Cooling in Space
3 days ago
- #Orbital Data Centers
- #Space Cooling
- #Blackbody Radiation
- Cooling GPUs in orbital data centers is feasible using blackbody radiation to dissipate heat into space.
- The Stefan–Boltzmann law shows power radiated scales with temperature to the fourth power and radiator area.
- Heat transfer can be achieved via fluids like gases (e.g., CO2) pumped through chips to radiators, avoiding heavy liquids.
- For GPUs at 300K, radiator area needs to be about 2% of solar panel area; at 400K, it rises to ~5%.
- Heat pumps could increase radiator efficiency by raising its temperature, reducing area needed but using extra power.
- Radiators must avoid Earth-facing sections to prevent radiative equilibrium with Earth's ~300K temperature.
- Engineering challenges include lightweight, foldable radiators and gas cooling loops, but are considered solvable.