An undersea data center and a wind power pile driver system

Abstract

The present invention discloses a subsea data center and a wind power pile driver system, including a wind power pile driver and a UDC module. The wind power pile driver has a hollow structure. It is characterized in that a plurality of directional perforations are provided at the bottom of the wind power pile driver, and the plurality of directional perforations are located below the sea surface. The directional perforations include at least one oncoming flow surface water inlet hole and at least one backflow surface water outlet hole. The UDC modules are arranged inside the hollow structure of the wind power pile driver. Seawater flows in from the oncoming flow surface perforations, flows horizontally through the modules for heat dissipation, and then is discharged from the backflow surface perforations. Wind power generation is powered by cables inside the pile. The present invention optimizes the heat dissipation efficiency through the bottom water flow, reduces seabed scouring, improves the coordination of data processing and energy utilization in the deep-sea environment, and has strong resistance to extreme weather.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] The present invention relates to the technical field of subsea data centers, and particularly to a subsea data center and a wind power pile driver system. Background Art

[0002] With the acceleration of the global informatization process, the demand for data processing capabilities in technologies such as cloud computing, big data, artificial intelligence, and blockchain has been continuously climbing. Traditional onshore data centers face problems such as high energy consumption, large floor area, and high heat dissipation costs, while subsea data centers (UDCs) have gradually emerged due to their unique geographical advantages. UDCs use deep-sea low-temperature seawater for natural cooling, which not only significantly reduces energy consumption but also decreases the occupation of land resources, featuring environmental friendliness and high efficiency. At the same time, as a pillar industry in the field of renewable energy, offshore wind power has been widely applied globally, especially in waters such as the North Sea in Europe and the East China Sea in China, where the installed wind power capacity has been growing rapidly. As the core support structure of the wind power system, offshore wind power pile drivers (single-pile foundations) have become the mainstream design due to their simple structure and convenient construction. However, although UDCs and wind power pile drivers have made great progress in technology and application respectively, the combination of the two is still in the exploratory stage, and there are many deficiencies in the existing technology, which restricts the exertion of their collaborative potential.

[0003] First of all, the independent deployment mode of UDCs brings challenges of high cost and low efficiency. Existing UDC designs mostly exist in the form of independent modules. For example, in the "Natick" project proposed by Microsoft, the data center is encapsulated in a cylindrical container and sunk to the seabed for operation. This design requires a complex subsea anchoring system, external power supply cables, and independent cooling facilities. During the deployment process, special ships and diving equipment are needed to complete the installation, and during maintenance, the modules need to be recovered regularly for inspection, resulting in high construction and operation costs. In addition, the power source of independent UDCs usually relies on subsea cables to transmit power from the onshore power grid, with large energy transmission losses, and the clean energy advantage of offshore wind power is not fully utilized, resulting in low overall energy utilization efficiency. Although there have been attempts to integrate with wind power facilities, most of them remain at the conceptual stage and lack mature engineering solutions.

[0004] Secondly, the functional singularity of offshore wind power pile drivers limits their potential value. As the basic structure of offshore wind power generation, wind power pile drivers usually adopt a cylindrical single-pile design with a diameter of 5-8 meters, penetrating 20-40 meters into the seabed to bear the weight of the wind turbine and the load of wind and waves. However, their function is limited to supporting the wind turbine, and the internal hollow or solid space is not effectively utilized. Considering that offshore wind farms usually cover a vast area and the number of pile drivers can easily reach dozens or even hundreds, if the internal space can be developed for data processing or other functions, the resource utilization rate will be greatly improved. However, in the existing design, the pile driver only serves as a single load-bearing component and fails to form a synergistic effect with emerging technologies such as UDC, resulting in a waste of space and function.

[0005] Thirdly, seabed scouring and extreme weather pose severe challenges to the stability of UDC and wind power pile drivers. When the seabed current passes through the pile driver, it will form a horseshoe vortex and a wake vortex street around the base, resulting in an increase in the local flow velocity and scouring the seabed soil. Research shows that the scouring depth can reach 1-2 times the pile diameter (5-10 meters), and in severe cases, it even threatens the overturning safety of the pile driver. For example, in a typical sea area with a flow velocity of 1-2 m / s, the formation of a scouring pit may reach a significant level within a few months, and in extreme weather such as typhoons (flow velocity > 2 m / s), the scouring effect is further aggravated. For independently deployed UDC, the impact of ocean currents and seabed turbulence also increases the displacement risk of the module, and the existing anchoring system is difficult to fully resist such natural forces. In addition, the wind power pile driver and UDC have insufficient resistance in extreme weather and lack a comprehensive protection design against high flow velocities and strong winds and waves, resulting in limited system reliability.

[0006] In the prior art, there have been a few attempts to combine UDC and wind power pile drivers. Some studies proposed placing UDC modules near the wind farm and using wind power for power supply. Or, as disclosed in the prior art CN117212057A, a floating wind turbine and subsea data center integration device is provided, which sets the wind turbine on the tower barrel and connects the tower barrel to the subsea data center through a floating body and corresponding mooring cables, using the subsea data center as the anchoring foundation of the floating body. However, these studies did not solve the problems of space integration and scouring protection. At the same time, floating wind power pile drivers are difficult to apply in shallow waters; the prior art CN217974469U discloses a subsea data center inside the foundation of an offshore wind power generation device, which sets the subsea data center inside the single-pile foundation pile and installs a refrigeration air conditioner, using seawater as a cold source to cool the server cabinets and power distribution equipment. However, in such a structure, the subsea data center cannot directly contact the open seawater, and an additional cooling channel needs to be designed for heat exchange, and the scouring protection problem cannot be solved either.

[0007] Generally speaking, the existing technologies lack a systematic solution that can simultaneously achieve spatial optimization, efficient heat dissipation, anti-scouring ability, and extreme weather adaptability for both the UDC and the wind power pile driver. To address the above problems, the present invention proposes an innovative solution, aiming to deeply integrate the UDC and the wind power pile driver through the hollow internal space of the wind power pile driver, in combination with the UDC module and the design of bottom directional perforations, giving full play to the synergistic advantages of the two, and enhancing the data processing ability, renewable energy utilization efficiency, and system stability in the deep-sea environment. Summary of the Invention

[0008] The object of the present invention is to provide a system for a subsea data center and a wind power pile driver to solve the problems of insufficient spatial optimization, low heat dissipation efficiency, lack of anti-scouring ability, and poor extreme weather adaptability in the existing structural design.

[0009] To achieve the above object of the invention, the present invention provides the following technical solution: A system for a subsea data center and a wind power pile driver, comprising a wind power pile driver and a UDC module. The wind power pile driver is of a hollow structure, and a plurality of directional perforations are provided at the bottom of the wind power pile driver, and the plurality of directional perforations are located below the sea surface. The plurality of directional perforations include at least 1 upstream-facing water inlet hole and at least 1 downstream-facing water outlet hole. The UDC modules are arranged inside the hollow structure of the wind power pile driver.

[0010] Further, the UDC modules are arranged in multiple rows with a gap between each row, and the multiple rows of UDC modules are vertically arranged inside the hollow structure of the wind power pile driver.

[0011] Further, the hollow structure of the wind power pile driver is a hollow cylindrical structure, the UDC module is a cylindrical structure, the UDC module is arranged in two rows, and each row includes 6 UDC modules arranged at equal intervals. The height of each row is 12 meters, and the interval height between the two rows is 3m. There are 6 directional perforations, and 1 directional perforation is correspondingly arranged around every 2 UDC modules. The directional perforations include 3 upstream-facing water inlet holes and 3 downstream-facing water outlet holes.

[0012] Further, the UDC module is fixed to the inner wall of the wind power pile driver through a steel frame; a counterweight is provided at the bottom of the UDC module.

[0013] Further, a wind turbine generator is connected to the top of the wind power pile driver, and the lower part of the wind power pile driver is buried in the seabed; the outer wall of the wind power pile driver is made of corrosion-resistant steel.

[0014] Further, the system for a subsea data center and a wind power pile driver further includes a power transmission system. The wind power pile driver supplies power to the UDC module through a high-voltage DC cable built into the pile wall, and the cable branches to connect each row of modules.

[0015] A filter screen is provided outside the directional perforation, and the filter screen is installed through a buckle.

[0016] Compared with the prior art, the beneficial effects of the present invention are as follows: Through the arrangement of perforations at the bottom, the water flow can be diverted. On the one hand, it can reduce the seabed erosion around the base of the pile driver, enhancing long-term stability. On the other hand, it can utilize the horizontal water flow of seawater to efficiently cool the UDC module, reducing the operating energy consumption. And it can make full use of the space inside the pile, improving the collaborative efficiency of computing power and energy, enhancing the resistance of the system in extreme weather, and ensuring the reliability of deep-sea operations. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0017] Figure 1 It is a schematic cross-sectional view of the overall system of the present invention;

[0018] Figure 2 It is the front view of the system structure of the present invention;

[0019] Figure 3 It is a schematic diagram of the working environment of the system of the present invention.

[0020] In the figure: 1, wind power pile driver; 2, UDC module; 3, water inlet holes on the upstream side; 4, water outlet holes on the downstream side; 5, steel frame; 6, sea surface; 7, filter screen; 8, seabed. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE EMBODIMENTS

[0021] Next, the technical solutions in the embodiments of the present invention will be clearly and completely described in conjunction with the accompanying drawings in the embodiments of the present invention. Obviously, the described embodiments are only a part of the embodiments of the present invention, rather than all the embodiments. Based on the embodiments of the present invention, all other embodiments obtained by those of ordinary skill in the art without creative efforts shall fall within the protection scope of the present invention.

[0022] Please refer to Figures 1-3 , the present invention provides a technical solution: a subsea data center and wind power pile driver system, including a wind power pile driver 1 and a UDC module 2. The wind power pile driver 1 is of a hollow structure. A plurality of directional perforations are provided at the bottom of the wind power pile driver 1, and a plurality of the directional perforations are located below the sea surface 6. The plurality of directional perforations include at least 1 water inlet hole 3 on the upstream side and at least 1 water outlet hole 4 on the downstream side. The UDC module 2 is arranged inside the hollow structure of the wind power pile driver 1.

[0023] By diverting the water flow through the perforations at the bottom, about 30%-40% of the ocean current is diverted into the pile. The eddy current intensity on the upstream side is reduced by 30%, the wake is dispersed, and the scouring depth is reduced from 5 meters to 2.5 meters, reducing the seabed erosion around the base of the pile driver and enhancing long-term stability. And the horizontal flow of seawater at the bottom is used to scour the UDC module, efficiently cooling the UDC module, with the heat exchange efficiency increased by 45%-50%, reducing the operating energy consumption, and the operating temperature being stable at 18-24°C.

[0024] Further, the UDC module 2 is arranged in multiple rows with a gap left between each row for water flow to pass through, increasing the heat dissipation efficiency.

[0025] Further, multiple rows of the UDC module 2 are vertically arranged inside the hollow structure of the wind power pile driver 1. The vertical arrangement can increase the lateral scouring area of the UDC module and the water flow, improving the heat dissipation efficiency.

[0026] Further, the wind power pile driver 1 has a hollow structure which is a hollow cylindrical structure; the UDC module 2 is a cylindrical structure. The UDC module 2 is arranged in two rows, and each row includes 6 UDC modules 2 arranged at equal intervals. The height of each row is 12 meters, and the interval height between the two rows is 3m. There are 6 orientation perforations, and 1 orientation perforation is correspondingly arranged around every 2 UDC modules 2. The multiple orientation perforations include 3 upstream face water inlet holes 3 and 3 downstream face water outlet holes 4.

[0027] Due to the design of the orientation perforations, water enters through the upstream face water inlet holes and exits through the downstream face water outlet holes. The water flow enters or exits through 1 orientation perforation correspondingly arranged around every 2 UDC modules 2 arranged at equal intervals, further optimizing the heat dissipation and erosion reduction effects. By arranging 12 modules in two rows, the hollow space can be fully utilized, improving the computing power density and enhancing the expandability.

[0028] Further, the UDC module 2 is fixed to the inner wall of the wind power pile driver 1 through a steel frame 5;

[0029] Further, a counterweight is arranged at the bottom of the UDC module 2. The counterweight can lower the center of gravity of the structure, enhancing the stability of the structure. And in combination with the bottom perforation pressure division design, it enhances the system stability and resists extreme weather, especially suitable for the deep - sea high - flow environment.

[0030] In addition, the wind power pile driver 1 preferably takes the form of a single - pile foundation. At this time, a wind turbine generator is connected to the top of the wind power pile driver 1, and the lower part of the wind power pile driver 1 is buried in the seabed 8; In addition, a floating structure can also be adopted, as long as it is ensured that the wind power pile driver has orientation perforations under the sea surface. At this time, the invention purpose of the present invention can also be achieved.

[0031] Further, the outer wall of the wind power pile driver 1 is made of corrosion - resistant steel.

[0032] Further, the sub - sea data center and the wind power pile driver system further include a power transmission system. The wind power pile driver 1 supplies power to the UDC module through a high - voltage DC cable built into the pile wall. The cable branches to connect each row of modules, realizing direct power supply from the wind power to the UDC module.

[0033] Further, a filter screen 7 is provided outside the directional perforation. Preferably, the filter screen 7 is made of 316L stainless steel, which can resist seawater corrosion, has a thickness of 2 mm, covers each directional perforation, and has a mesh diameter of 5 mm. The filter screen 7 is installed outside the directional perforation by means of a buckle. During installation, it is embedded in the bottom of the directional perforation and fixed with a stainless steel buckle for easy disassembly.

[0034] By setting up the filter screen, impurities and particulate matters in seawater can be intercepted, ensuring the normal operation of the water flow cooling system and the protection of the UDC module, keeping the perforation and the internal water flow channel unobstructed, ensuring the effective diversion of seawater and its flow through the module gap, and achieving the effects of efficient heat dissipation and erosion reduction. In addition, as a barrier, the filter screen can block these impurities and particulate matters from entering, preventing the formation of biofilms and mechanical scratches, protecting the heat dissipation performance and structural integrity of the UDC module, and thus maintaining the stability of the system during long-term operation. The setting of the pore size can effectively block common marine impurities and prevent them from entering the pile, balancing the need to intercept impurities and allow water flow through. During the maintenance of the filter screen, it can be regularly disassembled and cleaned by a submersible robot or manually to remove the attached impurities and ensure the function of the perforation.

Claims

1. A submarine data center and wind power pile driver system, comprising a wind power pile driver (1) and a UDC module (2), wherein the wind power pile driver (1) is a hollow structure, and the UDC module (2) is arranged inside the hollow structure of the wind power pile driver (1), characterized in that: The bottom of the wind power pile driver (1) is provided with a plurality of directional perforations, and the plurality of directional perforations are located below the sea surface, and the plurality of directional perforations include at least one upstream water inlet hole (3) and at least one downstream water outlet hole (4), water enters through the upstream water inlet hole (3) and exits through the downstream water outlet hole (4), and the water flow laterally flushes the UDC module (2).

2. The submarine data center and wind power pile driver system according to claim 1 is characterized by: The UDC modules (2) are arranged in multiple rows, with gaps between each row.

3. The submarine data center and wind power pile driver system according to claim 2 is characterized by: A plurality of rows of UDC modules (2) are vertically arranged inside the hollow structure of the wind power pile driver (1).

4. The submarine data center and wind power pile driver system according to claim 2 is characterized by: The submarine data center and wind power pile driver system also includes a power transmission system. The wind power pile driver (1) supplies power to the UDC module (2) via a high-voltage DC cable built into the pile wall. The high-voltage DC cable is branched to connect each row of modules.

5. The submarine data center and wind power pile driver system according to claim 2 is characterized by: The UDC modules (2) are arranged in double rows, and each row includes six UDC modules (2) arranged at equal intervals. The plurality of directional perforations is six, and one directional perforation is correspondingly arranged around every two UDC modules (2). The plurality of directional perforations includes three water inlet holes (3) on the upstream surface and three water outlet holes (4) on the downstream surface.

6. The submarine data center and wind power pile driver system according to claim 5 is characterized by: The height of each row of the UDC modules (2) is 12 meters, and the interval height between two rows of the UDC modules (2) is 3 meters.

7. The submarine data center and wind power pile driver system according to any one of claims 1 to 6, characterized in that: The UDC module (2) is fixed to the inner wall of the wind power pile driver (1) via a steel frame (5), and / or a counterweight is arranged at the bottom of the UDC module (2).

8. The submarine data center and wind power pile driver system according to any one of claims 1 to 6, characterized in that: The wind power pile driver (1) has a hollow structure that is a hollow cylindrical structure, and / or the UDC module (2) has a cylindrical structure.

9. The submarine data center and wind power pile driver system according to any one of claims 1 to 6, characterized in that: The top of the wind power pile driver (1) is connected to a wind turbine generator, the bottom of the wind power pile driver (1) is buried in the seabed, and / or the outer wall of the wind power pile driver (1) is made of corrosion-resistant steel.

10. The submarine data center and wind power pile driver system according to any one of claims 1 to 6, characterized in that: A filter screen (7) is arranged on the outside of the directional perforation, and the filter screen (7) is installed by means of a buckle.

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