Amazon plans to generate electricity through fluid-moving pipes in their data centers

Amazon manages one of biggest data center network in the world. Recently they expanded he network in the UK, China, and India as well. 

The data centers consume huge amount of electricity. Many companies try to power their data centers using renewable energy. Microsoft, Facebook, and Amazon have previously built data centers around the Columbia River system that produces hydro-electric power.

Amazon has patented an energy harvesting system to generate electricity through fluid-moving pipes in their data centers. A typical data center building includes fluid systems that carry fluids from one place to another within the building. Examples of fluid systems include utility water systems for personal use, process water systems for industrial use, cooling systems, heating systems, and wastewater removal systems.

The fluids move via conduits,. Amazon plans to use turbines with runners in the flow of fluids in the conduits. A generator produces electricity from rotation of the runners. An electrical energy storage device stores the electrical energy produced by the generator. The electrical energy storage device can supply electrical power to various other systems in the data centers.

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