Submersible Data Center Capsule Retrieval for Underwater Cooling
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing data centers face inefficiencies in power usage, cooling, and land utilization, with conventional technologies leading to high energy consumption and limited deployment options, particularly in underwater environments.
Innovation Solution
A submersible data center mounted on an elevator apparatus, comprising water-tight capsules on a submersible platform with support legs and winches, allowing deployment and retrieval underwater, and utilizing heat exchangers and chillers for efficient heat dissipation and power supply from onshore or offshore sources.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Loss of energy
If data centers are located underwater for cooling purposes, then cooling efficiency is improved, but deployment complexity and operational difficulty increase
Solution Approach 1:
The data center is divided into modular capsules that can be independently deployed and retrieved. Each capsule is a self-contained unit with its own cooling system, allowing for simplified deployment of individual modules rather than complex installation of entire data center facilities underwater.
Solution Approach 2:
An elevator apparatus serves as an intermediary mechanism between the underwater operating position and the surface. This elevator system with support legs and winches provides a controlled interface for deploying and retrieving capsules, reducing the overall complexity compared to direct underwater installation and maintenance operations.
2Ease of operation
If conventional ventilation and air-conditioning systems are used, then data centers can operate on land, but energy consumption increases significantly
Solution Approach 1:
The patent converts the previously harmful effect of underwater deployment (access difficulty) into a benefit by using the abundant underwater thermal energy for cooling. The water, which was previously an obstacle to access, becomes a free cooling resource that dramatically reduces energy consumption while the capsule design maintains operational accessibility.
3Loss of energy
If data centers are permanently installed underwater, then cooling efficiency improves, but maintenance and retrieval become difficult
Solution Approach 1:
The capsule system transitions from a static permanent installation to a dynamic deployable structure. The capsules can be dynamically deployed to underwater operating positions for efficient cooling operation, and then dynamically retrieved to surface positions for maintenance and repair, providing flexibility that resolves the contradiction between cooling efficiency and maintenance accessibility.
4Productivity
If more land is allocated for data centers, then processing capacity increases, but land utilization efficiency decreases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent transitions data center deployment from the two-dimensional land surface to the three-dimensional underwater space. By utilizing the vast available underwater volumes, the system dramatically increases processing capacity without consuming additional land area, effectively adding a new dimension for data center expansion.
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
Facilitates efficient heat dissipation, reduces energy consumption, and optimizes land use by enabling quick deployment and retrieval of data centers in underwater environments, enhancing security and operational efficiency.
Implementation Method 1
A heat exchanger discharges heat from the data center to the surrounding water
Implementation Method 2
heat exchanger discharges heat from the data center to the surrounding water
Implementation Method 3
heat exchanger discharges heat from the data center to the surrounding water
Implementation Method 4
A submersible data center mountable on an elevator apparatus... allowing deployment and retrieval underwater
Implementation Method 5
elevator apparatus... with support legs and winches, allowing deployment and retrieval underwater
Data Source
AI summary
A submersible data center (180, 180a, 180b) configured in a water-tight capsule for deployment in a body of water. The data center capsules (180, 180a, 180b) are mounted on a submersible platform (110) of an elevator apparatus (100, 100a), which is equipped with a support leg (130a) or support legs (130) and winches (132) are located near a top of the support leg or each of the support legs. The data center capsules (180, 180a, 180b) can be submerged underwater for operation or be winched up above the water for retrieval/maintenance. A first-time deployment of the support leg(s) (130, 130a) is provided by leg-lowering winches (112) located on the submersible platform (110). Heat exchangers (190) or chillers (190a) are used, or a centralized chiller (190b) is used, to dissipate heat energy from inside the data center capsules (180, 180a, 180b) to the surrounding water. Accompanying methods of operations are also described.