Method and system for recovering and utilizing heat energy produced by computer hardware in blockchain mining operations

Abstract

A method for recovering heat energy from computer hardware in a blockchain mining operation. The method may include the steps of providing heat energy that may be generated by computer hardware in a blockchain mining operation, and utilizing the heat energy in an absorption cooling module to generate a cooling effect with a coolant fluid. The coolant fluid may comprise a fluid refrigerant-absorbent mixture. The absorption cooling module may include an ammonia-water absorption refrigerator module, one or more heatsinks, a fluid pump, and a heat exchanger. The ammonia-water absorption refrigerator module may include a generator that may absorb heat energy adjacent to the generator. The one or more heatsinks may be positioned on the computer hardware. The fluid pump may be in fluid communication with the one or more heatsinks. The heat exchanger may be in fluid communication with the fluid pump and with the at least one heatsink.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A method for recovering heat energy from computer hardware in a blockchain mining operation, the method comprising the steps of:
 providing heat energy generated by the computer hardware in a blockchain mining operation; and   utilizing the heat energy in an absorption cooling module to generate a cooling effect with a coolant fluid comprising a fluid refrigerant-absorbent mixture;   wherein the absorption cooling module comprises:
 an ammonia-water absorption refrigerator module having a generator configured to absorb heat energy adjacent to the generator; 
 at least one heatsink positioned on the computer hardware; 
 a fluid pump in fluid communication with the at least one heatsink; and 
 a heat exchanger in fluid communication with the fluid pump and the at least one heatsink; 
 wherein at least a portion of the heat exchanger is at least adjacent to the generator; 
 wherein the fluid pump circulates a heat transfer fluid to and from the at least one heatsink and the heat exchanger; 
 wherein the heat transfer fluid absorbs heat energy from the at least one heatsink and the computer hardware; and 
 wherein the generator absorbs heat energy from the heat exchanger and the heat transfer fluid. 
   
     
     
         2 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the blockchain mining operation is at least one of a cryptocurrency mining operation and a mining farm. 
     
     
         3 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the fluid refrigerant-absorbent mixture comprises ammonia as the refrigerant and at least one of water and a fluoride salt as the absorbent. 
     
     
         4 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the absorbent of the fluid refrigerant-absorbent mixture comprises functionalized graphene oxide nanoplatelets; wherein the functionalized graphene oxide nanoplatelets have one or more polar oxygen-containing functional groups selected from the group consisting of: carboxyl, hydroxyl, carbonyl, and epoxy; and wherein the functionalized graphene oxide nanoplatelets are modified to have one or more alkyl substituent groups having a chain length of from 7 to 14 carbon atoms. 
     
     
         5 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the computer hardware comprises at least one printed circuit board. 
     
     
         6 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the at least one heatsink comprises a thermally conductive foil mounted to the computer hardware by thermally conductive adhesive, and wherein the thermally conductive foil comprises graphene nanoplatelets. 
     
     
         7 . The method of  claim 6 , wherein the thermally conductive foil has a lateral thermal conductivity range of from about 1300 to about 1500 Watts per meter-Kelvin. 
     
     
         8 . A system for recovering heat energy from computer hardware in a blockchain mining operation, the system comprising:
 an absorption cooling module to generate a cooling effect with a coolant fluid comprising a fluid refrigerant-absorbent mixture;   at least one computer hardware that generates heat energy;   providing heat energy generated by the computer hardware in a blockchain mining operation;   wherein the absorption cooling module comprises:
 an ammonia-water absorption refrigerator module having a generator configured to absorb heat energy adjacent to the generator; 
 at least one heatsink positioned on the computer hardware; 
 a fluid pump in fluid communication with the at least one heatsink; and 
 a heat exchanger in fluid communication with the fluid pump and the at least one heatsink; 
 wherein at least a portion of the heat exchanger is at least adjacent to the generator; 
 wherein the fluid pump circulates a heat transfer fluid to and from the at least one heatsink and the heat exchanger; 
 wherein the heat transfer fluid absorbs heat energy from the at least one heatsink and the computer hardware; and 
 wherein the generator absorbs heat energy from the heat exchanger and the heat transfer fluid. 
   
     
     
         9 . The system of  claim 11 , wherein the blockchain mining operation is at least one of a cryptocurrency mining operation and a mining farm. 
     
     
         10 . The system of  claim 11 , wherein the fluid refrigerant-absorbent mixture comprises ammonia as the refrigerant and at least one of water and a fluoride salt as the absorbent. 
     
     
         11 . The system of  claim 11 , wherein the absorbent of the fluid refrigerant-adsorbent mixture comprises functionalized graphene oxide nanoplatelets, wherein the functionalized graphene oxide nanoplatelets have one or more polar oxygen-containing functional groups selected from the group consisting of: carboxyl, hydroxyl, carbonyl, and epoxy; and wherein the functionalized graphene oxide nanoplatelets are modified to have one or more alkyl substituent groups having a chain length of from 7 to 14 carbon atoms. 
     
     
         12 . The system of  claim 11 , wherein the at least one heatsink comprises a thermally conductive foil mounted to the computer hardware by thermally conductive adhesive, and wherein the thermally conductive foil comprises graphene nanoplatelets. 
     
     
         13 . The system of  claim 12 , wherein the thermally conductive foil has a lateral thermal conductivity range of from about 1300 to about 1500 Watts per meter-Kelvin. 
     
     
         14 . The system of  claim 11 , further comprising adjusting computational speeds of the computer hardware to control a rate of heat energy generated by the computer hardware. 
     
     
         15 . A system for recovering heat energy from computer hardware in a blockchain mining operation, the system comprising:
 an absorption cooling module to generate a cooling effect with a coolant fluid comprising a fluid refrigerant-absorbent mixture;   at least one computer hardware that generates heat energy;   providing heat energy generated by the computer hardware in a blockchain mining operation;   wherein the absorption cooling module comprises:
 an ammonia-water absorption refrigerator module having a generator configured to absorb heat energy adjacent to the generator, wherein the ammonia-water absorption refrigerator module utilizes a fluid refrigerant-absorbent mixture; 
 at least one heatsink comprising a thermally conductive foil mounted to the computer hardware by thermally conductive adhesive, wherein the thermally conductive foil comprises graphene nanoplatelets; 
 a fluid pump in fluid communication with the at least one heatsink; and 
 a heat exchanger in fluid communication with the fluid pump and the at least one heatsink; 
 wherein at least a portion of the heat exchanger is at least adjacent to the generator; 
 wherein the fluid pump circulates a heat transfer fluid to and from the at least one heatsink and the heat exchanger; 
 wherein the heat transfer fluid absorbs heat energy from the at least one heatsink and the computer hardware; and 
 wherein the generator absorbs heat energy from the heat exchanger and the heat transfer fluid. 
   
     
     
         16 . The system of  claim 15 , wherein the adsorbent of the fluid refrigerant-adsorbent mixture comprises at least one of a fluoride salt and functionalized graphene oxide nanoplatelets. 
     
     
         17 . The system of  claim 15 , wherein the absorbent of the fluid refrigerant-adsorbent mixture comprises functionalized graphene oxide nanoplatelets, wherein the functionalized graphene oxide nanoplatelets have one or more polar oxygen-containing functional groups selected from the group consisting of: carboxyl, hydroxyl, carbonyl, and epoxy; and wherein the functionalized graphene oxide nanoplatelets are modified to have one or more alkyl substituent groups having a chain length of from 7 to 14 carbon atoms. 
     
     
         18 . The system of  claim 15 , wherein the thermally conductive foil has a lateral thermal conductivity range of from about 1300 to about 1500 Watts per meter-Kelvin. 
     
     
         19 . The system of  claim 15 , wherein the blockchain mining operation is at least one of a cryptocurrency mining operation and a mining farm. 
     
     
         20 . The system of  claim 15 , wherein the refrigerant of the liquid refrigerant-adsorbent mixture comprises ammonia.