Addressing Data Center Cooling Needs through the Use of Subsurface Thermal Energy Storage Systems

Y. Zhang; Diana Acero-Allard; T. Atkinson; Koenraad Beckers; P. Dobson; W. Jin; N. Lei; Hyunjun Oh; P. Peng; D. Sartor; David Sickinger

doi:10.2118/215746-MS

Addressing Data Center Cooling Needs through the Use of Subsurface Thermal Energy Storage Systems

Y. Zhang, Diana Acero-Allard, T. Atkinson, Koenraad Beckers, P. Dobson, W. Jin, N. Lei, Hyunjun Oh, P. Peng, D. Sartor, David Sickinger

Research output: Contribution to conference › Paper › peer-review

1 Scopus Citations

Abstract

This study aims to evaluate the feasibility of addressing the cooling needs for information technology (IT) equipment in data centers by using reservoir thermal energy storage (RTES) to provide reliable and sustainable low-temperature fluid. This project focuses on the technical viability of operating such a system in Houston, Texas, which is a representative location for crypto mining data centers. An analysis has been performed to investigate the technical feasibility with climate data for Houston. Results show that data centers on the scale of 30 MW, and operating at a temperature of 27°C, can be reliably cooled by a combined RTES and dry coolers setup. A techno-economic analysis will be performed and energy/water saving benefits will be quantified in the future. In addition, the study will be extended to other representative data center locations with different climates and geographical locations.

Original language	American English
DOIs	https://doi.org/10.2118/215746-MS https://doi.org/10.2118/215746-MS
State	Published - 2023
Event	2023 SPE Energy Transition Symposium, ETS 2023 - Houston, United States Duration: 22 Aug 2023 → 23 Aug 2023

Conference

Conference	2023 SPE Energy Transition Symposium, ETS 2023
Country/Territory	United States
City	Houston
Period	22/08/23 → 23/08/23

Bibliographical note

Publisher Copyright:
Copyright 2023, Society of Petroleum Engineers.

NREL Publication Number

NREL/CP-5700-87821

Other Report Number

Paper No. SPE-215746-MS

Keywords

cooling
crypto mining data centers
data centers
Houston
information technology equipment
reservoir thermal energy storage
techno-economic analysis

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Zhang, Y., Acero-Allard, D., Atkinson, T., Beckers, K., Dobson, P., Jin, W., Lei, N., Oh, H., Peng, P., Sartor, D., & Sickinger, D. (2023). Addressing Data Center Cooling Needs through the Use of Subsurface Thermal Energy Storage Systems. Paper presented at 2023 SPE Energy Transition Symposium, ETS 2023, Houston, United States. https://doi.org/10.2118/215746-MS, https://doi.org/10.2118/215746-MS

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abstract = "This study aims to evaluate the feasibility of addressing the cooling needs for information technology (IT) equipment in data centers by using reservoir thermal energy storage (RTES) to provide reliable and sustainable low-temperature fluid. This project focuses on the technical viability of operating such a system in Houston, Texas, which is a representative location for crypto mining data centers. An analysis has been performed to investigate the technical feasibility with climate data for Houston. Results show that data centers on the scale of 30 MW, and operating at a temperature of 27°C, can be reliably cooled by a combined RTES and dry coolers setup. A techno-economic analysis will be performed and energy/water saving benefits will be quantified in the future. In addition, the study will be extended to other representative data center locations with different climates and geographical locations.",

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author = "Y. Zhang and Diana Acero-Allard and T. Atkinson and Koenraad Beckers and P. Dobson and W. Jin and N. Lei and Hyunjun Oh and P. Peng and D. Sartor and David Sickinger",

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Zhang, Y, Acero-Allard, D, Atkinson, T, Beckers, K, Dobson, P, Jin, W, Lei, N, Oh, H, Peng, P, Sartor, D & Sickinger, D 2023, 'Addressing Data Center Cooling Needs through the Use of Subsurface Thermal Energy Storage Systems', Paper presented at 2023 SPE Energy Transition Symposium, ETS 2023, Houston, United States, 22/08/23 - 23/08/23. https://doi.org/10.2118/215746-MS, https://doi.org/10.2118/215746-MS

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AU - Zhang, Y.

AU - Acero-Allard, Diana

AU - Atkinson, T.

AU - Beckers, Koenraad

AU - Dobson, P.

AU - Jin, W.

AU - Lei, N.

AU - Oh, Hyunjun

AU - Peng, P.

AU - Sartor, D.

AU - Sickinger, David

PY - 2023

Y1 - 2023

N2 - This study aims to evaluate the feasibility of addressing the cooling needs for information technology (IT) equipment in data centers by using reservoir thermal energy storage (RTES) to provide reliable and sustainable low-temperature fluid. This project focuses on the technical viability of operating such a system in Houston, Texas, which is a representative location for crypto mining data centers. An analysis has been performed to investigate the technical feasibility with climate data for Houston. Results show that data centers on the scale of 30 MW, and operating at a temperature of 27°C, can be reliably cooled by a combined RTES and dry coolers setup. A techno-economic analysis will be performed and energy/water saving benefits will be quantified in the future. In addition, the study will be extended to other representative data center locations with different climates and geographical locations.

AB - This study aims to evaluate the feasibility of addressing the cooling needs for information technology (IT) equipment in data centers by using reservoir thermal energy storage (RTES) to provide reliable and sustainable low-temperature fluid. This project focuses on the technical viability of operating such a system in Houston, Texas, which is a representative location for crypto mining data centers. An analysis has been performed to investigate the technical feasibility with climate data for Houston. Results show that data centers on the scale of 30 MW, and operating at a temperature of 27°C, can be reliably cooled by a combined RTES and dry coolers setup. A techno-economic analysis will be performed and energy/water saving benefits will be quantified in the future. In addition, the study will be extended to other representative data center locations with different climates and geographical locations.

KW - cooling

KW - crypto mining data centers

KW - data centers

KW - Houston

KW - information technology equipment

KW - reservoir thermal energy storage

KW - techno-economic analysis

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ER -

Addressing Data Center Cooling Needs through the Use of Subsurface Thermal Energy Storage Systems

Abstract

Conference

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Keywords

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