Comment on China begins assembling its supercomputer in space

AcesFullOfKings@feddit.uk ⁨2⁩ ⁨days⁩ ago

• JillyB@beehaw.org ⁨2⁩ ⁨days⁩ ago

  I would imagine some sort of heat pump is being used to transfer the heat from the electronics to the radiators.

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  • huquad@lemmy.ml ⁨2⁩ ⁨days⁩ ago

    Fun fact, this isn’t all that effective because of the compressor heat/inefficiency. You get some benefit, but you also introduce moving parts and complexity.

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    • UniversalBasicJustice@lemmy.dbzer0.com ⁨2⁩ ⁨days⁩ ago

      You’re absolutely right. Ive seen a few mentions of research into phase changing materials for heat transfer, but I think the technology is still in its infancy. Would be cool to see a static PCM heat exchanger. Might be possible to leverage sun exposure/shading for more favorable ∆T? Been a bit since senior Heat Transfer.

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      • Powderhorn@beehaw.org ⁨1⁩ ⁨day⁩ ago

        In this economy, they’re only hiring junior Heat Transfers.

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      • huquad@lemmy.ml ⁨2⁩ ⁨days⁩ ago

        PCMs are already used but also have their limits. They’re heavy and only help if you’re consistently going through temperature swings like behind Earth’s shadow. Depending on your Beta angle, which changes as the earth revolves around the sun and your orbit precesses, you could be exposed to sun 24/7, so PCM wouldn’t help much.

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  • Midnitte@beehaw.org ⁨2⁩ ⁨days⁩ ago

    Seems like ocean supercomputers would be more viable…

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• megopie@beehaw.org ⁨2⁩ ⁨days⁩ ago

  These are likely only using a few kilowatts, calling them data centers or super computers is an absurd hyperbole.

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• TauZero@mander.xyz ⁨1⁩ ⁨day⁩ ago

  If you have a megawatt solar array, you can also afford a megawatt cooling array. The size is comparable.

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