By Wendy Beale and Kevin Linfield, Ph.D., P.Eng., P.E.
Once considered a fad, Bitcoin has established itself as a steadily growing financial asset. At the time of writing, its market cap stands at a healthy $1.72 trillion, reflecting strong growth over the past few years.
Inside View of a Bitcoin Mining Farm
Those who operate Bitcoin miners tend to choose locations where there is cheap electricity and ample space - often former industrial buildings. Whereas the existing HVAC system may have met the needs of the previous occupant, it may not be sufficient for a mining farm. The machines release considerable heat as they are working, but the hotter they become, the slower they work. If they get too hot, they can shut off entirely, This calls for some engineering expertise in fluid flow and heat transfer!
The rooms and buildings that the miners are working in need more than just standard HVAC for an industrial space. Temperature needs to be finely tuned to keep the miners happily solving complex equations. Climate-controlled buildings and rooms are needed to maintain those conditions at a healthy level.
Temperature Pathlines
Conducting CFD modeling of the existing HVAC system gives engineers a view of where the flow may be restricted and shows where the system could be better optimized to eliminate hot spots. Sometimes layout changes are required and other times, fan adjustments or relocating ducts will help maintain a proper environment for keeping equipment running non-stop.
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CFD modeling can show a detailed view of the temperature inside the room.
Whether you are setting up a new farm, or looking to improve your existing set up, speaking to an ASC engineer can help keep your Bitcoin miners running at peak performance.
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Airflow Sciences Corporation (ASC) is a fluid dynamics solutions company, specializing in the design and optimization of equipment and processes involving flow, heat transfer, combustion, and mass transfer. Now celebrating 50 years as an industry leader, ASC has focused on testing and simulation of air, gas, liquid, and particulate flows since 1975.
ASC also manufactures standard and custom test equipment, including probes and wind tunnels, enabling customers to collect data accurately and efficiently. ASC offers comprehensive flow solutions and optimization and serves a wide range of industries including HVAC, power, auto, rail, and food processing.