Operation ready transportable data center in a shipping container

• US 7,894,945 B2
• Filed: 04/02/2009
• Issued: 02/22/2011
• Est. Priority Date: 09/13/2006
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Oracle America, Inc. (Oracle Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Oracle America, Inc. (Oracle Corporation)
• Inventors: Hillis, W. Daniel
• Primary Examiner(s): Shechtman; Sean P
• Application Number:
  US12/417,241
• Publication Number:
  US 20090198388A1
• Time in Patent Office: 691 Days
• Field of Search: 700/19, 700/22, 700275-278, 700/282, 700/292, 700/299, 700/300, 454/184, 622/592, 267/140.11, 312/223.2, 361/687, 361/688, 361/689, 361698-701
• US Class Current: 700/276
• CPC Class Codes: E04H 2001/1283 Small buildings of the ISO containers type
• CPC Class Codes: E04H 2005/005 Buildings for data processing centers
• CPC Class Codes: H05K 7/1497 Rooms for data centers; Shipping containers therefor
• CPC Class Codes: H05K 7/20745 within rooms for removing heat from cabinets, e.g. by air conditioning device

Abstract

A movable data center is disclosed that comprises a portable container in which an operable computer system is assembled. A data link, power supply link and cooling system are provided through ports on the exterior of the container. The computer system is assembled to a rack that is secured to the container with a shock absorbing mechanism.

Claims

1. A movable data center comprising:

a shipping container having six sides;

a plurality of preconfigured data processing systems operatively disposed in the container for processing data, wherein the data processing systems are accessible from outside the container via a data link;

a power distribution system operatively disposed in the container for distributing power to the data processing systems via at least one circuit breaker panel connected to the shipping container; and

a cooling system operatively disposed in the shipping container for transferring heat from inside the container to outside the container, the cooling system including;

a plurality of heat exchange towers including a plurality of heat exchange modules alternately arranged with the plurality of data processing systems within the container; and

a chilled water circulation pipe network connected to the plurality of alternately arranged heat exchange towers enabling chilled fluid to circulate in the container through each heat exchange module and transfer of the circulated fluid outside of the container.

2. The data center of claim 1 wherein the data processing system is isolated from shock and vibration applied to the container.

3. The data center of claim 1 wherein the shipping container shields the data processing system from electromagnetic waves applied to the container.

4. The data center of claim 1 further comprising a dehumidifier and a sensor and wherein the data processing system includes a control station configured to control the dehumidifier in response to a signal received from the sensor.

5. The data center of claim 4 wherein the sensor is at least one of a humidity sensor, a water sensor, a temperature sensor, a smoke sensor, and a tamper switch.

6. The data center of claim 1 further comprising a main power switch and a sensor and wherein the data processing system includes a control station configured to control the main power switch in response to a signal received from the sensor.

7. The data center of claim 6 wherein the sensor is at least one of a humidity sensor, a water sensor, a temperature sensor, a smoke sensor, and a tamper switch.

8. The data center of claim 6 wherein the sensor is a smoke sensor and wherein the control station issues an off command to the main power switch if the smoke sensor senses smoke.

9. The data center of claim 1 further comprising a chiller and a sensor and wherein the data processing system includes a control station configured to control the chiller in response to a signal received from the sensor.

10. The data center of claim 9 wherein the sensor is at least one of a humidity sensor, a water sensor, a temperature sensor, a smoke sensor, and a tamper switch.

11. The data center of claim 9 wherein the sensor is an interior temperature sensor and wherein the control station issues an on command to the chiller if the interior temperature sensor senses a predetermined temperature.

12. A movable data center comprising:

a shipping container having six sides;

a preconfigured data processing system operatively disposed in the container for processing data, wherein the data processing system is accessible from outside the container via a data link;

a power distribution system operatively disposed in the container for distributing power to the data processing system via a power distribution link;

a cooling system operatively disposed in the shipping container for transferring heat from inside the container to outside the container via a chilled water circulation pipe network; and

a dehumidifier and a sensor;

wherein the data processing system includes a control station configured to control the dehumidifier in response to a signal received from the sensor; and

wherein the sensor is a tamper switch and wherein the control station issues an on command to the dehumidifier if an access door associated with the tamper switch is open.