Subsea Data Vessel Cooling via Dielectric Fluid Immersion
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Solution Overview
Problem
Land-based data centers face inefficiencies in energy usage, server density, and reliability due to limited cooling capacity, large land requirements, and high operational costs, with existing solutions like modular data centers and floating data centers facing challenges in scalability and environmental adaptability.
Innovation Solution
The development of a marine subsea data vessel that immerses server boards in a dielectric fluid, utilizing a closed-loop liquid cooling system to enhance computational density and efficiency, with a thin-walled composite shell and external heat exchangers for efficient heat dissipation, allowing for submersion in various water bodies and improved structural integrity.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of manufacture
If air cooling is used in data centers, then the cooling system is simple to implement, but the cooling efficiency is insufficient and server density is limited
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements liquid cooling by circulating coolant through heat exchangers in contact with server components. The cooling system uses pumps to move liquid coolant through channels that directly contact server boards, achieving superior heat transfer efficiency compared to air cooling while maintaining manageable system complexity
Solution Approach 2:
The patent changes the cooling medium from gas (air) to liquid (coolant), fundamentally altering the heat transfer parameter. This parameter change enables significantly higher cooling efficiency and allows for increased server density in the floating data center environment
2Stability of the object's composition
If land-based data centers are built with traditional cooling systems, then the infrastructure is stable, but the land area required is large and cooling capacity is limited
Solution Approach 1:
The patent transitions from land-based horizontal expansion to ocean-based vertical/utilization of three-dimensional space. By deploying data centers on floating platforms in the ocean, the system eliminates land area constraints while maintaining infrastructure stability through engineered floating structures and anchoring systems
Solution Approach 2:
The patent employs a thin-walled composite shell structure for the floating data center vessel. This flexible yet strong shell provides structural integrity while minimizing material usage and allowing the structure to adapt to wave motion, enabling stable operation on floating platforms without requiring large land areas
3Duration of action of stationary object
If floating data centers are deployed in storm-prone areas, then the data center can operate continuously, but the vessel is vulnerable to damage from extreme weather
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements a mooring system with anchors and tethers that secure the floating data center to the seabed or stable structures. This beforehand cushioning prevents the vessel from being displaced or damaged by storm forces while allowing controlled movement, ensuring operational continuity during extreme weather events
Solution Approach 2:
The thin-walled composite shell structure is designed to be flexible yet strong, allowing the vessel to flex and move with wave action without structural failure. This flexibility combined with strategic positioning away from storm paths enables continuous operation while protecting against extreme weather damage
4Productivity
If server density is increased in data centers, then computational capacity is improved, but cooling capacity becomes insufficient
Solution Approach 1:
The patent uses liquid coolant circulation through heat exchangers in direct contact with high-density server arrangements. This hydraulic cooling system provides sufficient cooling capacity for increased server density by efficiently removing heat through the liquid medium and external heat exchangers on the floating platform
Solution Approach 2:
The patent changes from air cooling to liquid cooling parameters, enabling significantly higher heat removal capacity. This parameter change supports increased server density by providing adequate cooling for higher computational loads in the floating data center environment
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 achieves up to 1000 times greater cooling efficiency than air cooling, enabling increased server density, reduced capital costs, and improved reliability, with the ability to operate in a tighter temperature range and scalable deployment, while minimizing structural requirements and environmental impact.
Implementation Method 1
a heat exchanger adapted to disperse heat generated by the plurality of server boards to the exterior of the data vessel
Implementation Method 2
heat generated by the plurality of server boards
Implementation Method 3
immerses server boards in a dielectric fluid, utilizing a closed-loop liquid cooling system
Implementation Method 4
closed-loop liquid cooling system to enhance computational density and efficiency
Data Source
AI summary
A marine subsea data vessel includes a plurality of server boards, in certain embodiments forming a carousel, coupled with a heat exchanger. The heat exchanger operates to extract heat and transfer the heat to seawater entirely surrounding the marine subsea data vessel. The heat transfer may be through the outer shell of the vessel, or via an external heat exchanger, or both. Various heat exchanger configurations provide additional heat transfer efficiency. The subsea data vessel may be clustered providing additional advantages. The subsea data vessel may be powered via a variety of power sources.