Recycling Excess Heat From the Data Center

itwbennett writes "A new data center being built in Helsinki, scheduled to go live at the end of January, will generate energy and deliver hot water for the city. The data center is located in an old bomb shelter and is connected to the Helsinki public energy company's district heating system, which works by pumping boiling water through a system of pipes to households in Helsinki. The recycled heat from the data center could add about 1 percent to the total energy generated by the energy company's system in the summer." The article doesn't say what the overall efficiency of the heat recovery is. Researchers at MIT are working on a new energy-conversion technology based on quantum dots that they say has already demonstrated 40% of the Carnot efficiency limit — 4 times what is achieved by current commercial thermoelectric devices. The researchers believe they can reach 90% of the Carnot limit.

Comments

Valium and Xanax for Engineers and Physicists

[NoYob]

The pump is also very efficient -- you get five times the amount of energy you put in, he said.

So, engineers and physicists, when you see statements like that, how do you cope:

1. Stiff drink(s)
2. Xanax(s)
3. Dust off plans for your perpetual motion machine company to go public
4. Cry yourselves to sleep.
5. Other

Re:Valium and Xanax for Engineers and Physicists

[JessGras]

Heat pumps can be this efficient when you consider the claim is they can move five times as much (heat) energy as they consume (in electicity or other organized source). They are not claiming to generate more than they consume: only pump more than they consume - though vague and sensationalist phrasing in the journalism makes this unclear in the OP.

That's good

[Yvan256]

"Honey, why are you watching so many porn streams at once?"
"Because I'm cold!"