Electric power generating system

Abstract

To efficiently generate electric power.SOLUTION: An electric power generating system includes a water tank for storing water, a storage part which stores distilled water produced by vaporizing water by means of waste heat from a server device for carrying out large scale arithmetic and distilling the vapor with a distillation pipe, an electric generation pipe connecting the water tank and the storage part, and an electric generation part which generates electricity with energy generated when the distilled water stored in the storage part flows through the electric generation pipe.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 1

Description

[Technical field]

[0001] The present invention relates to a power generation system. [Background technology]

[0002] 2. Description of the Related Art Hydroelectric power generation is known in the art, which generates electricity by utilizing the flow of water released downstream from a dam located upstream. [Prior art documents] [Patent documents]

[0003] [Patent Document 1] JP 2023-108859 A Summary of the Invention [Problem to be solved by the invention]

[0004] However, the conventional technology has room for further improvement in terms of efficient power generation. [Means for solving the problem]

[0005] According to a first aspect of the present invention, there is provided a power generation system including a water tank for storing water, a storage unit for storing distilled water obtained by distilling the water by using exhaust heat from a server device performing large-scale computing to vaporize the water and distilling the vapor through a distillation pipe, a power generation pipe connecting the water tank and the storage unit, and a power generation unit for generating power by using energy generated when the distilled water stored in the storage unit flows through the power generation pipe. [Brief description of the drawings]

[0006] [Figure 1] 1 is a diagram illustrating an example of a power generation system according to an embodiment of the present invention. [Diagram 2] 4 is a flowchart showing a processing procedure of the power generation system according to the present embodiment. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

[0007] The present invention will be described below through embodiments of the invention, but the following embodiments do not limit the scope of the invention according to the claims. Furthermore, not all of the combinations of features described in the embodiments are necessarily essential to the solution of the invention.

[0008] 1 is a schematic diagram of an example of a power generation system S according to the present embodiment. The power generation system S includes a server room 1, a water tank 20, a storage unit 22, and a power generation unit 30.

[0009] The interior of the server room 1 is divided into an intake chamber 2 and an exhaust chamber 3, and a server device 10 is disposed between the intake chamber 2 and the exhaust chamber 3. The server device 10 is a server device that performs large-scale calculations such as processing related to AGI (Artificial General Intelligence). The intake chamber 2 and the exhaust chamber 3 are each connected to a circulation pipe 4. Specifically, the exhaust chamber 3 is connected to the circulation pipe 4 via a heating pipe 5.

[0010] The water tank 20 is a tank that stores liquid water. The water tank 20 is in contact with the heating pipe 5. The water tank 20 is also connected to a distillation pipe 21 at an upper portion. The water tank 20 is also connected to a water pipe (not shown), and when the amount of water in the water tank 20 falls below a threshold value, water is replenished from the water pipe.

[0011] The storage unit 22 is connected at its upper part to the distillation pipe 21, and is a tank for storing the distilled water distilled by the distillation pipe 21. The storage unit 22 is connected at its bottom part to a discharge pipe 23. The discharge pipe 23 is connected to the water tank 20. In the following, the distilled water will be simply referred to as water.

[0012] The power generation unit 30 generates power by utilizing the energy (falling energy) of the water flowing through the discharge pipe 23. Specifically, the power generation unit 30 includes a water wheel, and generates power by rotating the water wheel using the water flowing through the discharge pipe 23 to rotate a generator connected to the water wheel.

[0013] Here, the overall operation of the power generation system S will be described with reference to FIG.

[0014] In the power generation system S according to this embodiment, power is generated by utilizing exhaust heat from the server equipment 10. Specifically, first, in the server room 1, air is drawn into the intake chamber 2 from the outside (circulation piping 4), and heat generated in the server equipment 10 is absorbed by heat exchange with the drawn-in air. The air that has absorbed the heat is carried to the exhaust chamber 3 and exhausted from the exhaust chamber 3 to the heating piping 5.

[0015] The air exhausted to the heating pipe 5 heats the water tank 20 through heat exchange in the heating pipe 5, thereby heating the water inside the water tank 20. The air cooled by heat exchange with the water tank 20 is exhausted to the circulation pipe 4 and returns (circulates) to the air intake chamber 2.

[0016] The water heated inside the water tank 20 evaporates and flows as steam through the distillation pipe 21. The steam flowing through the distillation pipe 21 flows toward the storage section 22 and is cooled (naturally cooled) inside the distillation pipe 21 to become liquid, producing distilled water, which is stored in the storage section 22. Note that the distillation pipe 21 may be provided with a heat insulating member (not shown) on the side of the pipe closer to the water tank 20. Specifically, the heat insulating member is provided in the portion that extends upward from the water tank 20. This makes it difficult for the steam to cool while rising, so that the distilled water can be efficiently stored in the storage section 22 without returning to the water tank 20.

[0017] When the amount of water stored in the storage unit 22 becomes equal to or greater than a threshold value, the water in the storage unit 22 is discharged to the discharge pipe 23. Discharge to the discharge pipe 23 is performed, for example, by opening a valve (not shown) disposed at the connection between the storage unit 22 and the discharge pipe 23. Note that the opening and closing of the valve can be controlled, for example, by the power generation unit 30 or a control device (not shown).

[0018] The power generating unit 30 generates power by utilizing the energy generated when the water discharged from the storage unit 22 flows into the water tank 20. In other words, the power generating unit 30 generates power by using the falling energy (potential energy) generated when the distilled water stored in the storage unit 22 falls.

[0019] In this manner, in the present disclosure, the server device 10 generates distilled water using a large amount of heat generated by large-scale calculations, and generates electricity using the power generation unit 30. This allows the heat of the server device 10 to be reused without being exhausted, thereby enabling efficient power generation.

[0020] Furthermore, in the present disclosure, by connecting the water tank 20 and the storage section 22 with the discharge pipe 23, the water used for power generation can be circulated, so that the amount of water used for power generation can be reduced. In other words, power generation can be performed efficiently.

[0021] 1 is merely an example, and the present invention is not limited to this. For example, a turbine and a generator may be provided in the distillation pipe 21 to generate electricity using steam evaporated from the water tank 20.

[0022] Next, a processing procedure of the power generation system S will be described with reference to Fig. 2. Fig. 2 is a flowchart showing a processing procedure of the power generation system S according to this embodiment.

[0023] First, the power generation system S draws air into the air intake chamber 2 of the server room 1 (step S101).

[0024] Next, the power generation system S absorbs heat from the server device 10 through heat exchange with the intake air, and exhausts the air that has absorbed the heat from the exhaust chamber 3 (step S102).

[0025] Next, the power generation system S heats the water tank 20 with the exhaust heat (step S103). As a result, the water inside the water tank 20 is heated.

[0026] Next, the power generation system S distills the steam generated when the water in the water tank 20 is heated and evaporated, and generates distilled water, which is stored in the storage unit 22 (step S104).

[0027] Next, the power generation system S discharges the water stored in the storage unit 22 to the water tank 20 through the discharge pipe 23 (step S105).

[0028] Next, the power generation system S generates power in the power generation unit 30 by using the energy generated when the water flows through the discharge pipe 23 (step S106), and ends the process.

[0029] Although the present invention has been described above using the embodiments, the technical scope of the present invention is not limited to the scope described in the above embodiments. It is clear to those skilled in the art that various modifications and improvements can be made to the above embodiments. It is clear from the description of the claims that such modifications and improvements can also be included in the technical scope of the present invention.

[0030] It should be noted that the order of execution of each process, such as operations, procedures, steps, and stages, in the devices, systems, programs, and methods shown in the claims, specifications, and drawings is not specifically stated as "before" or "prior to," and that the process may be performed in any order unless the output of a previous process is used in a later process. Even if the operational flow in the claims, specifications, and drawings is described using "first," "next," etc. for convenience, it does not mean that the process must be performed in this order. [Explanation of symbols]

[0031] 1. Server Room 2. Intake chamber 3 Exhaust chamber 4 Circulation piping 5 Heating piping 10. Server equipment 20 Water Tank 21 Distillation piping 22 Storage section 23 Discharge piping 30 Power Generation Division S Power Generation System

Claims

1. A water tank for storing water; a storage unit for storing distilled water obtained by distilling the water through a distillation pipe using exhaust heat from a server device that performs large-scale computing; A discharge pipe connecting the water tank and the storage section; a power generation unit that generates power using energy generated when the distilled water stored in the storage unit flows through the discharge pipe; A power generation system including:

2. The storage section is disposed at a higher position than the water tank. The power generation system according to claim 1 .

3. The distillation pipe is provided with a heat insulating member on the side of the pipe close to the water tank. The power generation system according to claim 1 .

4. The power generation unit includes: When the amount of the distilled water stored in the storage unit becomes equal to or greater than a threshold value, the distilled water stored in the storage unit is discharged into the water tank to generate power. The power generation system according to claim 1 .

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