Mobile Data Center Unit

Abstract

A mobile data center unit has a mobile weatherized enclosure; a plurality of rack sets within the enclosure, with each rack set being comprised of one or more racks holding rack-mounted data processing equipment. A plurality of guides guide the motion of the rack sets between at least: a first position, that provides access by a person to the front and/or back of the racks in a rack set, and the equipment mounted in the racks; and a second position that does not provide such access. Each rack set is mounted to move as a unit along one or more of the guides. Mobile data center units can have a plurality of cooling or power units and control circuitry for sensing how much cooling or power the mobile data center unit need and selecting how many cooling or power units should be turned on as a result.

1 . A mobile data center unit comprising:
 a mobile weatherized enclosure;   a plurality of rack sets mounted within the enclosure, with each rack set being comprised of one or more data processing equipment racks holding rack-mounted data processing equipment; and   a plurality of guides for guiding the motion of said rack sets between at least:
 a first position, that provides access to the front and/or back of the racks in a rack set, and the equipment mounted in said racks, by a person; and 
 a second position that does not provide such access; 
 wherein each said rack set is mounted to move as a unit along one or more of said guides. 
   
   
   
       2 . A mobile data center unit as in  claim 1  wherein a given rack set is mounted on rolling surfaces that reduce the force necessary to move said rack set between said first and second positions. 
   
   
       3 . A mobile data center unit as in  claim 1  wherein the motion of each rack set is constrained by at least two vertically spaced guides, including one nearer the bottom, and one nearer the top, of each rack set. 
   
   
       4 . A mobile data center unit as in  claim 1  wherein said guides comprise linear motion bearings. 
   
   
       5 . A mobile data center unit as in  claim 1  wherein one or more of the guides that guide the motion of a given rack set include stops positioned to limit the range of motion of said given rack set. 
   
   
       6 . A mobile data center unit as in  claim 5  further including flexible cables connected to each rack set, which have sufficient slack so as to stay connected to each rack set as the rack set is moved within said range of motion. 
   
   
       7 . A mobile data center unit as in  claim 6  wherein a plurality of said cables are bundled together to form flexible umbilicals to provided power and/or data to said rack sets, with at least one such umbilical connected to each rack set. 
   
   
       8 . A mobile data center unit as in  claim 5  further including a fluid channel for supplying a flow of cooling fluid to an associated rack set, said channel having a movable connection that can move with said associated rack set as it is moved within said range of motion, so as to supply said cooling fluid to said rack set at different positions within said range of motion. 
   
   
       9 . A mobile data center unit as in  claim 8  wherein said cooling fluid is air. 
   
   
       10 . A mobile data center unit as in  claim 5  further including a lock for selectively fixing the position of a rack set relative to said limited range of motion. 
   
   
       11 . A mobile data center unit as in  claim 1  wherein said rack sets are mounted so an individual rack set can be moved along one or more of said guides between said first and second positions, and in which one of said first and second positions places one of the rack sets sides against an interior wall of said enclosure. 
   
   
       12 . A mobile data center unit as in  claim 1  wherein two of said racks sets can be moved along said guides to:
 positions where they are too close together for a person to stand between them; and   positions that do allow a person to stand between them to access equipment in one or more of the two rack sets.   
   
   
       13 . A mobile data center unit as in  claim 1  wherein said enclosure includes an expandable portion that enables the volume of the data center unit to be expanded. 
   
   
       14 . A mobile data center unit as in  claim 13  wherein said expandable portion includes tenting made of a combination of flexible and rigid materials, which expands the volume of the enclosure to create an air lock that protect air in the enclosure from airborne contaminants as people enter and/or exit said enclosure 
   
   
       15 . A mobile data center unit as in  claim 1  wherein:
 said enclosure is a shipping container; and   the shipping container includes:
 a 1 st  portion in which said rack sets are mounted; 
 at least one 2 nd  portion containing equipment for providing power and/or cooling to said mobile data center unit; and 
 a fireproof wall between said 1 st  portion and said at least one 2 nd  portion. 
   
   
   
       16 . A mobile data center unit comprising:
 a mobile weatherized enclosure;   a plurality of rack sets mounted within the enclosure, with each rack set being comprised of one or more data processing equipment racks holding rack-mounted data processing equipment; and   a plurality of linear rolling bearings upon which said rack sets are mounted for guiding and supporting the motion of said rack sets between at least:
 a first position, that provides access to the front and/or back of the racks in a rack set, and the equipment mounted in said racks, by a person; and 
 a second position that does not provide such access; 
 flexible cables connected to each of said rack sets, which have sufficient slack so as to stay connected to each of said rack sets as it is moved between said first and second positions; 
   wherein:
 each said rack set is mounted to move as a unit along one or more of said linear motion bearings; and 
 each rack set is mounted upon one or more of said linear motion bearings with a mounting that includes rolling surfaces that reduce the force necessary to move said rack set between said first and second positions along said one or more linear motion bearings. 
   
   
   
       17 . A mobile data center unit as in  claim 16  further includes a lock for selectively fixing the position of a rack set relative to said one or more linear motion bearings along which it moves. 
   
   
       18 . A mobile data center unit as in  claim 16  wherein said rack sets are mounted so an individual rack set can be moved along one or more of said linear motion bearings between said first and second positions, and in which one of said first and second positions places one of the rack sets sides against an interior wall of said enclosure. 
   
   
       19 . A mobile data center unit comprising:
 a mobile weatherized enclosure;   a plurality of rack sets mounted within the enclosure, with each rack set being comprised of one or more data processing equipment racks holding rack-mounted data processing equipment; and   a plurality of linear rolling bearings upon which said rack sets are mounted for guiding and supporting the motion of said rack sets along a limited range of motion to alter the access persons in the enclosure have to equipment mounted on each of said rack sets;   flexible cables connected to each of said rack sets, which have sufficient slack so as to stay connected to each of said rack sets as it is moved between said first and second positions; and   a fluid channel for supplying a flow of cooling fluid to an associated rack set, said channel having a movable connection that can move with said associated rack set as it is moved within said range of motion, so as to supply said cooling fluid to said rack set at different positions within said range of motion;   wherein:
 each said rack set is mounted to move as a unit along one or more of said linear motion bearings; and 
 each rack set is mounted upon one or more of said linear motion bearings with a mounting that includes rolling surfaces that reduce the force necessary to move said rack set between said first and second positions along said one or more linear motion bearings. 
   
   
   
       20 . A mobile data center unit as in  claim 19 :
 wherein said enclosure is a shipping container; and   further includes a lock for selectively fixing the position of a rack set relative to said one or more linear motion bearings along said range of motion.   
   
   
       21 . A mobile data center unit comprising:
 a mobile weatherized enclosure;   a plurality of rack sets, each comprised of one or more data processing equipment racks holding rack-mounted data processing equipment, mounted within the enclosure;   a plurality of cooling units for removing thermal energy from said data center unit; and   control circuitry for sensing how much thermal energy needs to be removed from the mobile data center unit and selecting how many of said cooling units should be turned on as a function of said thermal energy removal needs.   
   
   
       22 . A mobile data center unit as in  claim 21  wherein:
 said data center unit includes an electric generator which generates waste heat;   said cooling units includes at least one absorption chiller, that can use said waste heat to power its cooling;   said control system takes into account whether said generator is operating when selecting if said absorption chiller should be turned on.   
   
   
       23 . A mobile data center unit as in  claim 21  wherein said weatherized enclosure has an inner and outer wall and thermal insulation between them. 
   
   
       24 . A mobile data center unit comprising:
 a mobile weatherized enclosure;   a plurality of rack sets, each comprised of one or more data processing equipment racks holding rack-mounted data processing equipment, mounted within the enclosure; and   a plurality of devices for generating electric power; and   control circuitry for sensing how much power is being demanded by equipment in the mobile data center unit and selecting how many of said devices for generating electric power should be turned on as a function of said demand.