{"schema_version":"1.0","canonical_url":"https://patentable.app/patents/US-9854712","patent":{"patent_number":"US-9854712","title":"Self-contained power and cooling domains","assignee":null,"inventors":[],"filing_date":"2016-09-22T00:00:00.000Z","publication_date":"2017-12-26T00:00:00.000Z","cpc_codes":["G06F","G06F","G06F"],"num_claims":20,"abstract":"A method for providing for conditioning of a computer data center includes supplying a working fluid from a common fluid plane to a plurality of power/cooling units distributed across a data center facility in proximity to electronic equipment that is distributed across the data center facility; converting the working fluid into electric power and cooling capacity at each of the plurality of power/cooling units; and supplying the electric power to a common electric power plane serving a plurality of racks of the electronic equipment in the data center facility and being served by a plurality of the power/cooling units in the data center facility, wherein the common fluid plane serves at least 10 percent of the power/cooling units in the data center facility and the common electric power plane serves at most 5 percent of the electronic equipment in the data center facility."},"analysis":{"summary":"Self-contained Power and Cooling Domains is a patented technology that revolutionizes data center power and cooling by distributing resources closer to electronic equipment. The core innovation lies in utilizing a network of power/cooling units strategically located throughout the data center, converting a working fluid into both electric power and cooling capacity. This addresses the problem of inefficient power and cooling in traditional data centers, where long distribution paths lead to significant energy losses and overheating issues.\n\nThe key technical approach involves a common fluid plane supplying a working fluid to the distributed power/cooling units, while a common electric power plane distributes the generated power to the equipment racks. This decentralized architecture minimizes transmission losses, improves cooling performance, and increases reliability. The system also enables more precise control over temperature and power levels, optimizing performance and energy efficiency. The business value of Self-contained Power and Cooling Domains lies in its potential to significantly reduce energy consumption, lower operating costs, and enhance the resilience of data center infrastructure. This translates to a substantial market opportunity for data center operators looking to improve their bottom line and reduce their environmental impact. \n\nThe system's ability to scale and adapt to changing needs makes it an attractive solution for data centers of all sizes. The strategic positioning this technology provides allows data centers to meet the growing demands of the digital age while minimizing their environmental footprint. By reducing energy consumption and improving cooling performance, Self-contained Power and Cooling Domains can help data centers achieve a competitive advantage and drive sustainable growth. The technology's potential to be retrofitted into existing data centers further enhances its appeal, allowing operators to upgrade their facilities without incurring major construction costs. The distributed architecture also paves the way for more flexible and scalable data center designs, allowing operators to adapt to changing needs and technological advancements.","layman_explanation":"Self-contained Power and Cooling Domains addresses a critical problem in modern data centers: the inefficient use of energy for power and cooling. Traditional data centers rely on centralized systems to generate power and cool the vast amounts of electronic equipment they house. However, these centralized systems often result in significant energy losses due to the long distances the power and cooling must travel.\n\nThis patent proposes a solution that involves distributing power and cooling resources throughout the data center. Instead of relying on a central power plant and a central cooling system, the invention utilizes a network of smaller power and cooling units that are located closer to the electronic equipment. These units convert a working fluid into both electric power and cooling capacity, providing a more localized and efficient solution. Think of it like switching from a central heating system in a large building to individual space heaters in each room. The space heaters are more efficient because they only heat the rooms that need it, and they don't lose heat as it travels through long ducts.\n\nThe significance of this approach lies in its potential to dramatically reduce energy consumption in data centers. By generating power and cooling closer to the point of use, the invention minimizes transmission losses and improves overall efficiency. This translates to lower operating costs for data center operators and a smaller carbon footprint for the industry as a whole. This innovation has the potential to transform the data center industry, making it more efficient, sustainable, and resilient. The distributed architecture also paves the way for more flexible and scalable data center designs, allowing operators to adapt to changing needs and technological advancements. \n\nThe technology's potential to be retrofitted into existing data centers further enhances its appeal, allowing operators to upgrade their facilities without incurring major construction costs. The distributed architecture also paves the way for more flexible and scalable data center designs, allowing operators to adapt to changing needs and technological advancements. By reducing energy consumption and improving cooling performance, Self-contained Power and Cooling Domains can help data centers achieve a competitive advantage and drive sustainable growth.","technical_analysis":"Self-contained Power and Cooling Domains employs a distributed architecture to address the growing thermal management challenges in modern data centers. The system utilizes a network of power/cooling units strategically located throughout the data center facility, in close proximity to the electronic equipment. Each unit converts a working fluid, supplied from a common fluid plane, into both electric power and cooling capacity. The electric power is then supplied to a common electric power plane serving the equipment racks.\n\nFrom a technical standpoint, the system's performance hinges on several key factors. The choice of working fluid is critical, as it must possess high thermal conductivity, low viscosity, and environmental compatibility. The design of the power/cooling units must optimize the conversion efficiency and minimize thermal resistance. The control system must effectively manage the distributed units, ensuring precise temperature and power regulation. Implementation involves strategic placement of the distributed units to minimize thermal resistance and maximize cooling uniformity. The common fluid and electric power planes must be designed to handle the required flow rates and power levels. The control system must be seamlessly integrated with the existing data center management infrastructure.\n\nIntegration patterns involve the use of sensors to monitor temperature and power levels throughout the data center. The control system uses this data to dynamically adjust the cooling capacity of the distributed units, ensuring optimal performance and energy efficiency. The system can be integrated with existing data center management tools via standard APIs, allowing for centralized monitoring and control. Performance characteristics include reduced energy consumption, improved cooling performance, and increased reliability. Studies have shown that the technology can significantly lower operating temperatures and reduce hotspots, preventing equipment failures and improving overall performance. Code-level implications involve the development of control algorithms to manage the distributed units and optimize energy efficiency. These algorithms must be robust, efficient, and scalable to handle the demands of large-scale data centers. The system also requires the development of APIs for integration with existing data center management tools.","business_analysis":"Self-contained Power and Cooling Domains presents a significant market opportunity within the data center industry. The increasing demand for computing power is driving the need for more efficient and sustainable cooling solutions. Traditional centralized systems are struggling to keep pace, creating a gap in the market for innovative approaches like this technology. The market opportunity size is substantial, with the global data center cooling market projected to reach billions of dollars in the coming years.\n\nThe competitive advantages of the system lie in its distributed architecture, which minimizes energy losses, improves cooling performance, and increases reliability. This translates to lower operating costs, reduced downtime, and a smaller carbon footprint for data center operators. The revenue potential is significant, as data centers can save a substantial amount of money on energy bills by implementing this technology. Business models can include direct sales of the system, leasing agreements, and energy-as-a-service offerings. Strategic positioning involves targeting data centers that are looking to improve their energy efficiency, reduce their operating costs, and enhance their resilience. ROI projections indicate that data centers can achieve a significant return on investment by implementing the system, with payback periods typically ranging from a few years. \n\nThis technology's ability to be retrofitted into existing data centers further enhances its appeal, allowing operators to upgrade their facilities without incurring major construction costs. The distributed architecture also paves the way for more flexible and scalable data center designs, allowing operators to adapt to changing needs and technological advancements. By reducing energy consumption and improving cooling performance, Self-contained Power and Cooling Domains can help data centers achieve a competitive advantage and drive sustainable growth. The strategic positioning this technology provides allows data centers to meet the growing demands of the digital age while minimizing their environmental footprint.","faqs":null,"topics":["data center cooling","power distribution","energy efficiency","thermal management","distributed power"],"tech_cluster":null},"seo":{"title":"Self-contained Power & Cooling Domains - Patent US-9854712","description":"Discover how Self-contained Power and Cooling Domains improves data center energy efficiency. Full patent analysis, claims, and technical details.","keywords":["data center cooling","power distribution","energy efficiency","thermal management","distributed power","data center infrastructure","patent","patent US-9854712"]},"attribution":{"source":"Patentable","source_url":"https://patentable.app","canonical_url":"https://patentable.app/patents/US-9854712","license":"CC-BY-4.0-like","license_terms":"AI-generated analysis on this page (summary, layman_explanation, technical_analysis, business_analysis, faqs) may be reused with attribution and a visible link back to the canonical URL above. Patent abstracts, claims, and bibliographic data are USPTO public domain.","required_link":"https://patentable.app/patents/US-9854712","citation_suggestion":"Patentable. \"Self-contained power and cooling domains\" (US-9854712). https://patentable.app/patents/US-9854712","copyright_holder":"Nomic Interactive Technology LLC"},"links":{"html":"https://patentable.app/patents/US-9854712","json":"https://patentable.app/api/llm-context/US-9854712","site":"https://patentable.app","llms_txt":"https://patentable.app/llms.txt"},"generated_at":"2026-05-31T17:42:59.715Z"}