Two-Phase Immersion Cooling With Vapor Compression Heat Recovery
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Solution Overview
Problem
High-performance computing systems, such as Bitcoin mining and AI computing, face inefficiencies in repurposing thermal energy due to its low temperature, leading to significant energy waste and limited practical methods to offset energy costs.
Innovation Solution
Repurpose thermal energy by compressing vapor-phase working fluid to increase temperature and pressure, then utilize the high-temperature fluid to drive commercial processes through heat transfer in a heat exchanger.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Loss of energy
If thermal energy is rejected directly to the surrounding environment, then the cooling function is achieved, but the thermal energy cannot be efficiently repurposed due to its low temperature
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies parameter changes by compressing the vapor-phase working fluid to increase its temperature and pressure, transforming low-temperature thermal energy into high-temperature thermal energy suitable for driving commercial processes. This changes the temperature parameter of the thermal energy from an unusable low state to a useful high state.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces a compressor as an intermediary device between the thermal energy source and the commercial process. The compressor acts as a mediator that transforms the thermal energy by compressing the working fluid vapor, enabling the transfer of energy at a usable temperature level.
2Power
If a heat engine is used to extract enthalpy from waste thermal energy, then mechanical work can be produced, but the efficiency is limited to maximum 12% due to the low temperature of thermal energy
Solution Approach 1:
Instead of directly using a heat engine on low-temperature thermal energy, the patent first changes the temperature parameter by compressing the vapor to raise it to high temperature, then extracting work. This parameter transformation enables much higher efficiency than the 12% theoretical maximum of a heat engine operating directly on low-temperature thermal energy.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent performs a preliminary action of compressing the vapor-phase working fluid before the thermal energy is extracted for mechanical work. This preliminary compression raises the temperature and pressure, creating favorable conditions for efficient work extraction in the subsequent stage.
3Loss of energy
If thermal energy is repurposed to drive commercial processes, then energy costs can be offset, but additional equipment and system complexity are required
Solution Approach 1:
The working fluid serves multiple functions: it cools the computer system by absorbing thermal energy, then it is compressed and used to drive commercial processes. This multi-functionality allows the same fluid to be involved in both cooling and energy recovery, reducing the need for separate systems and minimizing additional complexity.
Solution Approach 2:
The system uses its own waste thermal energy to power the compression process and drive commercial processes, creating a self-sustaining energy recovery loop. The thermal energy that would otherwise be wasted is harnessed to perform useful work, reducing external energy requirements and offsetting operating costs.
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
Enhances the efficiency of thermal energy utilization, allowing it to drive commercial processes and offset energy costs, particularly relevant in Bitcoin mining where profit margins are reduced.
Implementation Method 1
compressing the vapor-phase working fluid to a higher temperature and pressure
Implementation Method 2
utilize the high-temperature fluid to drive commercial processes through heat transfer in a heat exchanger
Implementation Method 3
The saturated vapor is condensed back into the liquid by removing thermal energy
Implementation Method 4
computer systems take in electrical energy and information, perform computations using that information, and then output information relating to those computations. This process converts the electrical energy into thermal energy.
Data Source
AI summary
The inventive subject matter provides for repurposing otherwise wasted thermal energy to drive a commercial process. Thermal energy from a two-phase immersion-cooling system containing a computer system is operably coupled with a compressor, heat exchanger, pressure regulator, and controller, to provide thermal energy at an elevated temperature to drive the commercial process. The immersion-cooling system can advantageously be used to cool computer systems, including Bitcoin miners, crypto miners, high-performance computers, AI computers, or other thermal energy producing devices. The system operates by extracting vapor of the working fluid residing in the headspace of the immersion-cooling system, increasing the pressure and temperature of the extracted vapor by compression, and then passing this vapor to a heat exchanger, thereby providing thermal energy to drive a commercial process. The pressure of the working fluid is reduced, and returned to the tank of the immersion-cooling system.