Subterranean Vault Cooling for Thermally Stable Edge Data Centers

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Solution Overview

Problem

Edge data centers, often located outdoors near cell towers, face challenges in maintaining optimal operational temperatures due to extreme environmental conditions, leading to inefficient computing and potential workload throttling or transfer issues.

Innovation Solution

The use of subterranean vaults to house edge servers, combined with geothermal heat pump systems and liquid cooling methods, including direct immersion cooling, to regulate temperature effectively, leveraging the stable ground temperature and efficient heat transfer properties of liquids.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Ease of operation

If edge servers are located outdoors near cell towers, then accessibility and network connectivity are improved, but temperature stability deteriorates due to extreme environmental conditions

Engineering Contradiction:

ImproveaccessibilityVSAvoidtemperature stability

Core Design Contradiction:

Ease of operationVSTemperature

Solution Approach 1:

The system separates the edge server housing from the extreme outdoor environment by placing servers in subterranean vaults or enclosed structures, while maintaining outdoor antenna and network infrastructure for accessibility

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

Geothermal heat pump systems and liquid cooling mechanisms serve as intermediary thermal management systems between the outdoor environment and the edge servers, transferring heat away from servers using ground water or liquid coolants

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

2Ease of manufacture

If traditional cooling systems are used for edge servers, then initial setup is simpler, but cooling efficiency deteriorates in extreme temperature environments

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvesetup simplicityVSAvoidcooling efficiency

Core Design Contradiction:

Ease of manufactureVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The geothermal heat pump system utilizes the natural temperature stability of ground water to provide passive cooling, where the ground itself serves as the heat sink without requiring additional energy input

Inventive Principle:

Principle #25Self-service

Solution Approach 2:

Liquid cooling systems use hydraulic principles to circulate coolant through channels in direct contact with server components, providing efficient heat transfer through fluid convection and conduction

Inventive Principle:

Principle #29Pneumatics and hydraulics

3Adaptability or versatility

If edge servers operate in extreme temperatures, then outdoor deployment is achieved, but computing performance deteriorates due to thermal throttling

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvedeployment flexibilityVSAvoidcomputing performance

Core Design Contradiction:

Adaptability or versatilityVSProductivity

Solution Approach 1:

The system transitions from surface-level outdoor deployment to subsurface deployment in vaults, utilizing the third dimension (depth) to access the thermally stable ground environment while maintaining surface-level network connectivity

Inventive Principle:

Principle #17Another dimension (Dimensionality change)

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 maintains edge servers in a stable temperature range, enhancing operational efficiency, reducing thermal management risks, and improving computing performance by effectively managing heating and cooling demands.

Implementation Method 1

a first heat exchanger of the geothermal heat pump system... a second heat exchanger of the geothermal heat pump system... fluidly coupling the first heat exchanger and the second heat exchanger

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectGeothermal heat transfer: Heat Exchanger

Implementation Method 2

liquid cooling methods, including direct immersion cooling

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectDirect immersion cooling: Conduction (thermal)

Data Source

PatentUS20230124192A1Heating and cooling systems for edge data centers

Publication Date: 2023.04.20 INTEL CORP

AI summary

Example heating and cooling systems for edge data centers are disclosed herein. A system disclosed herein includes a subterranean vault to be disposed at least partially below ground level an of environment, an edge data center in the subterranean vault, and a geothermal heat pump system to regulate a temperature of ambient air in the subterranean vault.