MONITORING AND MANAGEMENT SYSTEM OF OPERATIONAL AND PERFORMANCE PARAMETERS OF A CRYPTOCURRENCY MINING FARM

Abstract

The present invention is a system intended to ensure the safe and efficient operation of cryptocurrency mining farm based on Bitcoin payment systems that in particular manages its functioning and the operational parameters of its equipment. The system comprises a power supply unit (PSU), a control microcomputer installed in the PSU, logging devices installed on hashboards across the farm miners that log working parameters for the farm, and a logging device to log the operational parameters of the farm that is installed in the PSU; the logging devices support data transfer to miners' microcomputers via a serial peripheral interface, an automatic power-off device is installed in the PSU. The decision-making module of the master is connected to the interface in order to perform emergency shutdown of the farm if its current working parameters differ from optimal.

Claims

1. A system to control an external and internal operational parameters of a cryptocurrency mining farm, comprising: a power supply unit (PSU), a control microcomputer installed in the PSU, miners' logging devices that log the external and internal operational parameters of the farm that are installed on hashboards across farm miners, and a first logging device to log the external and internal operational parameters of the farm which is installed in the PSU, wherein the miners' logging devices located on the hashboards support data transfer to the miners' microcomputers; an automatic farm power-off device installed in the PSU, wherein the control microcomputer connects to the farm miners' microcomputers to receive data from (1) the miners' logging devices located on the hashboards and (2) statistical data from the miners' microcomputers and (3) the logging device located in the PSU that logs the farm's operational parameters; wherein the control microcomputer supports transferring data on the farm operational parameters and farm error indicators to an interface; the control microcomputer also comprises a data receiving and collecting module that enables receipt and processing of the statistical farm operational data, data on operational and performance parameters for the farm and supports sending current values of the farm operational parameters to the interface and the farm operation information and statistics to a decision-making module of the control microcomputer for purposes of conducting operational parameters and statistics analysis and making a decision on further actions; wherein the decision-making module of the control microcomputer is connected to the interface in order to send the farm error indicators; an execution module connected to the decision-making module in order to receive a signal from the decision-making module, and send a command to a microprocessor of the control microcomputer to perform an emergency farm shutdown if its operational parameters are not within limits of the optimal parameters for this farm; and a launch module connected to the decision-making module in order to receive signal from the decision-making module, which supports sending a command to the microprocessor of the control microcomputer to retain an automatic power-off device state and supply power if the farm operational parameters are within the limits of the standard acceptable parameters for this farm, wherein an automatic farm power-off device is connected to the microprocessor of the control microcomputer and supports management of the automatic farm power-off device.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0031] The essence of the invention is illustrated in FIGS. 1, 2, which show:

[0032] FIG. 1 the general system operation pattern;

[0033] FIG. 2 the block diagram of operations sequence performed by the master's software that illustrates the general view of a sample data exchange between system devices and this farm in this version of the invention.

[0034] Items 1-17 on the figures have the following designations: [0035] 1miner; [0036] 2hashboard (in each miner); [0037] 3temperature sensor (on each hashboard); [0038] 4current sensor (on each hashboard); [0039] 5motherboard (in each miner); [0040] 6microcomputer (in each miner); [0041] 7farm's PSU; [0042] 8ambient temperature and humidity sensor; [0043] 9IGBT transistor; [0044] 10master; [0045] 11switch; [0046] 12data receipt and collection module, [0047] 13decision-making module; [0048] 14execution module; [0049] 15microprocessor; [0050] 16launch module; [0051] 17interface.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT

[0052] The system functions as follows.

[0053] The farm may comprise n miners of similar composition equipped with the same set of sensors.

[0054] Sensors 3 and 4 embedded into hashboards of 2 motherboards in 5 miners 1 continuously log the temperature and current consumption of the hashboards (farm operational parameters). Miners' microcomputers collect data from sensors 3 and 4. Every 10 seconds the data receipt and collection module of master 12 receives the data from the miners via LAN switch 11.

[0055] At the same time, sensor 8 located in the PSU 7 logs ambient temperature and humidity (operational parameters of the farm); every 10 seconds the data receipt and collection module 12 in master 10 receives this data by a wire connection.

[0056] Data receipt and collection module 12 of master 10 receives the following statistical data also with 10-second interval: farm performance and hashboard error data sent by microcomputers of 6 miners via LAN switch 11.

[0057] The data received by the data receipt module 12 in master 10 is processed, at the same time the data about operational parameters of the farm is sent to interface 17, and statistical data together with the operational parameters data is sent for analysis to the decision-making module 13. The decision-making module 13 of the master analyzes the data received by comparing the data received from the data receipt module 12 relating to the temperature and current consumption of the hashboards (farm operational parameters) with the standard permissible farm operational parameters saved in the decision-making module 13, and comparing farm performance data together with the hashboard error data with the saved permissible hashboard error data and preset optimal hashboard performance values. Statistical data analysis output, in particular, the computer farm error data, is sent to the interface. Based on the output of analysis of the operational parameters in decision-making module 13, a decision is made to change or not to change the state of IGBT transistor 9 via the execution module. In case the farm's operational parameters logged by the sensors are not within standard permissible parameters, the decision-making module 13 sends a farm shutdown signal to microprocessor 15 in master 10 via execution module 14. Microprocessor 15 changes the output voltage, it causes the IGBT transistor 9 located in PSU 7 to open the circuit, and that causes emergency power-off of the farm.

[0058] If after analyzing the data on the farm's operational parameters, the decision-making module 13 determines that the farm's operational parameters are acceptable, then the decision-making module sends a signal to launch module 16 to send the command to microprocessor 15 of master 10 (that controls IGBT transistor 9) to retain the IGBT transistor state (if powered on) and supply power to the miners via the IGBT transistor. And, upon receiving the command from launch module 16, microprocessor 15 maintains the previously set control voltage, IGBT transistor 9 does not open the circuit and the power supply for the farm is not interrupted (if the IGBT transistor is off, and the logged farm operational parameters are acceptable, the launch module sends a signal to change the output voltage to turn on the IGBT transistor to enable power supply for the miners).

[0059] Continuous monitoring of the farm's operational parameters and capability to perform automatic power-off if the farm's operational parameters fall out of the limits of set parameters, allow the system to provide better protection of the farm operation, and to prevent emergency situations thus ensuring efficient farm operation.

[0060] Monitoring the hashboard temperature helps prevent overheating of the hashboards and subsequent failure. Monitoring the hashboard power consumption helps prevent overheating of the hashboards in case of current consumption over the preset limit.

[0061] The embodiment also helps to achieve more reliable protection of farm against damaging of important working nodes by allowing faster response to prevent emergency situations resulting from mining under excessive humidity and temperature. Prompt response and expedient steps to prevent emergency situations become possible because the system continuously displays the current ambient temperature and humidity in the interface. Ambient temperature and humidity are of great importance for farm mining. Increasing ambient temperature may adversely affect the farm and may cause the farm equipment to overheat and thus fail. Humidity is also a factor for the farm because operating in increased humidity may lead the steel parts of electrical equipment corroding quickly which in turn results in the farm equipment wearing out and failing, and if a farm operates in decreased humidity, it may lead to overheating because decreased humidity results in decreased heat conductivity of air.