An application for a water platform data center

Abstract

The application discloses a kind of applied to water platform type data center, including from top to bottom two-layer platform, main platform, water cabin, the water cabin is double-layer board structure, its inside is equipped with data center air conditioning system, the air supply opening of this data center air conditioning system is connected to server cabinet place by data center cold channel, and the server cabinet is also arranged in water cabin;Sea water natural heat exchange system is equipped on the main platform, and the system utilizes sea water to take away the heat generated by data center air conditioning system and transfer to the ocean;The two-layer platform is equipped with wind power generation system around it.This application can realize modular assembly, according to demand, quickly arranged in required area, construction, transportation, installation is convenient, without using large water chiller, cooling tower and a large number of auxiliary pipeline, save early investment, greatly reduce energy consumption.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] This invention relates to the field of data center technology, and more specifically to a data center applicable to a floating platform. Background Technology

[0002] With the rapid development of mobile data, cloud computing, and big data services, server heat dissipation is increasing, highlighting the growing demand for energy-efficient data centers. Globally, in the era of 5G, cloud computing, and big data, key emerging industries such as artificial intelligence and the industrial internet all require data centers as their support. The construction of big data centers inevitably brings a series of issues, including land use, water consumption, and power consumption. To break away from current thinking, the idea of ​​marine data centers has emerged.

[0003] Existing marine data centers, such as those of Microsoft and Hylink, employ cylindrical hull structures that are submerged on the seabed and cannot be moved. This requires a high-quality seabed and presents significant maintenance challenges and costs. Other marine data centers typically use dedicated coolant cooling systems to cool the server racks. According to publicly available data, 41% of a data center's annual electricity cost is spent on cooling; therefore, using coolant cooling systems presents the problem of excessive energy consumption. Summary of the Invention

[0004] The purpose of this invention is to provide a data center applicable to floating platforms that can be modularly assembled and quickly deployed to the required area according to needs. It is convenient to construct, transport, and install, and does not require the use of large chiller units, cooling towers, and a large number of auxiliary pipelines, thus saving upfront investment and greatly reducing energy consumption.

[0005] To achieve the above objectives, the technical solution of this application is as follows: a data center applied to a floating platform, comprising a two-story platform, a main platform, and a floating cabin arranged from top to bottom. The floating cabin has a double-layer panel structure and is equipped with a data center air conditioning system. The air outlets of the data center air conditioning system are connected to the server racks through a data center cold aisle. The server racks are also arranged in the floating cabin. A seawater natural heat exchange system is provided on the main platform. This system uses seawater to carry away the heat generated by the data center air conditioning system and transfer it to the ocean. A wind power generation system is provided around the two-story platform.

[0006] Furthermore, a sewage treatment system is provided on the second-floor platform, with multiple freshwater tanks of the sewage treatment system arranged on the first side of the second-floor platform.

[0007] Furthermore, the data center on the water platform is surrounded by lifting columns, and each lifting column is connected to a rack on its outer side. The rack is connected to a gear, which is connected to a hydraulic system. The hydraulic system is located at the four corners of the second-floor platform.

[0008] Furthermore, a photovoltaic power generation system is provided on the second side of the second-level platform, and the photovoltaic power generation system, wind power generation system and diesel power generation system are connected.

[0009] Furthermore, the diesel generator system is located in a cabinet on one side of the middle of the second-floor platform, and is connected to the hydraulic gear lifting system, the living area electrical equipment, the seawater heat exchange system, the sewage treatment system, the server cabinet, and the data center air conditioning system to supply power to them.

[0010] Furthermore, a UPS system is installed next to the diesel generator system. This UPS system serves as a backup power source and is also connected to the hydraulic gear lifting system, the electrical equipment in the living area, the seawater heat exchange system, the sewage treatment system, the server racks, and the data center air conditioning system.

[0011] Furthermore, lifeboats are symmetrically arranged on the first and third sides of the second-level platform, with the lifeboat on the first side located next to the freshwater tank.

[0012] Furthermore, a living area for maintenance personnel is provided on the fourth side of the second-floor platform, and a crane is connected to the outside of this fourth side.

[0013] As a further step, when the floating platform data center needs to be expanded, at least one of the first, second, and fourth sides of the floating platform data center is connected to the top of the maintenance channel via a connecting staircase, and the bottom of the maintenance channel is connected to the underwater sub-data center.

[0014] Furthermore, the lifting column is a hollow structure, with the inlet and outlet pipes of the seawater natural heat exchange system located inside the lifting column.

[0015] By adopting the above technical solution, the present invention can achieve the following technical effects:

[0016] 1) This floating platform data center can be modularly assembled and quickly deployed to the required area according to needs, making construction, transportation, and installation convenient. The floating platform data center has lifting columns, enabling self-lifting, lowering, and securing without additional fixing equipment. It can be moved and repositioned as required during subsequent use, and can be relocated in advance even in extreme weather conditions, ensuring the safety of the data center.

[0017] 2) This floating platform data center uses deep, constant-temperature seawater as the data center's cooling source, ensuring that the data center has stable low-temperature cold water for natural heat exchange throughout the year. This eliminates the need for large chillers, cooling towers, and numerous auxiliary pipelines, greatly reducing the data center's PUE and WUE values ​​and achieving energy conservation and environmental protection.

[0018] 3) This floating platform data center is equipped with a living area for maintenance personnel, allowing for online inspection and maintenance of servers without the need to go into the water, thus improving the security and operational efficiency of the data center.

[0019] 4) The photovoltaic and wind power generation systems deployed in the data center of this floating platform serve as electricity for living on the platform and for some equipment, further reducing the PUE value of the data center.

[0020] 5) This floating platform data center utilizes a diesel generator system and a UPS system to achieve self-sufficiency in electricity and fully cope with emergencies. Attached Figure Description

[0021] Figure 1 This is a schematic diagram of a structure for a floating platform data center.

[0022] Figure 2 A side view of a floating platform data center;

[0023] Figure 3 This is a schematic diagram of a partial structure of a data center applied to a floating platform.

[0024] Figure 4 Top view of the connection between the surface platform data center and the underwater sub-data center;

[0025] Figure 5 This is a schematic diagram of the structure when the data center on the surface platform is connected to the sub-data center underwater.

[0026] The numbers in the diagram are as follows: 1. Diesel generator system; 2. UPS system; 3. Second-floor platform; 4. Inlet pipe of the seawater natural heat exchange system; 5. Hydraulic system; 6. Gear; 7. Lifting column; 8. Wind power generation system; 9. Lifeboat; 10. Drainage pipe of the seawater natural heat exchange system; 11. Photovoltaic power generation system; 12. Server rack; 13. Data center air conditioning system; 14. Floating compartment; 15. Crane; 16. Freshwater tank; 17. Maintenance access; 18. Underwater sub-data center; 19. Connecting staircase. Detailed Implementation

[0027] To enable those skilled in the art to better understand the present application, the technical solutions in the embodiments of the present application will be clearly and completely described below with reference to the accompanying drawings. Obviously, the described embodiments are only some embodiments of the present application, and not all embodiments. Based on the embodiments in the present application, all other embodiments obtained by those of ordinary skill in the art without creative effort are within the scope of protection of the present application.

[0028] like Figure 1-3As shown, this embodiment provides a data center application on a floating platform, including a two-story platform, a main platform, and a floating cabin arranged from top to bottom. Stairs connect the two-story platform and the main platform, and also connect the main platform and the floating cabin. A data center air conditioning system is located at the corner of the floating cabin. This system utilizes refrigerant compression circulation for cooling. The high-temperature, high-pressure refrigerant releases heat into the sea through a natural seawater heat exchange system. A cold aisle precisely delivers the cold air generated by the data center air conditioning system to the server racks to cool the servers and reduce cold air loss. The server racks are used to house and install servers. The natural seawater heat exchange system is located on one side between the main platform and the two-story platform. This system replaces the precision air conditioning system's air-cooled cooling system, using low-temperature seawater to carry away the heat from the refrigerant and transfer it into the ocean. Hydraulic systems are installed at the four corners of the second-floor platform, using them as a power source to drive gears to rotate in both directions. The rotation of the gears further drives the racks on the lifting columns to move up and down, thus raising and lowering the columns. These lifting columns support the data center on the floating platform. A diesel generator system is located in a cabinet on one side of the central side of the second-floor platform, supplying power to all systems and equipment. A UPS system is located next to the diesel generator system, providing backup power for the data center on the floating platform in short periods. A sewage treatment system is installed on the second-floor platform to treat domestic sewage, ensuring environmentally friendly discharge. Multiple freshwater tanks of this sewage treatment system are arranged on the first side of the second-floor platform, providing freshwater for daily use by staff. A photovoltaic power generation system, using monocrystalline silicon photovoltaics, is installed on the second side of the second-floor platform to provide some green electricity for the platform. Lifeboats for personnel escape are symmetrically located on the first and third sides of the second-floor platform. A living area for maintenance personnel is located on the fourth side of the second-floor platform, providing working and living space for staff. A support platform is located outside this fourth side, on which a crane is installed for hoisting materials and improving work efficiency. The wind power generation system is installed around the second-floor platform to provide some green electricity to the platform, which is generated by wind power.

[0029] In this application, the inlet pipe of the seawater natural heat exchange system draws constant-temperature seawater from the bottom layer to cool and heat exchange the data center air conditioning system. The seawater after heat exchange is discharged through the drainage pipe of the seawater natural heat exchange system. The seawater natural heat exchange system has a backup function to ensure the safety of the data center to the greatest extent.

[0030] like Figure 4-5As shown, when the surface platform data center needs expansion, at least one of the first, second, and fourth sides is connected to the top of the maintenance channel via a connecting staircase. The bottom of the maintenance channel is connected to the underwater sub-data center, which can accommodate more servers and improve platform utilization efficiency. The underwater sub-data center includes an underwater compartment, which is equipped with an underwater data center air conditioning system and underwater server racks. The data center cold aisle precisely delivers the cold air generated by the underwater data center air conditioning system to the underwater server racks to cool the servers and reduce the loss of cold air. The underwater server racks are used to house and install servers. An maintenance channel is welded to the upper part of one end of the underwater sub-data center, which provides access for staff to enter the underwater sub-data center. All underwater sub-data centers are installed and deployed during the platform construction process.

[0031] Preferably, the bottom and side walls of the surface compartment are double-layered plate structures, and the underwater compartment is also a double-layered plate structure, that is, the outer shell covers the outer side of the inner shell, and there is a cavity between the two filled with air. In the event of a collision, even if the outer shell leaks, the inner shell can ensure the integrity of the interior of the compartment and prevent water immersion, thus protecting the server's safety.

[0032] The installation methods for the aforementioned surface platform data center and underwater data center are as follows: When the surface platform data center departs from port, the hydraulic system rotates the gears forward, driving the racks on the lifting legs to raise them. The surface platform data center floats on the water and is towed to the designated deployment location by a powered vessel. Then, the gears reverse, driving the racks on the lifting legs to lower them, and the surface platform data center rises and settles into position, completing the deployment. At this point, the platform can rise to 20 meters above the sea surface to prevent damage from waves. When the underwater sub-data center departs from port, due to its hollow double-layer structure, it can float on the sea surface. It is towed to the designated deployment location by a powered vessel, and then the double-layer structure is filled with seawater. Under the action of gravity, the underwater sub-data center settles on the seabed. During data center operation, the seawater natural heat exchange system drives the circulation of cooling seawater to achieve heat exchange for the data center's air conditioning system.

[0033] When expansion is needed, the surface platform data center can connect to underwater sub-data centers on three sides, and each side can connect to multiple underwater sub-data centers via platform corridors. The surface platform data center serves as the main power source, maintenance area, and cooling distribution center, acting as the hub for all sub-data centers. The underwater sub-data centers are only used for expansion, increasing the data center platform's load capacity. This design allows for flexible capacity configuration of the surface platform data center, reducing initial investment; additional external underwater sub-data centers can be added later as needed. The surface compartments of the surface platform data center and the underwater compartments of the underwater sub-data centers can house a large number of servers.

[0034] It should be noted that the hydraulic system, sewage treatment system, seawater natural heat exchange system, wind power generation system, photovoltaic power generation system, first data center air conditioning system, second data center air conditioning system, UPS system, and diesel power generation system mentioned in this application are all existing and mature systems.

[0035] The above embodiments are only used to illustrate the technical solutions of this application, and are not intended to limit them. Although this application has been described in detail with reference to the foregoing embodiments, those skilled in the art should understand that modifications can still be made to the technical solutions described in the foregoing embodiments, or equivalent substitutions can be made to some of the technical features. Such modifications or substitutions do not cause the essence of the corresponding technical solutions to deviate from the spirit and scope of the technical solutions of the embodiments of this application.

Claims

1. A data center applicable to a floating platform, characterized in that, The system includes a two-tiered platform, a main platform, and a floating cabin arranged from top to bottom. The floating cabin has a double-layered structure and houses a data center air conditioning system. The air outlets of this system are connected to the server racks via cold aisles, and the server racks are also located within the floating cabin. The main platform is equipped with a seawater natural heat exchange system that uses seawater to carry away the heat generated by the data center air conditioning system and transfer it to the ocean. Wind power generation systems are located around the two-tiered platform. The main platform is connected to lifting columns around its perimeter. Each lifting column is connected to a rack on its outer side. The rack is connected to a gear, which is connected to a hydraulic system. The hydraulic system is located at the four corners of the second-floor platform. A photovoltaic power generation system is installed on the second side of the second-floor platform, and the photovoltaic power generation system, wind power generation system and diesel power generation system are connected. The diesel generator system is located in a cabinet in the middle of the second-floor platform and is connected to the hydraulic gear lifting system, the living area electrical equipment, the seawater heat exchange system, the sewage treatment system, the server cabinet, and the data center air conditioning system to provide power to them. When the data center needs to be expanded, at least one of the first, second and fourth sides of the main platform is connected to the top of the maintenance channel via a connecting staircase, and the bottom of the maintenance channel is connected to the underwater sub-data center. The lifting column is a hollow structure, and the inlet and outlet pipes of the seawater natural heat exchange system are located inside the lifting column. A sewage treatment system is installed on the second-floor platform, and multiple freshwater tanks of the sewage treatment system are arranged on the first side of the second-floor platform. A UPS system is installed next to the diesel generator system. This UPS system serves as a backup power source and is also connected to the hydraulic gear lifting system, the electrical equipment in the living area, the seawater heat exchange system, the sewage treatment system, the server racks, and the data center air conditioning system. The second-floor platform is symmetrically equipped with lifeboats on the first and third sides, with the lifeboat on the first side located next to the freshwater tank. The fourth side of the second-floor platform is equipped with a living area for maintenance personnel, and a crane is connected to the outside of this fourth side.

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