US Patent 7810341 Redundant upgradeable, modular data center cooling apparatus

A data center is configured in a room using alternating rows of racks containing heat-generating electronic devices and air conditioners or liquid conditioners. Chilled fluid, such as water or a refrigerant, for the air conditioners or liquid conditioners is supplied through redundant plumbing comprising first and second supply and return pipes below a raised floor. Attached to this redundant plumbing are standard fluid couplings configured to couple to either air conditioners or liquid conditioners. The air conditioners and liquid conditioners use the same chilled fluid so that they may share the redundant plumbing and continually receive chilled fluid in the event of the failure of one of the chilled fluid supplies.