Google to Switch on Seawater-Cooled Data Center

[gsaldivar]

I'm confused...

The heat transfer units are the heart of the cooling system, and the seawater pumps into the heat transfer system, cools the data center, and then the water itself is cooled slightly before being pumped back out to sea. Google wanted the water that was pumped back out to sea to be similar in temperature to the water that entered the system, as to have as little impact as possible on the surrounding ecosystem. “It was the right thing to do,” says Kava.

http://gigaom.com/cleantech/google-to-switch-on-worlds-first-seawater-cooled-data-center-this-fall/

I don't understand the significance of using seawater as a coolant, if the coolant is being returned to the source at the same temperature as it was first taken. I thought the whole point of using the ocean as a coolant source would be to suck in an endless supply of cold water, use it to absorb heat, then pump out warm water. Rinse and repeat, right?

If they are going to go through all the trouble of pumping water around a facility and then cool it back to its start temperature, why not just close the loop and use purified water to begin with?

Or maybe even a more efficient non-corrosive coolant?

 

[Modelworks]

I'm guessing that by cooling the water before return they will use the same type of cooling that nuclear plants use before returning water. Sea water averages about 75F. Pump water in and around the servers then as the water exits all you have to do to cool it is use spray bars that mist the water and let it fall to a pool below and then pump it back to sea.

This is a really simple setup . The only real energy cost is powering pumps and the rest is just plumbing.

 

[VirtualLarry]

Wait until we have an earthquake, then we will have "google meltdown" Oh noes, no YouTube!

Edit: In reconsideration, my post probably doesn't belong in "Highly Technical". Sorry. Not to mention being in extremely poor taste regarding the state of Japan these days.

 

[Lotheron]

Wait until we have an earthquake, then we will have "google meltdown" Oh noes, no YouTube!

Edit: In reconsideration, my post probably doesn't belong in "Highly Technical". Sorry. Not to mention being in extremely poor taste regarding the state of Japan these days.

And yet you kept the original text... Poor taste stands!

 

[wirednuts]

i approve of this. much more practical then using a/c units on the roof.

 

[Veramocor]

I'm confused...



http://gigaom.com/cleantech/google-to-switch-on-worlds-first-seawater-cooled-data-center-this-fall/

I don't understand the significance of using seawater as a coolant, if the coolant is being returned to the source at the same temperature as it was first taken. I thought the whole point of using the ocean as a coolant source would be to suck in an endless supply of cold water, use it to absorb heat, then pump out warm water. Rinse and repeat, right?

If they are going to go through all the trouble of pumping water around a facility and then cool it back to its start temperature, why not just close the loop and use purified water to begin with?

Or maybe even a more efficient non-corrosive coolant?

The way they are cooling the seawater back to temperature is by using a cooling tower. A cooling tower works by evaporative cooling. Thus part of the seawater is evaporated.

If you were to use the pure water (relatively) that is circulating in the system you would waste the water to the atmosphere through evaporation. This not only concentrates impurities in your pure water but requires you to add more pure make up water ($$).

The reason that they don't use seawater directly in cooling is for corrosion reasons. This way all the cooling equipment except for the seawater/pure water heat exchangers can be made with less expensive metals.

The sea water/pure water heat exchangers will likely need to be made out of at least 6mo super austenetic steel, a super duplex steel, or titanium to prevent corrosion. Very expensive materials if you were to require them for all of your heat exchangers..