Want an energy efficient datacenter? Build it underwater
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Want an energy efficient datacenter? Build it underwater
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Re: Want an energy efficient datacenter? Build it underwater
#2[deleted]
Re: Want an energy efficient datacenter? Build it underwater
#3This is a fun concept with potentially even more interesting consequences. Using the ocean as a giant heatsink would result in a water temperature slightly higher than elsewhere, I wonder if over time it would suffice to attract the attention of non-local aquatic life, or affect the migratory habits of the existing species
Re: Want an energy efficient datacenter? Build it underwater
#4Energy efficient maybe, but not cost efficient. Computers+salt water = bad things. Ask anyone trying to maintain anything within sight of an ocean. Salt gets into everything eventually.
Build on the land. Put a heat exchanger in the ocean. Pump nice friendly coolant to and fro. Forget the idea of setting up shop literally underwater.
Re: Want an energy efficient datacenter? Build it underwater
#5This is great. A long time ago I had this crazy idea that if we built data centers at the poles, we could solve a lot of problems. Each one would sit idle 1/2 the year, but you could power it with solar and cool it with the outside air.
Of course the big problem was latency. It was one I couldn't conceive of a good solution for.
This is much better. It takes advantage of the same idea but you can park it right next to a population center and move it around the world fairly quickly as demand requires.
I love this idea!
Re: Want an energy efficient datacenter? Build it underwater
#6Energy efficient maybe, but not cost efficient. Computers+salt water = bad things. Ask anyone trying to maintain anything within sight of an ocean. Salt gets into everything eventually. Build on the land. Put a heat exchanger in the ocean. Pump nice friendly coolant to and fro. Forget the idea of setting up shop literally underwater.
The pod is sealed, it doesn't even have oxygen inside.
Re: Want an energy efficient datacenter? Build it underwater
#7This is great. A long time ago I had this crazy idea that if we built data centers at the poles, we could solve a lot of problems. Each one would sit idle 1/2 the year, but you could power it with solar and cool it with the outside air. Of course the big problem was latency. It was one I couldn't conceive of a good solution for. This is much better. It takes advantage of the same idea but you can park it right next t…
a datacenter at the poles might also contribute to melting the ice.
Re: Want an energy efficient datacenter? Build it underwater
#8Energy efficient maybe, but not cost efficient. Computers+salt water = bad things. Ask anyone trying to maintain anything within sight of an ocean. Salt gets into everything eventually. Build on the land. Put a heat exchanger in the ocean. Pump nice friendly coolant to and fro. Forget the idea of setting up shop literally underwater.
They talk about this pretty extensively in the article.
Re: Want an energy efficient datacenter? Build it underwater
#9I wonder what the cost differential is (any given rack, not just an underwater one) for a system which is designed to NEVER be maintained by people over its service life (or duty). Hard drive goes bad? Board fails? Just push the load elsewhere and shut off power to it. No idea what sort of attrition rate these systems have.
Sure, you might be at 50% capacity after 3 years, but that's just like lithium ion batteries.
Re: Want an energy efficient datacenter? Build it underwater
#10This is great. A long time ago I had this crazy idea that if we built data centers at the poles, we could solve a lot of problems. Each one would sit idle 1/2 the year, but you could power it with solar and cool it with the outside air. Of course the big problem was latency. It was one I couldn't conceive of a good solution for. This is much better. It takes advantage of the same idea but you can park it right next t…
a datacenter at the poles might also contribute to melting the ice.
More or less than burning fossil fuels to keep the data center cool at non-polar latitudes?