Abstract:
A container module includes a first container, a second container, a first passage and a second passage, a first fan and a second fan. The first passage and the second passage each are connected between the two containers. The two fans are installed at corresponding two junctions in the corresponding two passages, which can control the drawing and exhausting of the airflow between the two containers.

Description:
BACKGROUND 
       [0001]    1. Technical Field 
         [0002]    The disclosure generally relates to a container module including a cooling system. 
         [0003]    2. Description of Related Art 
         [0004]    To quickly establish a cloud operating system, a container is typically used as a room for the cloud operating system. When designing a container for containing multiple computer servers, an air conditioner is located in the container for controlling the temperature to a desirable level to cool the computer servers. 
         [0005]    However, if there are multiple containers, each container has one air conditioner. When the air conditioners are operating, high amounts of power are consumed. Additionally, even if some of the containers need less cooling, all air conditioners still operate, wasting power. 
         [0006]    Therefore, there is room for improvement within the art. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         [0007]    Many aspects of the embodiments can be better understood with reference to the following drawings. The components in the drawings are not necessarily drawn to scale, the emphasis instead being placed upon clearly illustrating the principles of the exemplary container module with cooling system. Moreover, in the drawings, like reference numerals designate corresponding parts throughout the several views. Wherever possible, the same reference numbers are used throughout the drawings to refer to the same or like elements of an embodiment. 
           [0008]      FIG. 1  is a schematic view of an embodiment of a container module including a cooling system. 
           [0009]      FIG. 2  is a block diagram depicting the control system for controlling the container module. 
           [0010]      FIGS. 3A and 3B  are flowcharts illustrating a cooling method of the cooling system in  FIG. 1 , describing the process of the second air conditioner cooling the first container. 
           [0011]      FIGS. 4A and 4B  are flowcharts illustrating a cooling method of the cooling system in  FIG. 1 , describing the process of the fir air conditioner cooling the second container. 
       
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
       [0012]      FIG. 1  shows a container module  100  used for housing telecommunication components, such as computer servers. In this exemplary embodiment, the container module  100  includes a first container  10 , a second container  15 , a first passage  20 , and a second passage  30 . The first container  10  and the second container  15  are positioned adjacent to each other for accommodating the computer servers. The first passage  20  allows cold airflow to pass through, and the second passage  30  allows hot airflow to pass through. Opposite ends of the first passage  20  and the second passage  30  are respectively connected to the first container  10  and the second container  15  for allowing hot airflow and cold airflow to flow between the first container  10  and the second container  15 . 
         [0013]    The first container  10  includes a first air conditioner  101 , a first fan  11 , a second fan  12 . The first fan  11  is located at a junction between the first container  10  and the first passage  20  and draws cold air into the first container  10 . The second fan  12  is located at a junction between the first container  10  and the second passage  30  for exhausting hot air out of the first container  10 . A first sensor  51  is positioned in the first container  10  for detecting a temperature in the first container  10 . The second container  15  includes a second air conditioner  105 , a third fan  16  and a fourth fan  17 . The third fan  16  is located at a junction between the second container  15  and the first passage  20  and draws cold air into the second container  15 . The fourth fan  17  is located at a junction between the second container  15  and the second passage  30  for exhausting cold air from the second container  15 . A second sensor  52  is positioned in the second container  15  for detecting a temperature in the second container  15 . 
         [0014]      FIG. 2 , illustrates a control device  40  is electronically connected to the first air conditioner  101 , the second air conditioner  105 , and the fans  11 ,  12 ,  16 ,  17  for activating/deactivating the above elements. The first sensor  51  and the second sensor  52  are electronically connected to the control device  40 . The first sensor  51  and the second sensor  52  can detect a temperature of the containers  10 ,  15 , respectively and transmit a signal to the control device  40 . The signals cause the control device  40  to activate/deactivate the first air conditioner  101 , the second air conditioner  105 , and the fans  11 ,  12 ,  16 ,  17 . 
         [0015]    Initially, the first air conditioner  101  and the second air conditioner  102  are both turned on.  FIGS. 3A and 3B , show a cooling method in which the second air conditioner cools both the first and second containers. The cooling method includes at least the following steps: 
         [0016]    The first and second sensors  51 ,  52  detect a temperature of the corresponding first and second containers  10 ,  15 , respectively, and transmit the detected temperature value to the control device  40 . The control device  40  determines whether the temperatures of the first container  10  and the second container  15  are less than a predetermined temperature, for example, 25° C. If the temperature of the first container  10  and the second container  15  are less than the predetermined temperature, the control device  40  determines the workload of the first air conditioner  101 . If the temperature of the first container  10  and the second container  15  exceeds the predetermined temperature, the process will keep returning to the first step to continuously detect the temperature of the first container  10  and the second container  15 . 
         [0017]    If the control device  40  determines the power workload of the first container  10  is less than a part of the full power load (e.g. ⅕ of the full power load), and less than the power workload of the second container  15 , the control device  40  will transmit a signal to turn off the first air conditioner  101 . Simultaneously, the first fan  11  and the second fan  12  are activated by the control device  40 . The first fan  11  directs cold air in the second container  15  to the first container  10  through the first passage  20 . The second fan  12  directs the hot air in the first container  10  to the second container  15  through the second passage  30 . Accordingly, the first container  10  is cooled by the excess output of the second air conditioner  105 . 
         [0018]    If the power workload of the first container  10  exceeds, e.g., the exemplary ⅕ of the full power load, and exceeds the power workload of the second container  15 , the process will keep going to the first step to continuously detect the temperature of the first container  10  and the second container  15 . The first sensor  51  and the second sensor  52  continue monitoring and recording the temperatures of the first container  10  and the second container  15 . The control device  40  determines whether the temperatures of the first container  10  and the second container  15  exceed the predetermined temperature. If the temperature of the first container  10  and the second container  15  exceeds the predetermined temperature, the control device  40  will restart the first air conditioner  101 , and stop the first fan  11  and the second fan  12 . If the temperature of the first container  10  and the second container  15  are less than the predetermined temperature, the process will keep returning to the first step to continuously detect the temperature of the first container  10  and the second container  15 . 
         [0019]      FIGS. 4A and 4B , show a cooling method of the aforementioned cooling system in which the first air conditioner cools both the first and second containers. The cooling method includes at least the following steps: 
         [0020]    The first sensor  51  detects a temperature of the first container  10 , and the second sensor  52  detects a temperature of the second container  15 . The first sensor  51  and the second sensor  52  transmit the detected temperature value to the control device  40 . The control device  40  determines whether the temperatures of the first container  10  and the second container  15  are less than a predetermined temperature, for example, 25° C. If the temperature of the first container  10  and the second container  15  are less than the predetermined temperature, the control device  40  will continue to determine the power workload of the second air conditioner  101 . If the temperature of the first container  10  and the second container  15  exceeds the predetermined temperature, the process will keep returning to the first step to continuously detect the temperature of the first container  10  and the second container  15 . 
         [0021]    The control device  40  determines whether the power workload of the second container  15  is less than a part of the full power load (e.g. ⅕ of the full load), and is less than the workload of the first container  10 , the control device  40  transmits a signal to turn off the second air conditioner  105 . At the same time, the third fan  16  and the fourth fan  17  are activated. The third fan  16  directs the cold air in the first container  10  to the second container  15  through the first passage  20 . The fourth fan  17  directs the hot air in the second container  15  to the first container  10  through the second passage  30 . Accordingly, the second container  15  is cooled by the first air conditioner  101 . 
         [0022]    If the power workload of the second container  15  exceeds, e.g., the exemplary ⅕ of the full power load, and exceeds the power workload of the first container  10 , the process the process will keep returning to the first step to continuously detect the temperature of the first container  10  and the second container  15 . The first sensor  51  and the second sensor  52  will monitor and record the temperatures of the first container  10  and the second container  15 . The control device  40  determines whether the temperatures of the first container  10  and the second container  15  exceed the predetermined temperature. If the temperature of the first container  10  and the second container  15  exceeds the predetermined temperature, the control device  40  will restart the second air conditioner  105 , and stop the third fan  16  and the fourth fan  17 . If the temperature of the first container  10  and the second container  15  are less than the predetermined temperature, the process the process will keep returning to the first step to continuously detect the temperature of the first container  10  and the second container  15 . 
         [0023]    The container module of the present disclosure may use an air conditioner to cool the first container and the second container, preventing waste power. 
         [0024]    It is to be understood, however, that even through numerous characteristics and advantages of the disclosure have been set forth in the foregoing description, together with details of the system and function of the disclosure, the disclosure is illustrative only, and changes may be made in detail, especially in the matters of shape, size, and arrangement of parts within the principles of the disclosure to the full extent indicated by the broad general meaning of the terms in which the appended claims are expressed.