Energy Center

• US 20130163192A1
• Filed: 06/26/2012
• Published: 06/27/2013
• Est. Priority Date: 06/27/2011
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Bloom Energy Corporation
• Original Assignee: Bloom Energy Corporation
• Inventors: Ballantine, Arne, Sridhar, KR, Motta, Jon Christopher, Light, Peter, Cottuli, Carl, Mahler, Jessica
• Granted Patent: US 9,089,077 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 361/679.47
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 1/20 Cooling means
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 1/26 Power supply means, e.g. regulation thereof for memories G11C
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 1/263 Arrangements for using multiple switchable power supplies, e.g. battery and AC G06F1/30 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 1/30 Means for acting in the event of power-supply failure or interruption, e.g. power-supply fluctuations for resetting only G06F1/24
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 2200/201 Cooling arrangements using cooling fluid
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 2300/30 The power source being a fuel cell
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 3/381 Dispersed generators
• CPC Class Codes: H05K 7/00 Constructional details common to different types of electric apparatus casings, cabinets, drawers H05K5/00
• CPC Class Codes: H05K 7/1492 having electrical distribution arrangements, e.g. power supply or data communications
• CPC Class Codes: H05K 7/1497 Rooms for data centers; Shipping containers therefor
• CPC Class Codes: H05K 7/20709 for server racks or cabinets; for data centers, e.g. 19-inch computer racks
• CPC Class Codes: H05K 7/20718 Forced ventilation of a gaseous coolant in closed loop H05K7/20754
• CPC Class Codes: H05K 7/20745 within rooms for removing heat from cabinets, e.g. by air conditioning device
• CPC Class Codes: H05K 7/20763 Liquid cooling without phase change
• CPC Class Codes: H05K 7/20827 within rooms for removing heat from cabinets, e.g. air conditioning devices
• CPC Class Codes: H05K 9/0001 Rooms or chambers anechoic chambers G01R29/0821
• CPC Class Codes: Y02P 90/40 Fuel cell technologies in production processes
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 29/49002 Electrical device making

Abstract

Systems are provided for creating and operating data centers. A data center may include an information technology (IT) load and a fuel cell generator configured to provide power to the IT load.

Claims

1. A data center, comprising:

an information technology (IT) load;

a fuel cell generator electrically coupled to the IT load and configured to provide power to the IT load;

a building structure housing the fuel cell generator and the IT load; and

a cooling device configured to use a process exhaust from at least one of the fuel cell generator and the IT load to cool at least one of the fuel cell generator and the IT load.

2. The data center of claim 1, wherein the cooling device is configured to use the process exhaust from the fuel cell generator to cool the IT load.

3. The data center of claim 1, wherein the cooling device is configured to use the process exhaust from the IT load to cool the fuel cell generator.

4. The data center of claim 1, further comprising:

an energy storage device coupled to the IT load and the fuel cell generator, the energy storage device configured to receive power from the fuel cell and provide power to the IT load; and

a controller coupled to the IT load, the fuel cell generator, and the energy storage device, the controller configured to monitor the IT load and control the operation of the fuel cell generator and energy storage device based on the IT load.

5. The data center of claim 1, wherein the building structure includes an air inlet conduit configured to provide air to the fuel cell generator and the IT load, an air filter coupled to the air inlet conduit and configured to filter air entering the building structure, a fan configured to circulate air within the building structure, and an air exhaust conduit configured to exhaust air from the building structure.

6. The data center of claim 5, wherein:

process exhaust from the plurality of fuel cell generators is exhausted out a first side of the building structure different from a second side of the building structure from which the air inlet conduit draws air; and

process exhaust from the plurality of IT loads is exhausted out a third side of the building structure different from the second side of the building structure from which the air inlet conduit draws air and from which process exhaust from the plurality of fuel cell generators is exhausted.

7. The data center of claim 5, wherein:

the building structure comprises two separate building portions connected together by a connection structure, a first building portion housing the IT load and a second building portion housing the fuel cell generator; and

the building structure is configured such that air passes from the first building portion to the second building portion via the connection structure.

8. The data center of claim 7, wherein the building structure is configured to maintain the air temperature in the connection structure at 50 to 70 degrees Celsius.

9. The data center of claim 7, wherein air heated by the IT load is provided to an air inlet of the fuel cell generator.

10. The data center of claim 5, wherein the plurality of IT loads are one or more of a server, a computer, a router, or an IT rack.

11. The data center of claim 1, wherein the cooling device is an absorptive chiller.

12. The data center of claim 1, wherein the cooling device is a turbine driven compression chiller.

13. The data center of claim 1, further comprising a condenser configured to remove water from the process exhaust,

wherein the cooling device is an evaporative cooling device coupled to the condenser and configured to cool the IT loads using the water removed from the process exhaust.

14. A data center, comprising:

an information technology (IT) load;

a fuel cell generator electrically coupled to the IT load and configured to provide power to the IT load; and

a building structure housing the fuel cell generator and the IT load,

wherein

the building structure further includes an electromagnetic radiation shielding skin;

the electromagnetic radiation shielding skin is a first electrically grounded metal skin.

15. The data center of claim 14, further comprising a second electrically grounded metal skin which is separately grounded from the first electrically grounded metal skin and surrounding the first electrically grounded metal skin, wherein the ground of the second electrically grounded metal skin is isolated in a ground vault.

16. The data center of claim 15, wherein:

at least one metal mesh is placed over each respective opening of both the first electrically grounded metal skin and the second electrically grounded metal skin; and

at least a second metal mesh is placed between the first electrically grounded metal skin and the second electrically grounded metal skin to form a louvered air inlet conduit.

17. The data center of claim 14, further comprising:

a grid connection coupled to the IT load and the fuel cell generator; and

a generator coupled to the IT load and the fuel cell generator.

18. The data center of claim 17, further comprising:

two or more fuel pipelines coupled to the fuel cell generator and configured to provide one or more fuels to the fuel cell generator; and

a fuel cell generator fuel storage co-located with the building structure, the fuel storage configured to provide a stored fuel to the fuel cell generator.

19. The data center of claim 18, wherein the one or more fuels are natural gas, syn-gas, bio-fuel, hydrogen, or oil.

20. The data center of claim 18, wherein the stored fuel is one of liquid propane, propane, compressed natural gas, liquid natural gas, hydrogen, or ethanol.

21. The data center of claim 18, further comprising:

a cooling device coupled to an outlet of the fuel storage and configured to use heat removal from the stored fuel to cool the IT load.

22. The data center of claim 21, wherein the stored fuel is a liquid fuel and the heat removal from the stored fuel occurs during conversion of the liquid fuel to a gaseous fuel.

23. The data center of claim 21, wherein the stored fuel is a compressed fuel and the heat removal from the stored fuel occurs during expansion of the compressed fuel.

24. A data center, comprising:

a plurality of information technology (IT) loads;

a plurality fuel cell generators electrically coupled to the plurality of IT loads and configured to provide power to the plurality of IT loads;

a building structure housing the plurality of fuel cell generators and the plurality of IT loads;

a generator data network connecting the plurality of fuel cell generators; and

an IT load data network connecting the plurality of IT loads.

25. The data center of claim 24, further comprising:

microwave transmission equipment coupled to the generator data network and the IT load data network, the microwave transmission equipment configured to enable communication between an external communication network and the generator data network or the IT load data network.

26. A data center, comprising:

a plurality of information technology (IT) loads;

a plurality fuel cell generators electrically coupled to the plurality of IT loads and configured to provide power to the plurality of IT loads; and

a building structure housing the plurality of fuel cell generators and the plurality of IT loads,

wherein the plurality of fuel cell generators and the plurality of IT loads are located on a same floor or a different floor of the building structure.

27. The data center of claim 26, wherein the plurality of fuel cell generators and the plurality of IT loads are located in a staggered arrangement on the same floor of the building structure.

28. The data center of claim 26, wherein the plurality of fuel cell generators and the plurality of IT loads are located in a back to back arrangement on the same floor of the building structure.

29. The data center of claim 26, wherein the plurality of fuel cell generators and the plurality of IT loads are located on the different floors of the building structure.

30. The data center of claim 29, wherein the building structure includes an air inlet conduit configured to provide air to the plurality of fuel cell generators and the plurality of IT loads, an air filter coupled to the air inlet conduit and configured to filter air entering the building structure, a fan configured to circulate air within the building structure, and an air exhaust conduit configured to exhaust air from the building structure.

31. The data center of claim 30, wherein:

the plurality of fuel cell generators or the plurality of IT loads are arranged in rows to form aisles between the rows of the plurality of fuel cell generators or the plurality of IT loads;

the air inlet conduit is configured to draw air in from a side of the building structure and vent air down the plurality of fuel cell generators or the plurality of IT loads aisles; and

the air exhaust conduit is configured to exhaust air out a side of the building different from the side of the building structure the air inlet conduit draws air in from.

32. The data center of claim 31, wherein:

a first portion of the aisles between the rows of the plurality of IT loads are intake aisles configured to receive air from the air inlet conduit, the intake aisles having no outlet to the air exhaust conduit;

a second portion of the aisles between the rows of the plurality of IT loads are outlet aisles configured to exhaust air to the air exhaust conduit, the outlet aisles having not inlets from the air inlet conduit;

consecutive aisles are alternatively intake aisles and outlet aisles; and

the building structure is configured such that air entering the building structure passes from the air inlet conduit, down the intake aisles, across the IT loads, down the outlet aisles, out the air exhaust conduit, and out of the building structure.

33. The data center of claim 29, wherein at least a portion of the plurality of the fuel cell generators are located on a floor adjacent to a floor on which at least a portion of the plurality of IT loads are located.

34. The data center of claim 29, wherein access to the fuel cell generator floors and the IT load floors are controlled by different security protocols.

35. The data center of claim 34, wherein a security violation on the fuel cell generator floors or the IT load floors results in security team paging, data wiping, write-out of master boot sectors, local electromagnetic pulse trigger, server shutdown, or power shutdown.

36. A data center, comprising:

an information technology (IT) load;

a fuel cell generator electrically coupled to the IT load and configured to provide power to the IT load;

a building structure housing the fuel cell generator and the IT load; and

a cooling device configured cool at least one of the fuel cell generator and the IT load.

37. The data center of claim 36, wherein:

the IT load comprises a plurality of IT loads;

the fuel cell generator comprises a plurality of fuel cell generators; and

the plurality of IT loads and the plurality of fuel cell generators occupy more than 95% of the usable space in the building structure.

38. The data center of claim 36, wherein the cooling device comprises a cooling tower configured to convert the enthalpy of a process exhaust from at least one of the fuel cell generator and the IT load to work energy;

and

further comprising a power device to convert the work energy to power for the IT load.

39. The data center of claim 36, wherein the power device comprises a turbine coupled to a generator, a reciprocating heat engine, a Stirling engine, thermoelectric devices, or pyroelectric devices.

40. The data center of claim 36, wherein the cooling device and the IT load are located in a same cabinet of a modular fuel cell system enclosure.