Hydro cooling, or water cooling, uses water as a cooling medium to effectively dissipate heat from mining hardware. This technique has become increasingly popular among operators due to its superior efficiency and the ability to achieve high hashrate density. But how exactly does hydro cooling work? What infrastructure is required? And do the benefits truly outweigh the potential challenges? Let’s dive in and explore.
Hydro-Cooled System
Direct vs Indirect Water Cooling
Similar Advantages as Immersion
Bitmain’s Latest Hydro Miner Launch: U321EXPH
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Cooling Compared: Three Pros & Cons per System.
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Hydro-Cooled System
Hydro cooling, also known as water cooling, employs water as a cooling medium to extract heat from mining hardware. Water is circulated through a closed-loop system that directly contacts the heat producing components of the mining rigs. The heated water is subsequently pumped to a heat exchanger, where the heat is transferred to another water loop or dissipated into the environment.
A common heat exchanger used in a hydro setup is a so-called dry cooler which is specifically designed to dissipate heat from a process fluid (such as coolant or refrigerant) by using ambient air as the cooling medium. Dry coolers use a series of finned tubes through which the process fluid flows, while ambient air is forced over the tubes to remove heat.
In hydro-cooled systems, water flows through a network of pipes or channels that directly interact with the mining hardware. As the water passes through the cooling system, it absorbs the generated heat. The heated water is then circulated away from the mining hardware and either cooled via a heat exchanger or discharged into a cooling reservoir, such as a nearby river or lake. Once the water has released its heat and cooled down, it is recirculated back to the mining hardware to perpetuate the cooling cycle.
Direct vs Indirect Water Cooling
In direct water cooling systems, water is circulated directly over the surface of the mining hardware, typically through water blocks or heat sinks attached to the components.
On the other hand, indirect water cooling systems utilize a separate closed-loop system to cool a coolant, such as glycol or a specialized refrigerant. This coolant is then employed to indirectly cool the mining hardware via a heat exchanger.
Similar Advantages as Immersion
Hydro cooled setups offer similar advantages as immersion cooling methods, most important benefits being:
High Efficiency: Hydro cooling is highly efficient in dissipating heat from mining equipment. Water has a much higher heat capacity than air, allowing it to absorb more heat energy per unit volume. This translates to more effective cooling, lower operating temperatures for the mining hardware, and lower electricity costs.
Uniform Cooling: Unlike air cooling, which can result in uneven cooling across different components of the mining hardware, hydro cooling provides more uniform cooling. Water can effectively reach and cool all areas of the equipment, reducing the risk of hotspots and ensuring consistent performance.
Silent Operation: Hydro cooling systems operate silently, as they do not require fans or other mechanical components for cooling. This makes them suitable for deployment in noise-sensitive environments, such as residential areas or office buildings.
Environmental Impact: Hydro cooling has a lower environmental impact compared to immersion cooling, as it does not involve the use of dielectric fluids that require special handling and disposal procedures. Water is a readily available and environmentally friendly cooling medium, making hydro cooling a more sustainable option.
High Hashrate Density: Hydro cooled ASICs miners have a higher hashrate density than conventional mining machines which means less space per TH is required. Additionally hydro cooling setups typically consist of compact components which can be arranged in a space efficient manner to maximize equipment density.
Challenges
While hydro-cooled mining offers numerous advantages, it also presents challenges for miners. One major hurdle is the higher initial capital investment required, particularly with setups like Bitmain’s, which often require bulk purchases and container integration, driving up costs. Additionally, the specialized expertise needed for hydro-cooled setups, including skilled plumbers, poses staffing challenges due to the scarcity of individuals with relevant experience. The intricate system of tubes and heat exchange mechanisms increases the risk of potential points of failure, exacerbated by wear and tear on quick connectors leading to leakage. Moreover, maintaining an adequate and quality water supply is essential, requiring filtration systems to address calcium and magnesium, while incorrect cooling system flow rates can nullify potential efficiency gains, underscoring the complexity and resource demands of hydro-cooled mining operations.
Bitmain’s Latest Hydro Miner Launch: U321EXPH
Bitmain is set to launch the Antminer U3S21EXPH, boasting an incredible 860 TH/s at an impressive 13 J/TH. To put that into perspective, it’s nearly double the hashrate of the S21XP Hyd (473 TH/s). Power consumption at 35°C is expected to be 11,180 watts. The U3S21EXPH has the dimensions of a 3U server (900*486.2*132). This is deviating from the previous hydro-cooled models.
And now we move on to the next content for our Premium Members:
Cooling Compared: Three Pros & Cons per System.
Air-Cooling
Immersion-Cooling
Hydro-Cooling
If you’re finding this article helpful, don’t miss out on our comprehensive guide, ‘Mastering Bitcoin Mining.’ This in-depth 50-page handbook covers everything you need to know to launch and scale your mining operation. We explore all cooling systems, essential components of mining infrastructure, containerized solutions, ASIC machines, firmware, monitoring software, and much more.
