(19) United States
`(12) Patent Application Publication (10) Pub. No.: US 2014/0096837 A1
`(43) Pub. Date:
`Apr. 10, 2014
`Belady et al.
`
`US 20140096837A1
`
`GAS SUPPLY SHOCKABSORBER FOR
`DATACENTERPOWER GENERATION
`
`(52) U.S. Cl.
`USPC ............................................... 137/14: 138/26
`
`(54)
`
`(71)
`
`(72)
`
`Applicant: MICROSOFT CORPORATION,
`Redmond, WA (US)
`Inventors: Christian L. Belady, Mercer Island, WA
`(US); Sean M. James, Olympia, WA
`(US)
`
`(73)
`
`Assignee: MICROSOFT CORPORATION,
`Redmond, WA (US)
`
`(21)
`
`Appl. No.: 13/649,100
`
`(22)
`
`Filed:
`
`Oct. 10, 2012
`
`Publication Classification
`
`(51)
`
`Int. C.
`FI6L 55/04
`
`(2006.01)
`
`ABSTRACT
`(57)
`Gas Supply pressure spikes are absorbed and leveled-out by a
`gas Supply shock absorber comprising gas storage, which is
`charged during positive pressure spikes and utilized during
`negative pressure spikes. The gas Supply shock absorber also
`comprises pressure sensing and regulating valves, which
`direct positive pressure spikes to the gas storage and draw gas
`from Storage during negative pressure spikes. A backflow
`preventer limits shock absorption to co-located equipment,
`but gas Supply shock absorbers operate in aggregate to create
`additional demand during positive pressure spikes and
`reduced demand during negative pressure spikes. If the gas
`storage has sufficient gas, a co-located data center utilizes
`Such gas for increased electrical power generation during
`increased processing activity, which can be requested or gen
`erated. Conversely, if the gas storage has insufficient gas, and
`a negative pressure spike occurs, the data center throttles
`down or offloads processing.
`
`1OO
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`gaS
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`132 Communicational
`connection
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`Network
`199
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`191
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`Back flow
`preventer
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`7
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`Pressure
`regulating 173
`valve
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`Communicational
`connection
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`Patent Application Publication
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`Apr. 10, 2014 Sheet 1 of 3
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`US 2014/0096837 A1
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`Patent Application Publication
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`Apr. 10, 2014 Sheet 2 of 3
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`US 2014/0096837 A1
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`200 NY
`
`O
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`
`
`yeS
`
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`Gas storage sensor data
`
`as storage too full to absorb shocks
`yes
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`Anticipated work load increase?
`
`O
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`Request additional processing from other data centers or
`reduce processing CoSt to generate increased Work load
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`Utilize gas from storage to fuel increased power
`requirements for increased work load
`
`
`
`
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`as storage too empty to absorb shockS
`yeS
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`Anticipated positive pressure spike
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`yes
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`Spike will add gas to storage
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`210
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`220
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`230
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`240
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`250
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`260
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`270
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`Offload processing to other data centers or throttie down
`processing units to reduce energy consumption
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`29O
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`Figure 2
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`Patent Application Publication
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`Apr. 10, 2014 Sheet 3 of 3
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`US 2014/0096837 A1
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`Central
`processing unit
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`PrO E.
`OCeS
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`Program
`data
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`b
`N
`on-removable
`non-volatile
`memory interface
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`
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`w
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`Operating
`system
`344
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`Prodram
`modules
`345
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`Program
`data
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`General
`network
`Connection
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`
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`Figure 3
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`US 2014/0096837 A1
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`Apr. 10, 2014
`
`GAS SUPPLY SHOCKABSORBER FOR
`DATACENTERPOWER GENERATION
`
`BACKGROUND
`0001. The throughput of communications between mul
`tiple computing devices continues to increase. Modern net
`working hardware enables physically separate computing
`devices to communicate with one another orders of magni
`tude faster than was possible with prior generations of net
`working hardware. Furthermore, high-speed network com
`munication capabilities are being made available to a greater
`number of people, both in the locations where people work,
`and in their homes. As a result, an increasing amount of data
`and services can be meaningfully provided via Such network
`communications. As a result, the utility of computing devices
`increasingly lies in their ability to communicate with one
`another. For example, users of computing devices tradition
`ally used to utilize computing devices for content creation,
`Such as the creation of textual documents or graphical images.
`Increasingly, however, the most popular utilizations of com
`puting devices are in the browsing of information sourced
`from other computing devices, the interaction with other
`users of other computing devices, the utilization of the pro
`cessing capabilities of other computing devices and the like.
`0002. In particular, it has become more practical to per
`form digital data processing at a location remote from the
`location where such data is initially generated, and where the
`processed data will be consumed. For example, a user can
`upload a digital photograph to a server and then cause the
`server to process the digital photograph, changing its colors
`and applying other visual edits to it. In Such an example, the
`digital processing, such as of the photograph, is being per
`formed by a device that is remote from the user. Indeed, in
`Such an example, if the user was utilizing a battery-operated
`computing device to interact with the server Such as, for
`example, a laptop or Smartphone, the user could be in a
`location that was not receiving any electrical power at all.
`Instead, electrical power can have been delivered to the
`server, which is remote from the user, and the server can have
`utilized electrical power to process the data provided by the
`user and then return the processed data to the user.
`0003) To provide such data and processing capabilities,
`via network communications, from a centralized location, the
`centralized location typically comprises hundreds or thou
`sands of computing devices, typically mounted in Vertically
`oriented racks. Such a collection of computing devices, as
`well as the associated hardware necessary to Support Such
`computing devices, and the physical structure that houses the
`computing devices and associated hardware, is traditionally
`referred to as a “data center. With the increasing availability
`of high-speed network communication capabilities, and thus
`the increasing provision of data and services from centralized
`locations, as well as the traditional utilization of data centers,
`Such as the provision of advanced computing services and
`massive amounts of computing processing capability, the size
`and quantity of datacenters continues to increase.
`0004. However, data centers often consume large quanti
`ties of electrical power, especially by the computing devices
`themselves. Increasingly, the cost of obtaining Such electrical
`power is becoming a primary determinant in the economic
`Success of a data center. Consequently, data centers are being
`located in areas where the data centers can obtain electrical
`power in a cost-effective manner. In some instances, data
`centers are being located in areas that can provide inexpensive
`
`electrical power directly. Such as areas in which electricity
`can be purchased from electrical utilities or governmental
`electrical facilities inexpensively. In other instances, how
`ever, data centers are being located in areas where natural
`resources, from which electrical power can be derived, are
`abundant and can be obtained inexpensively. For example,
`natural gas is a byproduct of oil drilling operations and is
`often considered a waste byproduct since it cannot be eco
`nomically captured and brought to market. Consequently, in
`areas where oil drilling operations are being conducted, natu
`ral gas is often available for free, or at a minimal cost. As will
`be recognized by those skilled in the art, natural gas can be
`utilized to generate electrical power, Such as, for example,
`through a fuel cell or by generating steam to drive a steam
`powered electrical generator. As another example, municipal
`landfills and other like waste treatment and processing cen
`ters can produce a gas commonly referred to as “biogas”
`which can, likewise, be utilized to generate electrical power
`that can, then, be consumed by the computing devices of a
`data center. Unfortunately, gas that is available at reduced cost
`cannot always be provided at a well-maintained pressure.
`Instead, the pressure at which Such gases are provided can
`often vary Substantially, including both positive and negative
`gas pressure spikes where the pressure of the provided gas
`increases, or decreases, respectively. Not only can Such gas
`pressure spikes damage equipment that utilizes Such gas, but
`they can also be disruptive to the entire gas Supply network.
`
`SUMMARY
`0005. In one embodiment, a gas supply shock absorber can
`absorb and level outgas pressure spikes by storing gas during
`positive pressure spikes and then releasing the stored gas
`during negative pressure spikes. Such a gas Supply shock
`absorber can comprise a gas storage for storing gas during
`positive pressure spikes, as well as pressure sensing and pres
`Sure regulating valves to control the flow of gas into the gas
`storage. Such as during positive pressure spikes and to control
`the flow of gas out of the gas storage, such as during negative
`pressure spikes.
`0006. In yet another embodiment, each individual gas Sup
`ply shock absorber can comprise a backflow preventer Such
`that the gas Supply shock absorber only levels outgas pressure
`spikes for local gas-fed equipment. A Sufficient quantity of
`Such individual gas Supply shock absorbers on a gas Supply
`network can, in aggregate, act to Smooth out the gas pressure
`on the whole gas Supply network, each utilizing their gas
`storage to increase the ability to consume gas during positive
`pressure spikes and to reduce demand during negative pres
`Sure spikes
`0007. In a further embodiment, a gas supply shock
`absorber can be utilized in conjunction with a data center
`whose electrical power is provided at least in part by devices
`that consume gas to generate electricity. Such a data center
`can have varying electrical power demands depending on the
`workload of the computing devices of the data center. If a
`Sufficient quantity of gas is available in the gas storage of the
`gas Supply shock absorber, an increase in the workload of the
`computing devices of the data center can be powered by gas
`from the gas storage, rather than the consumption of addi
`tional gas from the gas network.
`0008. In a still further embodiment, if the gas storage of a
`gas Supply shock absorber has a Sufficient quantity of gas, the
`data center can request additional processing from other data
`centers to consume some of the gas in the gas storage. Simi
`
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`larly, if the gas storage of the gas Supply shock absorber does
`not have a sufficient quantity of gas, and the gas network
`experiences a negative pressure spike, the data center can
`throttle down the processing of its computing devices, or can
`offload some or all of its processing to other data centers.
`0009. This Summary is provided to introduce a selection
`of concepts in a simplified form that are further described
`below in the Detailed Description. This Summary is not
`intended to identify key features or essential features of the
`claimed subject matter, nor is it intended to be used to limit
`the scope of the claimed subject matter.
`0010 Additional features and advantages will be made
`apparent from the following detailed description that pro
`ceeds with reference to the accompanying drawings.
`
`DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
`0011. The following detailed description may be best
`understood when taken in conjunction with the accompany
`ing drawings, of which:
`0012 FIG. 1 is a component diagram of an exemplary gas
`shock absorber, shown together with an associated gas-pow
`ered data center;
`0013 FIG. 2 is a flow diagram of an exemplary utilization
`of stored gas by an associated data center, and
`0014 FIG. 3 is a block diagram illustrating an exemplary
`general purpose computing device.
`
`DETAILED DESCRIPTION
`0015 The following description relates to the absorption
`and leveling out of gas Supply pressure spikes by a gas Supply
`shock absorber. A gas Supply shock absorber can comprise
`gas storage that can be charged with pressurized gas during
`positive pressure spikes in the gas Supply, and which can
`Subsequently utilize such stored gas during negative pressure
`spikes in the gas Supply, thereby leveling out gas Supply
`pressure spikes. Together with the gas storage, a gas Supply
`shockabsorber can also comprise pressure sensing valves and
`pressure regulating Valves, which can detect positive pressure
`spikes in the gas Supply and enable Such overly pressurized
`gas to charge the gas storage, and which can also detect
`negative pressure spikes in the gas Supply and, in response,
`make available the gas stored in the gas storage to compensate
`for Such negative pressure spikes. A backflow preventer can
`limit the absorption of gas Supply pressure spikes to gas
`equipment co-located with the gas Supply shock absorber.
`Nevertheless, a gas Supply network having connected thereto
`multiple Such gas Supply shock absorbers can experience less
`disruptive gas pressure spikes, since each gas Supply shock
`absorber can create additional gas demand during positive
`pressure spikes, such as in the form of accepting additional
`gas for storage, and can create reduced gas demand during
`negative pressure spikes, such as by utilizing locally stored
`gas. A data center co-located with a gas Supply shock
`absorber can be provided with electrical power from a gas
`consuming device, and the amount of power consumed by the
`data center can vary depending on the processing workload of
`the computing devices of the data center. If the gas storage has
`a sufficient quantity of gas stored therein, the data center can
`utilize such gas to provide increased electrical power during
`periods of increased processing activity and workload. The
`data center can additionally request workload from other data
`centers, in Such an instance, or can generate additional work
`load by, for example, reducing the cost of the processing
`
`provided by the computing devices of the data center. Con
`versely, if the gas storage has an insufficient quantity of gas
`stored therein, and the gas Supply experiences a negative
`pressure spike, the computing devices of the data center can
`be throttled down to consume less electrical power, or, alter
`natively, or in combination, workload from the computing
`devices of the data center can be transferred to other data
`CenterS.
`0016. The techniques described herein make reference to
`specific types of gas and specific types of gas-consuming
`equipment. For example, reference is made to natural-gas
`powered generators, such as a fuel cell. Such references,
`however, are strictly exemplary and are made for ease of
`description and presentation, and are not intended to limit the
`mechanisms described to specific generators and utilizations
`of water enumerated. Instead, the techniques described herein
`are equally applicable, without modification, to the absorp
`tion of gas Supply pressure spikes, irrespective of the type of
`gas experiencing the spikes, and irrespective of the equipment
`consuming Such gas.
`0017 Although not required, aspects of the descriptions
`below will be provided in the general context of computer
`executable instructions, such as program modules, being
`executed by a computing device. More specifically, aspects of
`the descriptions will reference acts and symbolic representa
`tions of operations that are performed by one or more com
`puting devices or peripherals, unless indicated otherwise. As
`Such, it will be understood that such acts and operations,
`which are at times referred to as being computer-executed,
`include the manipulation by a processing unit of electrical
`signals representing data in a structured form. This manipu
`lation transforms the data or maintains it at locations in
`memory, which reconfigures or otherwise alters the operation
`of the computing device or peripherals in a manner well
`understood by those skilled in the art. The data structures
`where data is maintained are physical locations that have
`particular properties defined by the format of the data.
`0018 Generally, program modules include routines, pro
`grams, objects, components, data structures, and the like that
`perform particular tasks or implement particular abstract data
`types. Moreover, those skilled in the art will appreciate that
`the computing devices need not be limited to conventional
`server computing racks or conventional personal computers,
`and include other computing configurations, including hand
`held devices, multi-processor Systems, microprocessor based
`or programmable consumer electronics, network PCs, mini
`computers, mainframe computers, and the like. Similarly, the
`computing devices need not be limited to a stand-alone com
`puting device, as the mechanisms may also be practiced in
`distributed computing environments linked through a com
`munications network. In a distributed computing environ
`ment, program modules may be located in both local and
`remote memory storage devices.
`(0019. With reference to FIG. 1, an exemplary system 100
`is illustrated for absorbing gas Supply pressure spikes. For
`example, the exemplary system 100 can be located in an area
`where the gas supply 110 can be plentiful or otherwise avail
`able at a minimal cost, but such a gas Supply 110 can also
`experience pressure spikes, including positive pressure
`spikes where the pressure of the gas Supply 110 can increase,
`and negative pressure spikes where the pressure of the gas
`Supply 110 can decrease. The gas Supply 110 can Supply any
`type of gas that can be utilized, either directly or indirectly, by
`a consumer, Such as the data center 190. For example, the gas
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`Supplied by the gas Supply 110 can include natural gas, bio
`gas, methane, propane or other hydrocarbons, hydrogen, or
`any other fuel that can be accepted by a gas-to-electricity
`converter 180. Such as a generator, which can generate elec
`trical power 181, or other type of power, for the data center
`190. As indicated previously, the mechanisms described
`herein are not limited by the type of power that is generated
`from the gas, nor are they limited by the type of gas.
`0020. In one common example, the gas provided by the
`gas Supply 110 can be natural gas that can be provided to a
`fuel cell, which can act as the gas-to-electricity converter 180.
`In Such an exemplary embodiment, the fuel cell, acting as the
`gas-to-electricity converter 180, can generate power for the
`data center 190 in the form of direct current electrical power
`181 from the natural gas. More specifically, and as will be
`understood by those skilled in the art, a fuel cell. Such as a gas
`Solid oxide fuel cell, can comprise an electrolyte, typically in
`the form of a solid ceramic material, and an anode and cath
`ode on opposite sides of the electrolyte, each typically com
`prised of an ink coating on the electrolyte. Such a fuel cell can
`accept natural gas as an input and, inside of the fuel cell, the
`natural gas can be mixed with water steam to form a
`“reformed fuel. This reformed fuel can then enter the anode
`side of the electrolyte and, as it crosses the anode, it can attract
`oxygen ions from the cathode, which are attracted into the
`cathode from the hot air that is fed to the fuel cell. The oxygen
`ions combine with the reformed fuel in the electrolyte to
`produce electricity, water, and Small amounts of carbon diox
`ide, as well as heat.
`0021. As will also be recognized by those skilled in the art,
`certain ones of the gas-to-electricity converter 180, such as
`the above-described fuel cell, can be sensitive to varying gas
`pressures, and can be damaged by gas that is provided at too
`high a pressure. Consequently, in one embodiment, the sys
`tem 100 of FIG. 1 can be utilized to absorb, or “level out',
`shocks in the pressure of the gas Supply 110, including posi
`tive pressure spikes and negative pressure spikes. As illus
`trated in FIG. 1, the system 100 can comprise a gas transmis
`sion apparatus, such as a piping system 120, through which
`pressurized gas can flow and be provided to gas-consuming
`devices, such as the gas-to-electricity converter 180. The
`piping 120 accepts pressurized gas from the gas Supply 110
`and can deliver it to gas-consuming devices, such as the
`gas-to-electricity converter 180.
`0022. In one embodiment, to protect the gas-to-electricity
`converter 180 from gas pressure spikes that can be damaging
`to the gas-to-electricity converter 180, a pressure regulating
`valve 170 can be installed in-line with the flow of gas, through
`the piping 120, from the gas Supply 110 to the gas-to-elec
`tricity converter 180. As illustrated, a pressure regulating
`valve can comprise a gas pressure sensor 171 and a gas
`shutoff valve 172, and a communicational connection 173
`between them Such that the gas pressure detected by the gas
`pressure sensor 171 can be utilized to inform whether the gas
`shutoff valve 172 allows gas to pass through the piping 120 to
`the gas-to-electricity converter 180, or whether the gas shut
`off valve 172 prevents any gas from flowing through the
`piping 120 to the gas-to-electricity converter 180. Typically, it
`will be recognized by those skilled in the art, the pressure
`regulating valve 170 can remain open so long as the gas
`pressure in the piping 120 is below an upper threshold pres
`Sure that can be based on the maximum gas pressure accept
`able by the gas-to-electricity converter 180. Once the gas
`pressure in the piping 120 exceeds such an upper threshold
`
`pressure, the gas pressure sensor 171 can sense Such an
`increase in the gas pressure and can cause the gas shutoff
`valve 172 to stop the flow of gas to the gas-to-electricity
`converter 180. Conversely, if the gas pressure provided from
`the gas Supply 110 experiences a negative pressure spike, the
`pressure regulating valve 170 can remain open, allowing for
`the provision of gas to the gas-to-electricity converter 180, but
`the pressure at which Such gas is provided may be insufficient
`to enable the gas-to-electricity converter 180 to generate the
`electrical power 181 required by the data center 190.
`0023 To provide for gas pressure shock absorption, in one
`embodiment, the system 100 can comprise a gas storage 160
`that can be connected with the piping 120 such that the gas
`storage 160 can accept pressurized gas for storage when the
`pressure of the gas provided by the gas Supply 110 experi
`ences a positive pressure spike. In particular, in one embodi
`ment, the piping 120 can have connected, in-line, a pressure
`sensing valve 150 between the gas supply 110 and the gas
`storage 160. Like the pressure regulating valve 170, the pres
`Sure sensing valve 150, in one embodiment, can comprise a
`gas pressure sensor 151, a gas shutoff valve 152 and a com
`municational connection 153 between them. As such, the gas
`shutoff valve 152 can either allow, or prevent, the flow of gas
`from the gas Supply 110 into the gas storage 160, depending
`on the pressure sensed by the gas pressure sensor 151. For
`example, were the gas Supply 110 to experience a positive gas
`pressure spike, the gas pressure sensor 171 of the pressure
`regulating valve 170 could detect such a high-pressure and
`could trigger the gas shutoff valve 172 to stop the flow of
`pressurized gas to the gas-to-electricity converter 180. Simi
`larly, the gas pressure sensor 151 of the pressure sensing valve
`150 could detect to the same high pressure and could trigger
`the gas shutoff valve 152 to open and enable the flow of
`pressurized gas from the gas Supply 110 into the gas storage
`160. In such a manner, the gas storage 160 can be “charged’.
`or filled with gas.
`0024. In one embodiment, as the positive gas pressure
`spike ends, and the gas pressure provided by the gas Supply
`110 returns to normal, the gas pressure sensor 171 of the
`pressure regulating valve 170 can detect Such a decrease in
`gas pressure and can, consequently, cause the gas shutoff
`valve 172 to open back up and enable the flow of pressurized
`gas from the gas Supply 110 to the gas-to-electricity converter
`180. Similarly, the gas pressure sensor 151 of the pressure
`sensing valve 150 can also detect the decrease in gas pressure
`and can cause the gas shutoff valve 152 to close and prevent
`the flow of gas out of the gas storage 160, since, as will be
`recognized by those skilled in the art, because the gas storage
`160 was charged with a higher pressure gas, a decrease in the
`pressure of the gas provided by the gas Supply 110 can result
`in a negative differential between the pressure of the gas in the
`gas storage 160 and the pressure of the gas now being pro
`vided by the gas supply 110 and in the piping 120, thereby
`potentially causing the gas in the gas storage 160 to flow back
`into the piping 120, unless the gas shutoff valve 152 closes. In
`Such a manner, the gas storage 160 can be filled with pressur
`ized gas during a positive gas pressure spike, which can then
`be retained while the pressure of the gas Supplied by the gas
`Supply 110 returns to lower, normal pressures.
`0025 Should the gas supply 110 subsequently experience
`a negative gas pressure spike. Such that the pressure of the gas
`Supplied by the gas Supply 110 decreases, in one embodi
`ment, the gas pressure sensor 151 of the pressure sensing
`valve 150 can detect such a decrease in the gas pressure and
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`can cause the gas shutoff valve 152 to open to enable gas from
`the gas storage 160 to flow into the piping 120, thereby
`increasing the gas pressure in the piping 120 and providing
`the gas-to-electricity converter 180 with a sufficient pressure
`to continue to provide sufficient electrical power 181 to the
`data center 190. In such a manner, the gas storage 160,
`together with the pressure sensing valve 150, can act as a gas
`Supply shock absorber, accepting additional gas during posi
`tive gas pressure spikes in the gas being Supplied by the gas
`Supply 110, and Sourcing additional gas during negative gas
`pressure spikes. In particular, the gas storage 160 provides
`additional demand for gas during positive gas pressure spikes,
`since the filling of the gas storage 160 comprises a consump
`tion of gas, and causes reduced demand for gas during nega
`tive gas pressure spikes, since the provision of gas from the
`gas storage 160 reduces the amount of gas required from the
`gas Supply 110.
`0026. In one embodiment, the system 100 of FIG. 1 can
`comprise a backflow preventer 140, thereby preventing gas
`that is supplied by the gas storage 160 from being provided
`back to the gas Supply 110. In particular, and as described
`above, the gas storage 160 can store gas at a high pressure,
`Such as gas that can have been provided to the gas storage 160
`during a period when the gas Supply 110 was experiencing a
`positive pressure spike. Subsequently, and as also described
`above, if the gas Supply 110 were to experience a negative
`pressure spike, the gas from the gas storage 160 can be pro
`vided back into the piping 120 to, for example, provide suf
`ficient gas to the gas-to-electricity converter 180. However, as
`will be recognized by those skilled in the art, absent a back
`flow preventer 140, the gas provided by the gas storage 160
`during negative pressure spikes can flow, not to the gas-to
`electricity converter 180, or other local consumer of gas, but
`rather back to the gas Supply 110. As such, the optional
`backflow preventer 140 enables the gas stored in the gas
`storage 160 to be used for local gas consumers. In another
`embodiment, if the gas supply 110 is metered such that the
`provision of gas back to the gas Supply 110 results in a
`corresponding credit, than the backflow preventer 140 need
`not be present, since the provision of gas from the gas storage
`160 back to the gas supply 110 would result in a monetary
`benefit.
`0027. From the perspective of a gas network, such as the
`gas Supply 110, that can Supply gas to a myriad of consumers,
`the above described gas Supply shock absorber can be imple
`mented by a number of those consumers and Such gas Supply
`shock absorbers can act in aggregate to Smooth out gas pres
`sure spikes in the gas supply 110. More specifically, even if
`each gas consuming entity utilized a backflow preventer, Such
`as the backflow preventer 140, the aggregate effect of mul
`tiple gas Supply shock absorbers, installed by multiple ones of
`the consumers of gas to which the gas Supply 110 provides
`gas, can be to increase the demand for gas during positive
`pressure spikes, thereby reducing the magnitude of such posi
`tive pressure spikes with Such increased demand, and can
`further be to decrease the demand for gas during negative
`pressure spikes, thereby reducing the magnitude of Such
`negative pressure spikes with reduced demand. For example,
`during a positive pressure spike, each of the individual gas
`Supply shock absorbers can open the valves to their gas stor
`ages, such as the exemplary gas storage 160, so as to charge
`each of those individual gas storages. Each gas storage. Such
`as the exemplary gas storage 160, can, as described above,
`represent a consumer of gas and can create demand for gas.
`
`The aggregate effect, therefore, of each of the individual gas
`Supply shock absorbers opening the valves to their gas stor
`ages during a positive pressure spike can be to increase the
`demand for gas, thereby more quickly dissipating the positive
`gas pressure spike. As another example, during a negative
`pressure spike, each of the individual gas Supply shock
`absorbers can open the valves to their gas storages, such as the
`exemplary gas storage 160, so as to provide gas from each of
`those individual gas storages to those devices consuming gas.
`Since the devices consuming gas would, in Such an instance,
`be receiving at least Some of their gas from the individual gas
`storages, the aggregate effect of each of the individual gas
`Supply shock absorbers opening the valves to their gas storage
`during a negative pressure spike can be to decrease the
`demand for gas from the gas Supply, thereby enabling the gas
`Supply to increase pressure across Sucha reduced demand and
`more quickly dissipate the negative gas pressure spike.
`0028. Although not part of a gas supply shock absorber,
`the system 100 of FIG. 1 also illustrates an optional gas
`quality sensor 131 that can be communicationally coupled to
`a gas diverter valve 133 via the communicational connection
`132. As indicated previously, in one embodiment, the gas
`Supply 110 can be from non-regulated gas sources, such as the
`gas produced from a landfill, or gas produced as a waste
`product of oil drilling. As will be recognized by those skilled
`in the art, such gas can contain impurities that can damage
`various gas-consuming equipment Such as, for example, the
`gas-to-electricity converter 180. For example, such gas can
`comprise too much sulfur, carbon dioxide, siloxanes, or other
`like impurities. Thus, in one embodiment, a gas quality sensor
`131 can be positioned to monitor the quality of the gas
`received from the gas Supply 110. Should the gas quality
`sensor 131 detect that the quality of gas being provided is no
`longer acceptable, the gas diverter valve 133 can be triggered
`and the gas provided by the gas Supply 110 can be vented as
`vented gas 111. The gas quality sensor 131 and the gas
`diverter valve 133 can be spaced sufficiently apart such that
`the gas diverter valve 133 can trigger prior to the arrival of the
`gas, down the piping 120, that was deemed to be of insuffi
`cient quality by the gas quality sensor 131 as Such gas passed
`its detection.
`(0029 While the system 100 of FIG. 1 is shown as com
`prising a data ce