Fuel Cell Waste-Heat Cooling for Low-Power Datacenters

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Solution Overview

Problem

Conventional datacenter cooling systems rely heavily on electrical power for operation, which limits their installation in areas where power is scarce and may not align with environmental regulations, and they generate significant carbon footprints due to the energy consumption of chillers and cooling towers.

Innovation Solution

A datacenter cooling system that utilizes a fuel cell as a source of electrical power and captures waste heat from the fuel cell to augment the absorption chiller, reducing the need for additional electrical power and enhancing cooling efficiency by integrating the waste heat into the cooling process.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Temperature

If conventional electrical cooling systems (chillers and cooling towers) are used, then cooling capacity is sufficient, but electrical power consumption is high and carbon footprint increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvecooling capacityVSAvoidelectrical power consumption

Core Design Contradiction:

TemperatureVSUse of energy by moving object

Solution Approach 1:

The patent combines the power generation function (fuel cell) with the cooling function (absorption chiller) by integrating the waste heat output from the fuel cell directly into the absorption chiller's heat input requirement. This merging eliminates the need for separate electrical cooling systems and utilizes previously wasted thermal energy to drive the cooling process, thereby reducing overall electrical power consumption while maintaining adequate cooling capacity.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #5Merging (Combining)

Solution Approach 2:

The patent converts the harmful waste heat generated by the fuel cell into a beneficial resource by using it as the heat input for the absorption chiller. Instead of dissipating this waste heat into the environment, the system captures and utilizes it to drive the cooling cycle, transforming an environmental burden into a useful function that reduces the need for additional electrical power for cooling.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #22Blessing in disguise (Convert harm into benefit)

2Use of energy by moving object

If waste heat from fuel cells is captured and used to power an absorption chiller, then electrical power consumption is reduced, but system complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveelectrical power consumptionVSAvoidsystem complexity

Core Design Contradiction:

Use of energy by moving objectVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The fuel cell system is designed to serve multiple functions simultaneously: it generates electrical power for datacenter operations and produces waste heat that is captured and utilized by the absorption chiller for cooling. This multi-functionality allows a single system to address both power supply and cooling needs, reducing overall system complexity compared to having separate systems for each function.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

3Use of energy by moving object

If absorption chillers are used instead of conventional chillers, then electrical power consumption is reduced, but the system requires a heat source which may not be readily available

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveelectrical power consumptionVSAvoidlocation flexibility

Core Design Contradiction:

Use of energy by moving objectVSAdaptability or versatility

Solution Approach 1:

The patent merges the power generation function (fuel cell) with the cooling function (absorption chiller) by integrating the waste heat output from the fuel cell directly into the absorption chiller's heat input requirement. This merging eliminates the need for separate electrical cooling systems and utilizes previously wasted thermal energy to drive the cooling process, thereby reducing overall electrical power consumption while maintaining adequate cooling capacity.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #5Merging (Combining)

Solution Approach 2:

Inventive Principle:

Principle #22Blessing in disguise (Convert harm into benefit)

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

This approach reduces the carbon footprint and operational costs by utilizing waste heat from fuel cells to power an absorption chiller, enabling efficient cooling without the need for dedicated heat generators and minimizing electrical power consumption.

Implementation Method 1

a fuel cell is utilized as a source of electrical power for components of the datacenter

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectFuel cell: Fuel Cell

Implementation Method 2

waste heat from the fuel cell is used in production of cooled liquid for removing heat produced by those components

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectAbsorption cooling: Adsorption Refrigerator

Data Source

PatentUS12010819B2Energy efficient liquid-cooled datacenters

Publication Date: 2024.06.11 NVIDIA CORP

AI summary

Systems and methods for operating a datacenter are disclosed. In at least one embodiment, a power delivery system includes one or more fuel cells to provide a source of electrical power for a datacenter, where waste heat produced by a fuel cell is to be captured and provided to an absorption chiller to produce a cooled liquid for use in a cooling system for this datacenter.