Use of stirling engines for information processing system
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Information processing systems face significant energy loss in the form of heat, which is not efficiently utilized and can damage electrical circuits, leading to increased electrical consumption and the need for additional cooling mechanisms.
Innovation Solution
The system employs a Stirling machine to convert heat energy into mechanical energy, using a primary and secondary cooling circuit to maximize temperature differential, with the Stirling machine integrated into the information processing system to generate electrical current and reduce overall electricity consumption without adding extra mechanisms.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Temperature
If cooling means are used to extract heat from information processing devices, then heat is evacuated from the system, but additional cooling mechanisms are added to the system
Solution Approach 1:
The patent combines the cooling function with a power generation function by integrating a Stirling engine into the cooling system. The Stirling engine uses the temperature differential created by the cooling process to generate mechanical work, which is then converted to electrical energy. This merging eliminates the need for separate cooling mechanisms while simultaneously generating power to offset the electrical consumption of the information processing devices.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent converts the harmful waste heat generated by information processing devices into a beneficial resource for power generation. The Stirling engine utilizes the temperature differential between the hot waste heat source and the cooler environment to produce mechanical work, which drives a generator to produce electricity. This transforms the harmful thermal pollution into a useful energy source that reduces the overall electrical consumption of the system.
2Loss of energy
If heat energy is used to heat premises, then heat energy is utilized, but this is not always of great interest and does not reduce electrical consumption significantly
Solution Approach 1:
Instead of using waste heat for low-value heating applications, the patent converts it into high-value electrical energy through the Stirling engine. The temperature differential that would otherwise be wasted is harnessed to drive the engine, which generates mechanical work and subsequently electrical energy. This transformation creates a beneficial effect that directly addresses the electrical consumption problem.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent changes the form of energy utilization from thermal energy (heating) to mechanical energy and then to electrical energy. By using the Stirling engine, the system transforms the temperature differential into rotational mechanical work, which is then converted to electricity through electromagnetic induction. This parameter change enables the system to generate power rather than merely providing heating.
3Loss of energy
If Stirling machines are used to utilize heat energy, then heat energy is converted to mechanical energy, but significant additions of mechanisms are added to the information processing system
Solution Approach 1:
The patent merges the cooling function with the power generation function by integrating the Stirling engine directly into the cooling system architecture. The engine uses the temperature differential created by the cooling process to generate power, eliminating the need for separate cooling mechanisms and reducing overall system complexity despite adding the engine component.
Solution Approach 2:
The Stirling engine serves multiple functions simultaneously: it acts as a heat engine for power generation, a heat exchanger for thermal energy transfer, and a driver for the cooling system. This multi-functionality reduces the need for separate dedicated components for each function, thereby minimizing the overall addition of mechanisms to the information processing system.
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 efficiently utilizes heat energy, reducing electrical consumption and minimizing the need for additional cooling mechanisms by converting thermal energy into mechanical energy, which is then used to power the system, thereby lowering operational costs and improving system efficiency.
Implementation Method 1
The invention employs a Stirling machine to convert heat energy into mechanical energy
Implementation Method 2
convert heat energy into mechanical energy, using a primary and secondary cooling circuit to maximize temperature differential
Implementation Method 3
the Stirling machine integrated into the information processing system to generate electrical current
Data Source
Figure 1~4
Figure 3a~3d
AI summary
The invention relates to an information processing system (TS) comprising: a set of information processing devices forming a plurality of electrical circuits (C1, C2, C3... Cn) supplied with power by means of a power supply source (S), cooling means (MR) being placed near at least part of the electrical circuits; at least one Stirling engine, the cooling means (MR) of which form a hot source and produce a mechanical movement (Mvt) on the basis of a temperature differential (ΔΤ) between the hot source and a cold source (SF); and a generator (G) providing an electric current (iG) on the basis of said mechanical movement.