Hybrid EV Charging and Crypto Mining Power Coordination
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Solution Overview
Problem
Cryptocurrency mining consumes significant computational resources and energy, generating substantial heat and requiring additional cooling systems, while conventional EV charging infrastructure remains idle for long periods, not generating revenue.
Innovation Solution
Hybrid apparatuses integrating cryptocurrency miners with EV chargers and/or furnaces that coordinate power distribution to optimize energy use, allowing simultaneous mining and charging, and utilize generated heat for building heating, reducing peak demand and infrastructure costs.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Productivity
If cryptocurrency mining operations are conducted at high intensity levels, then revenue generation increases, but energy consumption and heat generation increase significantly
Solution Approach 1:
The patent combines cryptocurrency mining operations with EV charging infrastructure into a hybrid system. The mining computers and EV charger share common power supply, cooling infrastructure, and physical space. This merging allows the system to generate revenue from both mining and charging while utilizing shared resources to reduce overall energy consumption and infrastructure costs.
Solution Approach 2:
The hybrid apparatus performs multiple functions simultaneously: it charges electric vehicles, mines cryptocurrency, and provides building heating. The power coordinator manages these competing demands by dynamically allocating power between mining computers and EV charger based on availability and priority, enabling the system to serve multiple purposes with a single infrastructure.
2Productivity
If cryptocurrency mining computers operate at high intensity, then mining output increases, but heat generation requires additional cooling systems
Solution Approach 1:
The patent converts the harmful effect of heat generation into a beneficial resource by capturing waste heat from mining computers and EV charger and utilizing it for building heating through a heat exchanger system. This eliminates the need for separate cooling systems and transforms thermal waste into useful thermal energy for space heating.
3Device complexity
If EV charger and cryptocurrency miner share the same power input, then infrastructure costs are reduced, but power availability for each function is limited
Solution Approach 1:
The power coordinator dynamically adjusts power allocation between mining computers and EV charger based on real-time conditions. It monitors power availability, charging demands, and mining priorities, then dynamically modifies the operational intensity of mining computers to ensure adequate power for EV charging while maximizing mining output within available capacity.
Solution Approach 2:
The system changes operational parameters of mining computers (intensity levels, power draw) based on power availability and priority settings. The power coordinator modifies these parameters in real-time to balance between mining revenue generation and EV charging requirements, optimizing the use of shared power infrastructure.
4Productivity
If multiple mining computers operate simultaneously, then mining capacity increases, but power demand exceeds available capacity during peak charging periods
Solution Approach 1:
The system operates mining computers at partial capacity during peak charging periods rather than shutting them down completely. The power coordinator reduces mining intensity to match available power capacity, allowing continuous but reduced mining operations alongside EV charging, thereby maintaining some revenue stream while prioritizing charging needs.
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
Enhances revenue generation and energy efficiency by continuous cryptocurrency mining and EV charging, reduces infrastructure costs, and provides heating without additional transformers, while minimizing environmental impact.
Implementation Method 1
The building heat outlet duct may be thermally coupled to heat generated by the mining computers
Data Source
AI summary
A hybrid apparatus for charging electric vehicles and mining cryptocurrency is provided. The apparatus may comprise an electric power input associated with a rated maximum power capacity, an electric vehicle charger, a cryptocurrency miner and a power coordinator. The electric vehicle charger may have at least one vehicle power outlet and a maximum charger power draw from the electric power input. The cryptocurrency miner may have multiple cryptocurrency mining computers and a maximum miner power draw from the electric power input. Each mining computer may have an adjustable intensity level. The power coordinator may be configured to determine mining power availability within the rated maximum power capacity after prioritizing power demand by the electric vehicle charger, and to direct the cryptocurrency miner to continue mining cryptocurrency by adjusting the intensity levels of the mining computers such that the cryptocurrency miner consumes not more than the mining power availability.