initial
modular
datacenter facility constructed with a set of building modules of different
types of
functionality to form an entire datacenter facility having a standardized pre-
approved
architectural design and layout.
[018]. The modular datacenter facility is constructed with a set of building
modules of
different types of functionality to form /make up an entire datacenter
facility having a
standardized pre-approved architectural design and layout. Each type of
building
module in the set has a specific collection of functionality associated with
that type
of building module. Each type of building module, such as a hardened-structure
building module 106, a data-floor building module 104, a power-center building
module 108, and an office-support building module 102, has a specific set of
functionality associated with that building module. Each building module of
the
different types is a pre-engineered, standardized building block containing
architectural features to allow easy configuration and integration with the
other
building modules that form the modular datacenter facility. All instances of a
particular building module with that type of functionality will have
approximately a
same floor plan and architectural design. Small changes can be made to the
interior of a given building modules design but in general, the floor plan and
architectural design remain the same. Components making up each of the
building
modules 102-108 are prefabricated and shipped to the parcel of land.
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[019]. The modular datacenter facility houses computing systems in a data-
floor
building module 104. The computing systems includes servers and storage
devices
housed in hot and cool zones, routers and switches that transport data traffic
between the servers as well as transport traffic to a world exterior to the
modular
data center facility. The modular datacenter facility also includes redundant
or
backup power supplies, redundant data communications connections,
environmental cooling controls, and security devices. An initial set of
building
modules can be built upon a parcel of land, and then as the number of
customers
needing a datacenter functionality increase or the needs of current customer's
space and additional capacity of the modular datacenter facility increases,
then at a
later/future point in time additional building modules of the different types
can be
rapidly adjoined/added to the initial set of building modules; and thus, a
data center
facility transformation takes a step-by-step approach carried out over time
through
an addition of more building modules added to existing building modules. This
rapid
addition of building modules to the existing modules allows for a truly
modular built
data center. The building modules of the different types 1 02-1 08 use one or
more
connecting corridors architected into at least a first type of building module
and
corresponding aligned doorways between both building modules to interconnect
two
building modules adjacent and abutted to each other.
[020]. Initially all four types of building modules 102-108 will be built onto
a given
geographic plot of land. At a later/future point in time, expansion can occur
and
building module types can be added to support a new customer on the same
existing parcel of land or expand for a current customer. In general, the new
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expansion can then choose to try to share one or more of the previously
fabricated
and installed building module types 102-108 or build its own instance of that
building module type. The minimum land requirement depends on the set back
required by the customer. The Truly modular datacenter design has an optional
office-support building module 102 for future builds that is required on the
first
datacenter constructed, but not on the future adjacent datacenters. The
initial
datacenter built in a parcel of land will include the set of four building
modules of
different types of functionality: the data-floor building module 104; the
hardened-
structure building module 106; the office-support building module 102; and the
power center building module 108.
[021]. The data-floor building module 104 is the principal module of the
datacenter as it
provides the hardened environment for the computing systems that includes the
server room. The data-floor building module 104 is approximately 10,000 square
feet and works in unison with the power-center building module 108 to provide
one
MW of UPS power at a 2N redundancy. This power center building module 108 is
pre-fabricated off site and it includes everything in the design electrical
system.
Each power-center building module 108 includes Switchgear, an Uninterruptable
Power Supply, Power Controls, is associated with a data-floor building module
104.
The data-floor building module 104 structure also supports the N+1 mechanical
system that features airside economization and delivers high-efficiency
cooling via 2
air chases a long the walls of the data-floor building module, the main
datacenter,
and a 36-inch raised floor system.
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[022]. The hardened-structure building module 106 houses the building
integrity
structure of the truly modular datacenter. The hardened-structure building
module
106 includes the hardened shell of the building, a dedicated customer storage
and
staging space, primary Telco room, personnel corridor, service corridor,
Primary
POP Room, various office space, site storage, fire riser, etc. The connecting
corridors in the form of one or more personnel or service corridors are laid
out
between an interior wall of the hardened-structure building module 106 and an
exterior wall forming the hardened shell of the hardened-structure building
module
106. Each wall section forming the hardened shell of the building module has
reinforced framework to meet Miami-Dade County standards to withstand up to
150
mph winds and a 1.5 seismic importance factor. The wall sections forming the
hardened shell are connected to a foundation/hardened environment.
[023]. The office-support building module 102 includes a security office,
loading dock,
break room, dedicated office space, lobby, janitorial, restrooms, among other
support spaces and amenities that support any datacenter use. The office-
support
building module 102 type is the most commonly shared building module type
between different customers.
[024]. These four building modules make up the Truly modular datacenter
facility and it
is approximately 20,680 square feet. The Truly Modular Datacenter consists of
the
above four (4) modules connected together, working in unison. This module
synergy provides a unique facility layout that results in a highly efficient
datacenter.
[025]. Note: The office-support building module 102 is the optional module for
future
builds. In this case, the customer has the option to build a second office-
support
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building module 102 blocks or share the first office-support building module
102
blocks that was built Day 1'. Each building module type is designed to easily
connect to and integrate with another building module. Modularity is achieved
by
connecting the connecting corridors (i.e. service corridor and the personnel
corridor)
between the adjacent building modules making up the datacenter facility. Each
building module type in the set of building modules of different types of
functionality
is architected and formed as a totally separated building that is
interconnected to
another building module via the connecting corridor that 1) wraps around a
data
floor containing the servers and storage devices housed in hot and cool zones
in a
data-floor building module 104 and 2) interconnects to a power center building
module and an office-support building module 102 via the aligned doors between
these building modules.
[026]. The truly modular building datacenter facility melds all the benefits
of modularity
with the reality of a true, hardened datacenter. Each building module 1 02-1
08 has
the components making up that module shipped to the site as a pre-fabricated
unit
that is assembled on site using standard construction techniques. Each
building
module is composed of standardized units and sections for easy construction on
site at the parcel of land using the standard construction techniques. The
modular
datacenter facility is hardened in its architecture and component selection in
the
pre-fabricated components to withstand adverse conditions like high winds,
heavy
snow, and seismic activity.
[027]. The truly modular building datacenter facility allows customers to
manage the
growth of their business in well-defined steps without paying for unused space
or
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capacity. When coupled with the ability of the truly modular building
datacenter
facility to fully dedicate or share common areas at the client's election, the
solution
provides capabilities and flexibility that no other product offering has.
[028]. Figure 2A illustrates a block diagram of an embodiment of the
connecting
corridor in the hardened-structure building module wrapping around a data
floor
containing the servers and storage devices housed in hot and cool zones in the
data-floor building module.
[029]. The data-floor building module 204 is the heart of the datacenter
environment.
This set of building modules of different types of functionality includes the
data-floor
building module 204 that contains the computing systems. The data-floor
building
module 204 supports racks of servers having densities varying in power
consumption from 2kW to 20kW without containment walls between the racks of
servers of varying power consumption density. The data-floor building module
204
has a multitude of 80' steel joists horizontally connecting parallel sections
of wall of
the building module to eliminate a need for support columns being located on
the
10,000 square feet of raised 36-inch floor that supports the computing
systems.
The joists creating an open floor space ensures that users of the data-floor
building
module 204 will have a maximum degree of flexibility to accommodate a variety
of
potential server rack configurations in the hot and cold zones of the data-
floor
building module 204. The raised 36-inch floor houses the computing systems as
well as creates a dual plenum for air supply with cooling supply air being
supplied
underneath the raised floor as well as a ceiling plenum for hot air return.
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[030]. The data-floor building module 204 has segmented walls interlocked with
an
adjacent wall segment and that are also horizontally connected by joists to
eliminate
any need for support columns in the raised 36-inch floor that supports the
computing system. The raised floor exceeds 2500 square feet, which is a larger
area to store computing equipment upon than any container in a standard
shipping
container, and typically can be 8000 to 12,000 square feet. The wall sections
and
sections of raised floor are prefabricated and shipped to the site.
[031]. The data-floor building module 204 raised floor system may be a Tate
bolted
stringer "Concore" 1500. The raised floor may be basket weave stringer, cement
paste to anchor support system with being electrically grounded and with
lighting
protection. The floor system load ratings may be, for example, Concentrated
Load -
1,500 lbs; Standard Load - 1,250 lbs; Uniform Load - 375 lbs; and Ramp Load -
2,000 lbs. The data room may include a false ceiling twelve feet from raised
floor to
create a hot air return plenum.
[032]. The data-floor building module 204 containing the computing systems
also has a
cooling system on its roof that features airside economization and delivers
high-
efficiency cooling via two or more air chases along the walls of a data floor
room
containing to the computing system housed upon a raised data floor. The roof
provided is the highest quality, lightweight-insulating concrete with a white
PVC
membrane fully adhered to support the weight of the air handlers, snow, and
other
heavy weighted objects.
[033]. In an example embodiment, the data-floor building module 204 uses
packaged
air handlers to control the air temperature and moisture of the data floor
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environment. The modular datacenter's mechanical infrastructure comprises four
120 Ton Trane Intellipak units with outside air economization capabilities in
a N+1
configuration. These roof top units have variable frequency drives that
increase the
efficiency of the unit in the entire load spectrum. These packaged air
handlers are
installed in the roof and they support full outside air economization.
Additionally, the
power-center building module 208 is supported by two (2) 15 Ton Trane packaged
air handlers.
A redundancy breakdown by components is outlined in the following table:
Component Redundancy
PDU 2N (A+B)
UPS 2N (A+B), 5 minute battery system per side at
full load
Mechanical N+1, normal operating mode is all units at
part load
Switchgear 2N (A+B) in main-tie-main configuration with
dual PLC
Generator N with option for N+1 "swing" generator that
can
support multiple data-floor building modules
Utility N (spare transformer reserved at utility
company)
[034]. The data-floor building module 204 has dedicated customer storage space
for
each customer built into that building module. The data floor space is free of
support columns, and has a dual plenum data hall environment. The data-floor
building module 204 structure also supports the N+1 mechanical system that
features airside economization and delivers high-efficiency cooling via 2 air
chases
a long the walls of the data-floor building module 204, houses the main
datacenter
raised 36-inch floor to store the computing equipment upon.
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[035]. Next, the set of buildings are connected via the connecting corridors
formed
between an interior wall closest to an exterior wall forming a shell of that
building
module. The connecting corridor has two or more doors, with one or more doors
located at at least both ends of the connecting corridor and the aligned doors
swing
open in an opposite direction to the building module that they are connecting
to in
order to facilitate future expansions and interconnections with adjacent and
abutted
building modules.
[036]. Next, the set of building modules includes a hardened-structure
building module
206. The hardened-structure building module 206 is the shell component of the
truly modular datacenter. The hardened-structure building module 206 comprises
of the building integrity, rooms and the corridors that act as the connection
point
with additional building modules. The layout/floor plan of the building
modules
allows the corridors around the outer layer of the hardened structure to
interconnect
with other building module types. The components for the hardened-structure
building module 206 may include the wall sections of the hardened shell, an
engineer office, a primary Telco room, a sprinkler fire riser, a house
electrical room,
a house mechanical room, a dedicated storage and staging room, and the
connecting corridors. (See also figure 2B)
[037]. The hardened shell, formed by wall sections shipped to the site, is
placed to form
a footprint of, for example, approximately 270 feet wide by 340 feet deep. The
wall
sections connect to a foundation. The foundation may be, for example, 36-
inches
concrete piers, to 20 feet at data-floor building module 204 columns, and 24-
inches
concrete piers at the hardened-structure building module's 206 service
corridor and
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support corridors, and 24 inches concrete piers at the other building modules.
The
slab of the building modules may be a 6-inch slab for the data-floor building
module
204, and 4-inch slab at the other building modules 202, 206, 208.
[038]. The wall sections of the hardened shell include a steel moment
connected frame
structure with columns and beams. The wall sections are connected with
steel joists. These areas are hardened withstand up to Miami-Dade 149 mph.
[039]. In an example, each of the wall sections forming the hardened shell of
the
building module have cast-in weld plates for a shelf angle to receive joists
to
support a weight of a roof and the walls of the hardened shell and then
transfer that
weight through framework built into the sectioned walls onto the foundation of
the
building. Each of the wall sections forming the hardened shell is at least ten
inches
thick, typically twelve inches. Each wall section forming the hardened shell
interconnects with adjacent wall sections, for example, in a tongue and grove
mechanism. Each wall section forming the shell is prefabricated and shipped to
the
parcel of land to be installed as part of the hardened-structure building
module 206.
[040]. The exterior walls at the hardened-structure building module 206 and
all of the
corridor walls may be, for example, tilt-up panel sections of wall 19' tall, 5
to 12
inches thick along the column line, which provide for at least 3-hour fire
separation
(IBC Firewall). The hardened-structure building module 206 is shipped in
sections
that include: an Engineering Office with four hundred squared feet office
space on a
36-inch raised floor; a dedicated Storage Room with twenty four hundred
squared
feet shell space on slab; and a room that houses the fire riser components
with Fire
Suppression and Detection.
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[041]. The hardened-structure building module 206 is the hardened shell
building of this
modular approach. The component selection and architectural design of the
building is hardened to Miami-Dade County standards (150 mph). The roof
provided is the highest quality, lightweight-insulating concrete with a white
PVC
membrane fully adhered. There are no drains in the roof structure as slope
with
exterior scuppers and downspouts provide all removal of water.
[042]. The customer storage room of the hardened-structure building module 206
has
ample space for storage and staging prior to moving the equipment to the data
hall.
Additionally the connecting corridors for future pods have optional doors at
each
end to facilitate future expansions. Also, the primary POP room provides
generator
backed power and cooling for telecom.
[043]. Figure 3 illustrates a block diagram of an embodiment of the power-
center
building module and the office-support building module having the aligned
doors
fabricated into the building module in order to interconnect with the
connecting
corridor. The set of building modules of different types of functionality
includes a
power-center building module 308. The power-center building module 308 is the
heart of the datacenter power delivery mechanism for the building modules. The
power-center building module 308 is pre-fabricated off site and it includes a
modular
pre-fabricated MEP room that houses the switchgear, an Uninterruptable Power
Supply, power controls, electrical power generators, and transformers, etc.
The
power-center building module 308 also provides the generator-backed power for
the
POP rooms and the House power. The power center building module has a
hardened steel shell structure and one or more aligned doors fabricated into
the
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building module in order to interconnect with the connecting corridor, which
forms
an outer layer of another building module that is adjacent and abutted to the
power
center building module. The power center building module 308 includes one to
two
generators. The generators may be a two Megawatt diesel generator in an N
configuration to provide back-up power in case of utility power failure, with
the
second generator as a swing generator. Each generator is housed in a
weatherproof enclosure. The customer has the option to install or not the
additional
generator to serve as a swing generator supplying backup electrical power to
multiple data-floor building modules 304. (See figure 4) The power center
building
module 308 includes Power Distribution Units (PDU's). The data-floor building
module 304 will have eight PDU's that will serve as the electrical
distribution point
for the customer. The PDU's are prefabricated and shipped to the site.
[044]. A 2500kVA outdoor transformer from the Utility Power Grid exists for
each
1000kW, Truly-Modular Data Center. The 2500kVA transformer will provide power
for each one of the building modules through dual (A/B) 3000A switchboards
controlled by a 5-breaker PLC in the power center building module. The
sequence
of electrical power supply operation of the system is controlled automatically
through deployment of a PLC control unit installed in the 3000A main
switchboard.
The optional swing generator will be a third source of power available to each
truly
modular data center. Should the standby generator fail to come online after
loss of
the utility source, the optional swing generator will pick up the critical
loads of the
system.
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[045]. Next, the set of building modules of different types of functionality
includes an
office-support building module 302. The building module is partitioned into
multiple
rooms. The exterior doors aligned to the hardened-structure building module
306
are insulated HM in hollow metal frames that swing open. Interior doors for
the
office-support building module 302 can be solid core wood doors in frames in
office
areas. The primary Telco Room has access points to the four inch conduits run
from outside of the facility to the Telco Room and other rooms in the building
module and multiple 4 inch conduits run from Telco Room to data-floor building
module 304.
[046]. The office-support building module 302 that comes in prefabricated
segments,
which include a lobby man-trap area for secured access into the modular data
center facility, a loading dock, and a fishbowl security center that looks
over the
both the lobby man-trap area and the loading dock (See figure 2B). The
fishbowl
security center also overlooks a portion of a parking lot for the modular data
center
facility simultaneously with the lobby mantrap area and loading dock to reduce
costs.
Access control badges and entry processing will be performed at the site by
security
in the fishbowl security center.
[047]. The office-support building module 302 has the aligned doors fabricated
into the
building module in order to interconnect with the connecting corridor, which
forms
an outer layer of another building module that is adjacent and abutted to the
office-
support building module 302. The office-support building module 302 serves as
the
support center for datacenter operations. The office-support building module
302
has all the necessary spaces to run datacenter operations. This module
comprises
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. = = ,
of the loading dock, lobby, security center, restrooms, secondary POP room,
and
office space. The security center is designed using a Fishbowl Security
concept to
maximize the efficiency of the security officers and provide loading dock
vigilance
while still staffing the main security center. The loading dock area consists
of a
single dock leveler and overhead door. The loading dock has a canopy for
weather
and is designed to take a semi-tractor trailer. Additionally, there is a bay
for a
cardboard compactor. The loading dock is designed to take the equipment on or
off
the truck as well as de-box. From the loading dock, the equipment can be moved
directly into the storage room of the hardened-structure building module 306
or use
the hardened-structure building module 306 service corridor to move to the
storage
of an expansion hardened-structure building module 306. The office space
contemplates an open floor plan. Entrance to the office is secure and badge
access
only.
[048]. Figure 4 illustrates a block diagram of an embodiment of a physical
composition
and geographic arrangement of building modules matched to a current capacity
and
space needs of a user of the modular datacenter facility as well as to a
geography
of the parcel of land that the modular data center facility will be located
on.
[049]. An example one Megawatt datacenter facility with all four building
modules is
expanded to a two Megawatt facility with the addition of another data-floor
building
module 404, hardened-structure building module 406, and power-center building
module 408. The power-center building module 408 has one generator and the
swing generator of the first instance of the power-center building module is
electrically coupled to supply backup power to either set of building modules.
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[050]. The building connecting methodology via a connecting corridor makes
datacenter
expansion simple. Each step of expansion consisting of adding a hardened-
structure building module 406, a data-floor building module 404, a power
center
building module 408 and optionally an office-support building module 402 is
built
adjacent an existing one with connections via the service corridor and the
personnel
corridor. Conduits may be run diversely down the service and personnel
corridors
for network connectivity. A major advantage of this model is you are never
constructing in the same building footprint as your original datacenter. A one
Megawatt modular datacenter facility site can expand to, for example, a four-
megawatt modular datacenter facility by adding three additional sets of
building
modules. The number of sets of building modules making up the modular
datacenter depends on the size of the parcel of land (more land = more
datacenters).
[051]. Both a physical composition and geographic arrangement of a first
configuration
of building modules in the initial set can be different than a second
configuration of
building modules in the initial set; and thus, the set of building modules can
be
matched to a current capacity and space needs of a user of the modular
datacenter
facility as well as to a geography of the parcel of land that the modular data
center
facility will be located on. Each expansion set of building modules is built
adjacent
an existing one with connections via the service corridor and the personnel
corridor.
[052]. The aligned doors for the connecting corridors may be walled off/sealed
off to
become part of a permanent wall when the interconnection point is desired
removed
for security or other purposes. The aligned doors swing in an opposite
direction of
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4 . .
the building module they are connecting too in order to allow easier access
between
the distinctly different building modules abutted together, which are also
then
interconnected, via a flange, a link, or other interconnection mechanism, to
each
other to form a single modular datacenter facility. Each building type
includes the
interconnection mechanism to optional component additions of additional
building
modules. The aligned doors connecting to another building module typically
also
have key card access readers installed to control operation of that doors
locking
mechanism.
[053]. In an embodiment, at least one of 1) electrical fiber conduits and 2)
network fiber
conduits are run diversely down the connecting corridors for network
connectivity
between adjacent building modules to facilitate interconnecting two building
modules adjacent and abutted to each other. Alternatively, the modular
datacenter
facility may use the outside plant conduit infrastructure for electrical or
network
connectivity.
[054]. In instances where multiple customers use the data center facility,
while the
building modules abut each other, neither building module may have access to
the
other building module, as the connecting corridors would be walled off.
However, if
it is merely the same client expanding, then the connecting fiber conduits and
service corridors makes the two constructed building modules one larger
extended
module.
[055]. Figure 5 illustrates a block diagram of an embodiment of an expansion
of an
initial set of building modules built upon a parcel of land, and then at a
future point
in time, additional building modules of the different types are added to the
initial set
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A o ,
of building modules over time. The initial set of building modules 510 built
upon a
parcel of land contained one building module of each type. Over time, three
additional sets of building modules 512-516 are added to that parcel of land.
Each
set of building modules 512-516 can be connected to form a larger data center
for a
given user of the datacenter as shown in figure 4 or be isolated for each set
of
building modules 512-516 being its own datacenter facility to used by
different user
and simply be shared on the same plot of land. Figure 5 depicts a four
Megawatt
conceptual site plan. In this example, each client has their own office-
support
building module and no sharing of any kind exist between the different sets of
building modules. Thus, four distinct one Megawatt datacenter facilities 510-
516
each with their own office-support building module and power center building
module.
[056]. Each set of building modules 510-516 has its own dedicated mechanical
and
electrical systems in this data center facility (i.e. No shared equipment
between
different customer's building modules). Thus, in contrast to data centers with
shared backplanes for generators and mechanical or that are daisy chained
together, as with containers, each set of building modules that has its own
dedicated mechanical and electrical systems in this data center facility are
not
subject to the "Christmas light bulb" phenomenon since the failure of one
power
center or data hall does not increase the risk of bringing down all the
others.
[057]. Figure 6 illustrates a block diagram of an embodiment of the data-floor
building
module with partitioned floor space into private suites for portions of the
computing
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systems via erection of non-weight bearing walls from floor to ceiling to
separate
each private suite within the single data-floor building module.
[058]. Another flexible design option included with the data-floor building
module 604 is
the ability to compartmentalize the data-floor building module 604 in
dedicated
suites for your customers/users. This allows for walled separation between
clients
in addition to just cages to create dedicated datacenter suites within the
data-floor
building module 604.
[059]. The data-floor building module 604 is pre-architected with the ability
to easily
partition a floor space within a single data-floor building module 604 into
private
suites for portions of the computing systems via erection of non-weight
bearing
walls from floor to ceiling to separate each private suite within the single
data-floor
building module 604. Each private suite is aligned to a wall section forming
the
shell of the data-floor building module 604 that is tied to a
foundation/hardened
environment, where that wall section has a doorway entrance into a raised
floor
space housing the portion of the computing systems in that private suite
section.
[060]. Thus, with this expansion model, a customer/user never significantly
overpays for
huge amounts of unused shell space or datacenter capacity. The model takes a
parcel of land (8-15 acres in size) and builds modularly on that land.
Ideally, the
land is parcel into separate lots, allowing each datacenter building to be on
its own
parcel. Expansion using a this connection methodology allows clients to expand
incrementally. Unlike other offerings in the marketplace, the method matches
the
building with the datacenter. When a client is ready to expand on the existing
truly
modular building datacenter facility, the design and engineering of the
existing
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CA 02900825 2015-08-18
building modules allows for the model to build additional modular building
types and
connect them to the existing facility via the service corridor and the
personnel
corridor. This results in eliminating construction chaos because the expansion
is a
totally separate building but then easily connected to and integrated with
that
separate building. The only connecting components may be the fiber conduits
and
the service corridors. Additionally, the modular datacenter facility has an
office
support-building module designed to interconnect with the other building
modules.
The support spaces (such as office, loading dock, lobby, etc.) have not been a
modular addition until now. This means that a customer/user can choose whether
or not to share the office-support building module. If there are two adjacent
clients,
each can choose to have their own dedicated office-support building module.
While
the building abut each other, neither client has access to the other client,
as the
connecting corridors would be walled off. However, if it is merely the same
client
expanding, then the connecting fiber conduits and service corridors makes the
two
constructed building modules one larger extended module. The client has the
ability to build modular with not only the datacenter infrastructure, but the
supporting
building as well.
[061]. The truly modular building datacenter facility is implemented on raw
land sites in
major metro areas. Once parcel of land is a developed pad site, then one can
build
the truly modular datacenter facility. The move-in ready truly modular
building
datacenter facility provides the local market with immediate availability (as
they
currently may have with retail colocation providers), but with a wholesale
truly
modular building datacenter facility offering that allows them complete
control and
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' .
dedicated infrastructure (as opposed to shared). The truly modular building
datacenter concepts include at least a wholesale datacenter design,
architecture,
and construction.
[062]. The modular power-centers provide all the benefits of the off-site
fabrication
while being fully integrated into the building. This approach means that the
most
complicated and advanced construction takes place in a factory, while the
common
trades take place on site.
[063]. The truly modular building datacenter facility connects new buildings
to existing
building in a way to manage growth effectively. With the readily accepted
assumption that "cost efficiency comes from scale", the typical thinking is
that you
cannot justify a high-cost small building solution. However, the truly modular
building datacenter facility design and construction using building modules
with the
same design and construction allows a competitively priced product on small,
dedicated building basis.
[064]. Referring to figure 4, the truly modular datacenter's modular
construction allows
for multiple datacenters to be built contiguous (or not, based on customer's
preference) by using the connection corridors joined together to form a bridge
between the two or more modular datacenters.
[065]. If there is an existing datacenter facility occupied by a customer and
a new
customer opportunity exist, then the first step is to determine if the new
customer
accepts sharing the office-support building module 402 with another customer.
If
the new customer does not want to share the office-support building module
402,
this new set of building modules will include one. If the new customer does
want to
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.... ,
share the office-support building module 402, then the existing data-floor
building
module may be partitioned in dedicated suites or a new set of building modules
will
be added that include the data-floor building module 404, harden-shell
building
module, and a power-center building module 408.
[066]. The modular data center design style has components of the data center
prefabricated and standardized so that they can be constructed, moved or added
to
quickly as needs change.
[067]. While some specific embodiments of the invention have been shown, the
invention is not to be limited to these embodiments. The invention is to be
understood as not limited by the specific embodiments described herein, but
only by
scope of the appended claims.
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