Submerged Data Center Cooling With Condensation Feedback Control

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Solution Overview

Problem

Data centers, particularly those housed on marine vessels and submerged enclosures, face challenges with power supply and cooling efficiency, leading to high energy consumption and condensation issues, which hinder the support of high-density computing systems.

Innovation Solution

A waterborne data center facility employing a closed-looped, energy-efficient thermal management system that leverages natural resources for cooling, utilizing a hull heat exchange system, water-based cooling, and a software management suite with predictive analytics to manage thermal conditions and reduce power consumption.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Temperature

If traditional air conditioning units are used to cool computer systems in data centers, then cooling function is provided, but power consumption increases significantly (accounting for half of total power consumed)

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvecooling effectivenessVSAvoidpower consumption

Core Design Contradiction:

TemperatureVSUse of energy by moving object

Solution Approach 1:

The patent converts the harmful effect of waste heat into a beneficial resource by capturing and reusing it for pre-cooling incoming air through heat exchangers, thereby reducing the load on primary cooling systems and lowering overall power consumption

Inventive Principle:

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

Solution Approach 2:

The system changes the temperature parameter of incoming air by passing it through heat exchangers that utilize waste heat for pre-cooling, thereby reducing the energy required by traditional air conditioning units to achieve the desired cooling effect

Inventive Principle:

Principle #35Parameter changes

2Temperature

If data centers are housed on marine vessels or submerged enclosures to leverage natural cooling resources, then cooling efficiency improves, but condensation build-up occurs within electronic components

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvethermal management efficiencyVSAvoidcondensation build-up

Core Design Contradiction:

TemperatureVSObject-affected harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The patent introduces thermal containment systems and controlled atmospheric environments as intermediaries between the cold marine environment and electronic components, preventing direct exposure to condensation-forming conditions while maintaining efficient heat transfer

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

Solution Approach 2:

The system replaces direct air cooling with liquid-based thermal management systems that transfer heat through controlled pathways, eliminating the need for air circulation that would otherwise cause condensation on electronic components

Inventive Principle:

Principle #28Mechanics substitution (Replace mechanical system)

3Temperature

If data centers are submerged deeper to leverage colder water for cooling, then cooling effectiveness increases, but packet loss increases significantly

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvecooling effectivenessVSAvoiddata transmission reliability

Core Design Contradiction:

TemperatureVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The patent transitions from wireless to wired data transmission, moving from three-dimensional space (radio waves through water) to a controlled one-dimensional medium (submarine cables), thereby eliminating packet loss while maintaining deep submersion for optimal cooling

Inventive Principle:

Principle #17Another dimension (Dimensionality change)

4Productivity

If data center density increases to support more computing systems, then computing capacity improves, but cooling requirements and power consumption increase

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvecomputing capacityVSAvoidcooling power requirement

Core Design Contradiction:

ProductivityVSUse of energy by moving object

Solution Approach 1:

The patent merges waste heat recovery systems with the primary cooling infrastructure, creating an integrated thermal management system that recycles heat energy and reduces the overall power required for cooling high-density computing systems

Inventive Principle:

Principle #5Merging (Combining)

Solution Approach 2:

The system recovers waste heat that would otherwise be discarded and reuses it for pre-cooling incoming air and heating water in thermal storage systems, thereby reducing the energy required for active cooling and supporting higher computing densities

Inventive Principle:

Principle #34Discarding and recovering

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

The solution significantly reduces energy consumption and costs while effectively controlling thermal conditions and condensation, enabling efficient operation of high-density computing systems with minimal ecological impact.

Implementation Method 1

pump the surrounding water to be circulated through a closed loop cooling system comprised in a heat exchanger... where it serves as a heat sink to cool hot coolant from a coolant distribution unit

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectHeat exchange: Heat Exchanger

Implementation Method 2

where it serves as a heat sink to cool hot coolant from a coolant distribution unit

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectHeat sink: Heat Sink

Data Source

PatentUS11856686B1Submerged data center facility system and method

Publication Date: 2023.12.26 NAUTILUS TRUE LLC

AI summary

A submerged waterborne data center facility that employs a feedback-control system to control any one of a condensation function, depth function, and a wired or wireless data transfer function utilizing on-board and out-board sensors operatively coupled to an operational state change controller, controlling for a hygrostat-coupled heater, depth thruster, and, or a radio frequency modulation unit.