Water-based computing system

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-9839160-B2
Application number	US-201715437491-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Feb 21, 2017
Priority date	Jan 6, 2014
Publication date	Dec 5, 2017
Grant date	Dec 5, 2017

Abstract

A water-based computing system is described. In one embodiment, the system comprises a plurality of interconnected computer nodes each placed in a waterproof container floating in a body of water. Each computer node is configured to generate power for use thereof and for the other interconnected computer nodes.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A water-based data center, comprising:
a platform in a body of a water; and
a plurality of interconnected computer nodes secured to the platform;
wherein at least one of the computer nodes comprises a plurality of flexing electroactive polymer power devices and a plurality of contracting electroactive polymer power devices, the plurality of flexing electroactive polymer power devices generating power when flexed in response to movement of the plurality of interconnected computer nodes, and wherein the plurality of contracting electroactive polymer power devices are configured to receive the power from the plurality of flexing electroactive polymer power devices when wave energy of the water exceeds a threshold, the plurality of contracting electroactive polymer power devices contracting in response to receiving the power from the plurality of flexing electroactive polymer power devices, slowing down power generated from the plurality of flexing electroactive polymer power devices.

2. The water-based data center according to claim 1 , wherein at least one computer node includes a solar power device.

3. The water-based data center according to claim 1 , wherein at least one computer node includes a thermoelectric power device.

4. The water-based data center according to claim 1 , wherein at least one computer node includes a wave motion power generator device.

5. The water-based data center according to claim 1 , wherein at least one computer node includes a dynamo power device having an arrangement of a plurality of amorphous metal dynamos each configured to generate power through various ranges of movement in the body of water.

6. The water-based data center according to claim 1 , further comprising a cooling module attached to each of the plurality of interconnected computer nodes to provide cooling to each computer node.

7. The water-based data center according to claim 6 , wherein each cooling module comprises a sealed cooling heat sink containing a non-electrical conductive liquid that provides heat transfer to the computer node coupled thereto.

8. The water-based data center according to claim 1 , wherein each computer node comprises at least one compute module, at least one data storage module, and at least power storage module.

9. The water-based data center according to claim 8 , wherein the power storage module is configured to store excess power generated by the computer node and for subsequent use by the computer node or any other of the interconnected computer nodes.

10. The water-based data center according to claim 8 , wherein the power storage module comprise a battery power device.

11. The water-based data center according to claim 1 , wherein each computer node comprises a data connection that transmits and receives data to and from a remote location.

12. The water-based data center according to claim 1 , further comprising at least one anchoring device that anchors the platform within the body of water.

13. A water-based platform, comprising:
a plurality of interconnected computer nodes coupled to the platform;
wherein at least one of the computer nodes comprises a plurality of flexing electroactive polymer power devices and a plurality of contracting electroactive polymer power devices, the plurality of flexing electroactive polymer power devices generating power when flexed in response to movement of the plurality of interconnected computer nodes, and wherein the plurality of contracting electroactive polymer power devices are configured to receive the power from the plurality of flexing electroactive polymer power devices when wave energy of the water exceeds a threshold, the plurality of contracting electroactive polymer power devices contracting in response to receiving the power from the plurality of flexing electroactive polymer power devices, slowing down power generated from the plurality of flexing electroactive polymer power devices.

14. The water-based platform according to claim 13 , wherein at least one of the computer nodes includes a solar power device, a thermoelectric power device, a wave motion power generator device, or a dynamo power device.

15. The water-based platform according to claim 13 , further comprising a cooling module attached to at least one of the plurality of interconnected computer nodes to provide cooling.

16. The water-based platform according to claim 15 , wherein the cooling module comprises a sealed cooling heat sink containing a non-electrical conductive liquid that provides heat transfer to the computer node coupled thereto.

17. The water-based platform according to claim 13 , wherein each computer node comprises at least one compute module, at least one data storage module, and at least power storage module.

18. The water-based platform according to claim 17 , wherein the power storage module is configured to store excess power generated by the computer node and for subsequent use by the computer node or any other of the interconnected computer nodes.

19. The water-based platform according to claim 17 , wherein the power storage module comprise a battery power device.

20. The water-based platform according to claim 13 , wherein each computer node comprises a data connection that transmits and receives data to and from a remote location.

Assignees

• IBM

Inventors

• Finn Peter G

Classifications

• F03B13/20

  wherein both members {, i.e. wom and rem} are movable relative to the sea bed or shore · CPC title

• F05B2220/708

  Photoelectric means, i.e. photovoltaic or solar cells · CPC title

• H05K7/20709 Primary

  for server racks or cabinets; for data centers, e.g. 19-inch computer racks · CPC title

• H05K7/1497 Primary

  Rooms for data centers; Shipping containers therefor · CPC title

• Y02E10/30

  Energy from the sea, e.g. using wave energy or salinity gradient · CPC title