They told me heating my pool with a PC was stupid - Whole Server Room Pool Watercooling Part 1
**Title: Harnessing Server Room Heat for Home Efficiency: A Comprehensive Guide**
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**Introduction to the Problem: The server room is too hot.**
In the newly built house, the server room has become a sweltering hotspot, thanks to its confined, insulated space packed with multiple computers. Currently housing five systems, the room's temperature soars, and with plans for additional servers in the gaming and family rooms, the heat issue promises to escalate further. The challenge is not just about cooling but repurposing this excess energy efficiently.
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**Initial Idea: Using pool water as a thermal reservoir.**
The initial thought was straightforward: use the pool as a massive thermal reservoir. By plumbingserver room pipes directly into the pool, the idea was to leverage its large volume to absorb heat. However, this approach faced immediate hurdles due to the filthy nature of pool water and potential chemical reactions with system materials.
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**Challenges with Pool Water: Filthy and chemically reactive.**
Pool water's impurities—dead skin cells, hair, leaves, bird debris, and chemicals like chlorine—pose a significant threat to delicate cooling components. The server room setup includes various materials (PETG, copper, nickel, rubber O-rings), making direct contact with pool water risky. This contamination risk could lead to system corrosion and fouling, rendering the initial idea impractical.
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**Exploring Heat Exchangers: Fluid vs. air-based, materials issues.**
To mitigate these risks, fluid heat exchangers were considered. These devices allow heat exchange between two fluids without direct contact, reducing contamination chances. However, selecting a suitable model proved challenging due to material limitations. Steel models posed durability issues, while exotic materials like titanium offered better resistance but came at a higher cost.
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**Brainstorming Solutions: Closed-loop system, radiator idea.**
Faced with these challenges, the concept of a closed-loop cooling system emerged. Instead of using pool water directly, fresh distilled water would circulate in a separate loop, exchanging heat through a radiator. This setup avoids pool contaminants and ensures efficient heat dissipation without environmental loss.
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**Hydronic Heating System Approach: PVC tubing in concrete, working with plumbers.**
The next evolution involved integrating hydronic heating principles into the cooling system. By embedding PVC tubing within the pool's rebar structure during concrete pouring, a network of pipes was created to facilitate heat exchange. This approach required collaboration with plumbers skilled in similar setups, ensuring seamless integration and long-term durability.
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**Detailed Plan: Two loops for heating and cooling, integration with solar panels.**
The plan involves two independent loops:
1. **Heating Loop:** Utilizes solar panel-generated hot water to heat pool water efficiently.
2. **Cooling Loop:** Draws heat from the server room using fresh water, ensuring computer safety.
This dual-loop system ensures optimal heat distribution, with priority given to pool heating when needed. Solar panels not only contribute to heating but also enhance their efficiency by operating in a cooler environment.
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**Cooling the Server Room: Options like water blocks or a cold door.**
Multiple cooling strategies are under consideration for the server room:
- **Water Blocks:** Direct cooling of individual servers using water.
- **Cold Door System:** A large water-cooled door that exchanges heat from the room, requiring minimal cooling water.
This approach aims to maintain manageable temperatures without overburdening the system.
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**Technical Setup: Pumps, valves, temperature sensors, manifolds.**
The technical setup includes:
- Pumps with battery backup for server stability.
- Valves and manifolds controlling fluid flow between loops.
- Temperature sensors monitoring critical points like pool water and radiator efficiency.
This configuration ensures efficient heat management, adapting to varying demands.
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**Conclusion and Sponsorship Message: NZXT cases.**
In conclusion, the project showcases innovative energy utilization, transforming a problem into an opportunity for home efficiency. For those interested in enhancing their PC setup, NZXT's H7 series offers stylish, tool-less panels, ideal for custom builds and cooling solutions.
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This article provides a detailed exploration of repurposing server room heat for household benefits, offering insights into technical challenges, innovative solutions, and future plans.