Seabed data center data transmission and temperature control system supported by offshore wind power
By laying offshore wind power, wave energy and photovoltaic power generation near the submarine data center, combining the principles of natural seawater cooling and efficient heat exchange of plate heat exchangers, the problems of high energy consumption and difficulty in utilizing renewable energy in traditional data centers are solved, and low-energy consumption and high-reliability operation of submarine data centers are achieved.
Patent Information
- Application Number
- CN202510368038.2
- Authority / Receiving Office
- CN · China
- Patent Type
- Applications(China)
- Current Assignee / Owner
- Filing Date
- 2025-03-26
- Publication Date
- 2025-06-27
AI Technical Summary
Traditional onshore data centers consume huge energy under high loads and put high requirements on the land environment and power supply, making it difficult to effectively utilize renewable energy, especially in coastal areas with rising land and infrastructure costs.
Offshore wind power, wave energy and photovoltaic power generation are used to build a "wind-wave-light" multi-source complementary collaborative energy supply system, and the power is output stably through offshore transit stations, and the power and computing power data are transmitted to the submarine data center through photoelectric composite submarine cables. The natural cooling of seawater and the efficient heat exchange principle of plate heat exchangers reduces the cooling energy consumption, and converts waste heat into electrical energy through the thermoelectric converter.
It realizes low energy consumption, high reliability and security operations of subsea data centers, maximizes waste heat utilization, reduces overall energy consumption, and promotes the deep integration of marine resources and renewable energy.
Smart Images

Figure CN120224646A_ABST
Abstract
Description
Technical Field
[0001] The present invention relates to the field of submarine data centers, and in particular to a data transmission and temperature control system for a submarine data center supported by offshore wind power. Background Art
[0002] With the rapid development of technologies such as cloud computing, big data, and artificial intelligence, the scale and energy consumption of data centers continue to rise. Traditional land-based data centers usually face the following problems: Data center servers generate a lot of heat under high load. Conventional cooling methods (such as air conditioning and water cooling) can reduce the temperature, but they often consume a lot of energy and place higher demands on the land environment and power supply; especially in coastal economically developed areas, the cost of land and infrastructure continues to rise, and the site selection and expansion of traditional large data centers face challenges. As the world pays more attention to carbon emission reduction, how to use renewable energy on a large scale in data centers has become the focus of industry attention. Onshore wind power or photovoltaic power still has many limitations in terms of land use, efficiency, and transmission loss, and it is difficult to meet the needs of large-scale data centers for continuous power supply.
[0003] The ocean is rich in renewable energy, such as offshore wind power. However, there is still a lack of mature systematic solutions for how to stably and efficiently introduce offshore wind power into data centers and meet their electricity needs. Deploying data centers on the seabed can take advantage of the natural cooling of seawater, but the seabed environment has the characteristics of high pressure, low temperature, and high corrosion, which puts higher requirements on cable laying, waterproofing, heat dissipation, and operation and maintenance technology. Existing submarine data center projects mostly use discrete power cables and optical fibers to transmit data, which occupy a large amount of submarine space, have high construction costs, and are inconvenient to maintain. Traditional submarine power cables and data optical cables often need to be laid separately, occupying more submarine channels and space, with a long construction period, high costs, and relatively complex later maintenance. Summary of the invention
[0004] In view of the problems existing in the prior art, the present invention provides a submarine data center data transmission and temperature control system supported by offshore wind power, which provides a sustainable, green and efficient operation mode for the submarine data center.
[0005] The present invention adopts the following technical solutions:
[0006] A data transmission and temperature control system for a subsea data center supported by offshore wind power, comprising a plurality of offshore wind power structures, an offshore transfer station, and a subsea data center. The offshore wind power structures include wind power steel pipe supports fixed on the seabed. The tops of the wind power steel pipe supports are above the sea surface and are provided with bases. An offshore wind turbine is fixed on the bases. The offshore transfer station includes a transfer station steel pipe support, and an electric energy storage area and a power transmission area are arranged on the transfer station steel pipe support. The offshore wind turbine is electrically connected to the electric energy storage area through a first optical and electrical composite cable. The subsea data center is fixedly arranged on the seabed and is electrically connected to the power transmission area through a second optical and electrical composite cable;
[0007] The subsea data center is configured with a heat exchanger structure, which includes a plate heat exchanger. A coolant inflow channel, a cooling heat outflow channel, a seawater inflow channel, and a seawater outflow channel are arranged on the plate heat exchanger;
[0008] The seawater outflow channel is connected to a thermoelectric converter, and the thermoelectric converter is connected to a storage battery;
[0009] An emergency cooling plate is arranged on the inner wall of the subsea data center, and the emergency cooling plate is electrically connected to the storage battery; a temperature sensor is arranged in the subsea data center, and the temperature sensor can monitor the temperature in the subsea data center in real time.
[0010] Preferably, both the wind power steel pipe support and the transfer station steel pipe support adopt cross-shaped supports, which can adapt to complex seabed loads and environments.
[0011] Preferably, the offshore wind turbines are regularly arranged in a row on the sea surface, and a distance of 7-8 times the impeller diameter is left between the offshore wind turbines.
[0012] Preferably, a wave energy capture float is also connected to the wind power steel pipe support. The wave energy capture float can move up and down with the waves, and the wave energy capture float generates electricity using wave energy; a solar panel is arranged on the base.
[0013] Preferably, solar panels are arranged on the electric energy storage area and the power transmission area. The electric energy generated by the solar panels and the electric energy generated by the wave energy capture float are both stored in the electric energy storage area; the power transmission area boosts or steps down the electric energy and transmits it to the subsea data center for its use.
[0014] Preferably, both the first and second optical and electrical composite cables include a power transmission part, a data transmission part, an insulating layer, an armored layer, and an outer sheath. The power transmission part is composed of multiple strands of copper or aluminum wires; the data transmission part includes multiple pairs of optical fibers for data transmission; the insulating layer is made of cross-linked polyethylene material and is arranged between the power transmission part and the data transmission part; the armored layer is made of steel wires; the outer sheath is made of polyethylene material resistant to seawater corrosion.
[0015] Preferably, a first regulating valve is provided on the coolant inflow channel, and the first regulating valve can control the coolant flow rate. A second regulating valve is provided on the seawater inflow channel, and the second regulating valve can control the seawater flow rate.
[0016] Preferably, the coolant in the plate heat exchanger can flow into the subsea data center to cool down the subsea data center.
[0017] Preferably, the seawater outflow channel is connected to a thermoelectric converter through a heat-insulating pipeline. The thermoelectric converter can convert heat energy into electrical energy, and the thermoelectric converter is connected to a storage battery through a DC converter to store the electrical energy in the storage battery.
[0018] The beneficial effects of the present invention are as follows:
[0019] In the present invention, offshore wind power, wave energy devices, and photovoltaic devices are arranged near the subsea data center to construct a "wind-wave-light" multi-source complementary and collaborative energy supply, forming a multi-dimensional renewable energy coupling network to achieve the continuity and stability of power supply; the power is stably output through an offshore transfer station, and the electrical energy and computing power data are simultaneously transmitted to the subsea data center through an optical and electrical composite submarine cable; by utilizing the natural cooling of seawater and the efficient heat exchange principle of the plate heat exchanger, the refrigeration energy consumption of the data center is greatly reduced; a thermoelectric converter is added at the waste heat outlet of the plate heat exchanger to realize the function of converting the waste heat discharged from the data center into electrical energy. A multiple energy utilization closed-loop system is constructed to maximize the waste heat utilization rate and reduce the overall energy consumption. The temperature of the subsea data center is monitored and adjusted in real time through an intelligent temperature control system, so that the subsea data center ensures high reliability and safety while consuming low energy. This technical solution helps to promote the deep integration of marine resources and renewable energy, and provides a sustainable, green, and efficient operation mode for the subsea data center. Description of the Drawings
[0020] Figure 1 It is a schematic diagram of the overall structure of the data transmission and temperature control system of the subsea data center supported by offshore wind power.
[0021] Figure 2 It is a schematic cross-sectional structure diagram of the optical and electrical composite cable.
[0022] Figure 3Schematic diagram of the connection between the subsea data center and the plate heat exchanger.
[0023] Figure 4 Schematic diagram of the plate heat exchanger.
[0024] In the figure: 1. Offshore wind turbine; 2. Sea surface; 3. Wind power steel pipe support; 4. Seabed; 5. First optical power composite cable; 51. Power transmission part; 52. Data transmission part; 53. Insulation layer; 54. Armor layer; 55. Outer sheath; 6. Second optical power composite cable; 7. Electric energy storage area; 8. Power transmission area; 9. Subsea data center; 90. Emergency cooling plate; 91. Temperature sensor; 92. First regulating valve; 93. Second regulating valve; 10. Plate heat exchanger; 101. Coolant inflow channel; 102 Coolant outflow channel; 103. Seawater inflow channel; 104. Seawater outflow channel; 105. Plate with corrugated design; 106. Corrugated channel; 11. Solar panel; 12. Wave energy capture float; 13. Transfer station steel pipe support; 14. Insulated pipeline; 15. Thermoelectric converter; 16. Seawater discharge outlet; 17. DC converter; 18 Battery. Specific embodiments
[0025] The following further describes the specific embodiments of the present invention in conjunction with the accompanying drawings and specific examples:
[0026] Combined with Figures 1 to 4 , a data transmission and temperature control system for a subsea data center supported by offshore wind power includes multiple offshore wind power structures, an offshore transfer station, and a subsea data center 9.
[0027] The offshore wind power structure includes a wind power steel pipe support 3, which is fixed on the seabed 4. The top of the wind power steel pipe support is above the sea surface 2 and is provided with a base, and an offshore wind turbine 1 is fixed on the base. The offshore wind turbine converts wind energy into electrical energy.
[0028] Multiple offshore wind turbines are regularly arranged in a row on the sea surface, and a distance of 7-8 times the impeller diameter is left between the offshore wind turbines to improve the wind energy capture efficiency.
[0029] The offshore transfer station includes a transfer station steel pipe support 13, and an electric energy storage area 7 and a power transmission area 8 are arranged on the transfer station steel pipe support.
[0030] Both the wind power steel pipe support 3 and the transfer station steel pipe support 13 adopt cross-type supports, which can adapt to complex subsea loads and environments and enhance the structural stability and stiffness.
[0031] The offshore wind turbine 1 is electrically connected to the electrical energy storage area 7 through the first optical and electrical composite cable 5. The subsea data center 9 is fixedly installed on the seabed. The subsea data center 9 is electrically connected to the power transmission area 8 through the second optical and electrical composite cable 6. The data generated by the subsea data center 9 can be transmitted out through the second optical and electrical composite cable 6.
[0032] The wave energy capture float 12 is also connected to the wind power steel pipe support 3. The wave energy capture float can move up and down with the waves, and the wave energy capture float generates electricity using wave energy.
[0033] Solar panels 11 are installed on the base, and solar panels 11 are also installed on the electrical energy storage area and the power transmission area.
[0034] The electrical energy generated by the solar panels and the electrical energy generated by the wave energy capture floats are both stored in the electrical energy storage area 7.
[0035] The power transmission area 8 steps up or steps down the electrical energy and then transmits it to the subsea data center for its use.
[0036] By integrating offshore wind power, wave energy power generation and photovoltaic power generation, a "wind-wave-light" multi-source complementary and collaborative power supply is constructed to form a multi-dimensional renewable energy coupling network. Combining with a dynamic energy management algorithm to optimize the spatio-temporal distribution characteristics of multiple energies and the load matching relationship, the continuity and stability of electrical energy supply are realized.
[0037] The system adopts an intelligent control strategy to coordinate the intermittency and complementarity of wind-wave-light energy, maximize the utilization rate of clean energy, ensure the high-reliability and low-carbon power supply requirements of the subsea data center in a complex marine environment, and provide an innovative solution for the construction of green marine infrastructure.
[0038] Both the first optical and electrical composite cable 5 and the second optical and electrical composite cable 6 include a power transmission part 51, a data transmission part 52, an insulating layer 53, an armored layer 54 and an outer sheath 55. The power transmission part 51 is composed of multiple strands of copper or aluminum wires. The data transmission part 52 includes multiple pairs of optical fibers for data transmission. The insulating layer 53 is made of cross-linked polyethylene material and is arranged between the power transmission part and the data transmission part to prevent interference between the power and data lines. The armored layer 54 is made of steel wires to enhance the mechanical strength of the cable and prevent damage to the cable by external objects. The outer sheath is made of seawater-resistant polyethylene material to protect the internal structure from seawater erosion. The first optical and electrical composite cable 5 and the second optical and electrical composite cable 6 with innovative structural designs can synchronously transmit electrical energy and computing power data, enabling the data cable and the subsea cable to be laid without separation, which not only saves the area of the subsea corridor and uses less sea area, but also allows the subsea cable laying to be completed synchronously, resulting in lower construction costs.
[0039] To improve the heat dissipation of the subsea data center 9, the subsea data center 9 is configured with a heat exchanger structure 10, and the heat exchanger structure 10 includes a plate heat exchanger which can be placed inside a protective housing. A coolant inflow channel 101, a cooling heat outflow channel 102, a seawater inflow channel 103, and a seawater outflow channel 104 are provided on the plate heat exchanger.
[0040] After heat exchange, the coolant in the plate heat exchanger can flow into the subsea data center to cool down the subsea data center.
[0041] A temperature sensor 91 is provided inside the subsea data center. The temperature sensor can monitor the temperature inside the subsea data center in real time so as to conduct heat exchange through the plate heat exchanger, thereby controlling the temperature inside the subsea data center.
[0042] A first regulating valve 92 is provided on the coolant inflow channel. The first regulating valve can control the coolant flow rate. A second regulating valve 93 is provided on the seawater inflow channel. The second regulating valve can control the seawater flow rate.
[0043] According to the temperature of the subsea data center 9, signals are transmitted to the first automatic regulating valve 92 and the second automatic regulating valve 93 to conduct heat exchange between the coolant and the seawater in the plate heat exchanger 10.
[0044] The surface of each metal plate 105 of the plate heat exchanger is specially designed to form regular corrugations and grooves. When the fluid flows along these corrugated channels 106, it will be forced to continuously change the flow direction and speed, resulting in shear and mixing of the fluid on the plate surface, and then forming local turbulence. Such turbulence helps to break the laminar state of the fluid and improve the heat transfer efficiency between the fluid and the plate surface, thereby greatly enhancing the heat exchange performance.
[0045] The plate heat exchanger uses seawater to cool down the coolant, and then uses the coolant to cool down the subsea data center. Together with the temperature sensor, the temperature of the subsea data center is precisely controlled.
[0046] The seawater outflow channel 104 is connected to a thermoelectric converter 15 through a heat-insulating pipe 14. The thermoelectric converter 15 can convert heat energy into electrical energy. The thermoelectric converter is connected to a storage battery 18 through a DC converter 17 to store the electrical energy in the storage battery 18.
[0047] To ensure that the heat source temperature is as high as possible, the heat-insulating pipe 14 can reduce heat loss.
[0048] The thermoelectric converter 15 utilizes the Seebeck effect to directly convert the temperature difference formed between the seawater with waste heat flowing out from the seawater outflow channel 104 and the cold seawater low-temperature medium in the periphery into electrical energy. During the working process, the high-temperature side and the low-temperature side are in close contact with the thermoelectric module through heat-conducting sheets. The temperature difference drives the directional movement of carriers inside the semiconductor, thereby generating a voltage at both ends of the module; a stable output is obtained through series-parallel combination, and then it is adjusted to the required voltage through the DC converter 17, and the electrical energy generated by waste heat recovery is stored in the storage battery 18.
[0049] An emergency cooling plate 90 is provided on the inner wall of the subsea data center. The emergency cooling plate 90 is electrically connected to the storage battery. When the load of the subsea data center is too large, or the seawater temperature rises abnormally (such as ocean current stagnation or environmental changes), etc., resulting in the temperature sensor detecting that the data center is overheated,
[0050] The storage battery 18 supplies power to the emergency cooling plate 90 for cooling to ensure the safe and normal operation of the subsea data center.
[0051] In the energized state, the cooling plate utilizes the Peltier effect of thermoelectric materials (absorbing heat / releasing heat when current passes through the interface of different conductors) to actively transfer the heat inside the data center to the external medium seawater, and realizes rapid cooling by driving active refrigeration with electrical energy.
[0052] The storage battery 18 preferentially supplies power to the emergency cooling plate, without relying on external electricity, to ensure the emergency response speed.
[0053] The electrical energy of the emergency cooling plate comes from the waste heat recovery system (thermoelectric converter 15, storage battery 18), forming a closed loop: waste heat power generation → electrical energy storage → power supply for cooling → waste heat reuse.
[0054] This waste heat recovery and utilization system converts the originally wasted waste heat into electrical energy, supplies the auxiliary electricity of this system or stores it in the storage battery, and improves the overall energy efficiency of the system. The thermoelectric converter directly generates electricity using the temperature difference, and has a relatively simple structure, which is suitable for long-term stable operation in the subsea environment.
[0055] Of course, the above description is not a limitation of the present invention, and the present invention is not limited to the above examples. Changes, modifications, additions or substitutions made by those skilled in the art within the essence of the present invention should also fall within the protection scope of the present invention.
Claims
1. A submarine data center data transmission and temperature control system supported by offshore wind power, characterized in that: It comprises a plurality of offshore wind power structures, an offshore transfer station and a submarine data center, wherein the offshore wind power structure comprises a wind power steel pipe support, the wind power steel pipe support is fixed on the seabed, the top of the wind power steel pipe support is above the sea surface and is provided with a base, an offshore wind turbine is fixed on the base, the offshore transfer station comprises a transfer station steel pipe support, an electric energy storage area and a power transmission area are provided on the transfer station steel pipe support, the offshore wind turbine is electrically connected to the electric energy storage area through a first optoelectronic composite cable, the submarine data center is fixedly arranged on the seabed, and the submarine data center is electrically connected to the power transmission area through a second optoelectronic composite cable; The submarine data center is equipped with a heat exchanger structure, which includes a plate heat exchanger, and the plate heat exchanger is provided with a coolant inflow channel, a cooling heat outflow channel, a seawater inflow channel and a seawater outflow channel; The seawater outflow channel is connected to a thermoelectric converter, and the thermal converter is connected to a battery; An emergency cooling plate is arranged on the inner wall of the submarine data center, and the emergency cooling plate is electrically connected to the battery; a temperature sensor is arranged in the submarine data center, and the temperature sensor can monitor the temperature in the submarine data center in real time.
2. According to the offshore wind power supported submarine data center data transmission and temperature control system of claim 1, it is characterized in that: The wind power steel pipe support and the transfer station steel pipe support both adopt cross-type support, which can adapt to complex seabed loads and environments.
3. According to the offshore wind power supported submarine data center data transmission and temperature control system of claim 1, it is characterized in that: The offshore wind turbines are regularly arranged in a row on the sea surface, and a distance of 7 to 8 times of the impeller diameter is left between the offshore wind turbines.
4. According to the offshore wind power supported submarine data center data transmission and temperature control system of claim 1, it is characterized in that: The wind power steel pipe support is also connected with a wave energy capturing float, which can move up and down with the waves and generate electricity by using wave energy; a solar panel is arranged on the base.
5. The data transmission and temperature control system for a submarine data center supported by offshore wind power according to claim 4 is characterized in that: Solar panels are arranged on the energy storage area and the transmission area. The electric energy generated by the solar panels and the electric energy generated by the wave energy capturing float are stored in the energy storage area. The transmission area transmits the electric energy after stepping up or down in voltage to the submarine data center for use.
6. The data transmission and temperature control system for a submarine data center supported by offshore wind power according to claim 1 is characterized in that: The first optoelectronic composite cable and the second optoelectronic composite cable both include a power transmission part, a data transmission part, an insulation layer, an armor layer and an outer sheath. The power transmission part is composed of multiple strands of copper or aluminum wires; the data transmission part includes multiple pairs of optical fibers for data transmission; the insulation layer is made of cross-linked polyethylene material and is arranged between the power transmission part and the data transmission part; the armor layer is made of steel wire; and the outer sheath is made of polyethylene material resistant to seawater corrosion.
7. The data transmission and temperature control system for a submarine data center supported by offshore wind power according to claim 1 is characterized in that: A first regulating valve is arranged on the coolant inflow channel, and the first regulating valve can control the coolant flow rate. A second regulating valve is arranged on the seawater inflow channel, and the second regulating valve can control the seawater flow rate.
8. The data transmission and temperature control system for a submarine data center supported by offshore wind power according to claim 1 is characterized in that: The coolant in the plate heat exchanger can flow into the submarine data center to cool it down.
9. The data transmission and temperature control system for a submarine data center supported by offshore wind power according to claim 1 is characterized in that: The seawater outflow channel is connected to a thermoelectric converter through an insulation pipe, and the thermoelectric converter can convert thermal energy into electrical energy. The thermoelectric converter is connected to a battery through a DC converter to store the electrical energy in the battery.