US011659682B2
`
`a2) United States Patent
`US 11,659,682 B2
`(10) Patent No.:
`
`(45) Date of Patent: May23, 2023
`Barbour
`
`(54) PORTABLE BLOCKCHAIN MINING
`SYSTEMS AND METHODS OF USE
`
`(56)
`
`References Cited
`U.S. PATENT DOCUMENTS
`
`(71) Applicant: Upstream Data Inc., Lloydminster
`(CA)
`
`5,943,221 A *
`
`8/1999 Asai wee HO02M 5/271
`363/136
`
`(72)
`
`Inventor: Stephen Barbour, Lloydminster (CA)
`
`(73) Assignee: Upstream Data Inc., Llyodminister
`(CA)
`
`(*) Notice:
`
`Subject to any disclaimer, the term ofthis
`patent is extended or adjusted under 35
`U.S.C. 154(b) by 0 days.
`
`EP
`EP
`
`7,542,947 B2
`
`6/2009 Guyonet al.
`(Continued)
`
`FOREIGN PATENT DOCUMENTS
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`3054405
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`10/2016
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`
`(Continued)
`
`OTHER PUBLICATIONS
`
`(21) Appl. No.: 17/100,744
`
`(22)
`
`Filed:
`
`Nov. 20, 2020
`
`(65)
`
`(30)
`
`Prior Publication Data
`
`US 2021/0298195 Al
`
`Sep. 23, 2021
`
`Foreign Application Priority Data
`
`Mar. 21, 2020
`
`(CA) wcccceececeteeetees CA 3076653
`
`(51)
`
`Int. Cl.
`GO6F 1/20
`HO5SK 7/20
`
`(2006.01)
`(2006.01)
`(Continued)
`
`(52) U.S. Cl.
`CPC wo. HO5K 7/1497 (2013.01); FO2B 63/044
`(2013.01); GO6F 1/181 (2013.01);
`(Continued)
`(58) Field of Classification Search
`CPC wees HOS5K 7/1497; HOS5K 7/20181; HOSK
`7/20745; FO2B 63/044; GO6F 1/181;
`GO6F 1/20; FO1P 2001/005; H02K 9/06
`See application file for complete search history.
`
`Wiki, Mining, accessed Jan. 19, 2017, 4 pages, URL=https://en.
`bitcoin.it/wiki/Mining.
`
`(Continued)
`
`Primary Examiner — Stephen S Sul
`(74) Attorney, Agent, or Firm — Robert A. Nissen
`
`(57)
`
`ABSTRACT
`
`Portable blockchain mining systems and methodsofuse are
`discussed here. Systems include a portable building; a
`plurality of blockchain mining processors mounted within,
`or a plurality of blockchain mining processor mounts located
`within, an interior of the portable building; an air inlet
`defined in the portable building; and an air outlet defined in
`the portable building. Air outlets may be abovetheair inlet
`and oriented to direct exhaust air in an upward direction out
`of the portable building. A cooling fan may be connected to
`convey air through the air inlet, across the plurality of
`blockchain mining processors and out the air outlet. The
`cooling fan may simultaneously cool a genset and proces-
`sors 72. Compact, stackable mining modules are discussed.
`
`21 Claims, 15 Drawing Sheets
`
`~ 42, 14
`
`108
`
`1
`
`Exhibit 1024
`Crusoe v. Upstream
`PGR2023-00039
`
`T4E
`
`Exhibit 1024
`Crusoe v. Upstream
`PGR2023-00039
`
`1
`
`

`

`US 11,659,682 B2
`
`Page 2
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`(51)
`
`(2006.01)
`(2006.01)
`(2006.01)
`(2006.01)
`(2006.01)
`(2006.01)
`(2006.01)
`(2022.01)
`
`Int. Cl.
`HOSK 7/14
`GO6F 15/16
`F02B 63/04
`HO02K 9/06
`HOAL 9/06
`GO6F 1/18
`FOIP 1/00
`HOAL 9/00
`(52) U.S. Cl
`CPC veeeesssseeseen GO6F 1/20 (2013.01); GO6F 1/206
`(2013.01); GOGF 15/161 (2013.01); HO2K
`9/06 (2013.01); HO4L 9/0643 (2013.01):
`HOSK 7/20181 (2013.01); HOSK 7/20745
`(2013.01); FOIP 2001/005 (2013.01); HO4L
`9/50 (2022.05)
`
`(56)
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`
`* cited by examiner
`
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`US 11,659,682 B2
`
`1
`PORTABLE BLOCKCHAIN MINING
`SYSTEMS AND METHODS OF USE
`
`CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED
`APPLICATIONS
`
`This application claims the benefit under 35 U.S.C. § 119
`of Canadian Patent Application No. 3,076,563, filed Mar. 21,
`2020, the entirety of which is incorporated by reference.
`
`TECHNICAL FIELD
`
`This document relates to portable blockchain mining
`systems and methods ofuse.
`
`BACKGROUND
`
`Intermodal transport container units are knownto be used
`to house plural cryptocurrency mining processors connected
`through the internet to verify cryptocurrency transactions.
`Such units consume enormous amounts of electricity and
`generate excessive heat as a result.
`
`SUMMARY
`
`A system is disclosed comprising a portable blockchain
`mining system and a power source connected to supply
`power to the portable blockchain mining system.
`A portable blockchain mining system is disclosed com-
`prising: a portable building; an engine; a plurality of block-
`chain mining processors; a generator connected to be driven
`by the engine and connected to power the plurality of
`blockchain mining processors; and a cooling fan oriented to
`draw air through the portable building to cool and maintain,
`in use, the engine and the plurality of blockchain mining
`processors within respective operating ranges of tempera-
`ture.
`
`A methodis disclosed comprising operating an engine in
`a portable building to power a generator to powera plurality
`of blockchain mining processors in the portable building,
`while a cooling fan moves cooling air across the engine and
`the plurality of blockchain mining processors to maintain the
`engine and the plurality of blockchain mining processors
`within respective operating ranges of temperature.
`A portable blockchain mining system is disclosed com-
`prising: a portable building having side walls, a roof, and a
`floor, collectively defining an interior; an engine mountedto
`the floor of the portable building within the interior; an
`engine radiator mounted within the interior and connected to
`supply and return coolant to and from the engine; a plurality
`of blockchain mining processors mounted on a rack in a
`vertical stack within the interior adjacentan air inlet in a side
`wall of the portable building; one or more controllers
`connected to operate the plurality of blockchain mining
`processors; a generator mounted within the interior of the
`portable building and connected to be driven by the engine
`and connected to powerthe plurality of blockchain mining
`processors; and a cooling fan forming part of the engine
`radiator and mounted within the interior, the cooling fan
`oriented to draw air through the air inlet into the portable
`building, across the plurality of blockchain mining proces-
`sors, across the radiator, and out the air outlet to cool and
`maintain, in use, the engine and the plurality of blockchain
`mining processors within respective operating ranges of
`temperature.
`In some cases the engine may be sped up to generate more
`power & mutually or correspondingly increase the ASIC
`
`10
`
`15
`
`20
`
`25
`
`30
`
`35
`
`40
`
`45
`
`50
`
`55
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`60
`
`65
`
`2
`load (either by overclocking the computers or adding more
`computers) in response to more gas availability or when
`more poweris desired and vice versa slowing both down.
`A portable blockchain mining system is disclosed com-
`prising: a portable blockchain mining module, having: a) a
`portable building having side walls, a base, and a roof,
`which collectively define an interior; b) an air inlet in a first
`of the side walls; c) an air outlet in a second of the side walls
`opposite to the first of the side walls; d) a plurality of
`blockchain mining processors within the interior; and one or
`both: e) a module mounting mechanism configured to permit
`respective portable blockchain mining modules that are
`identical to the portable blockchain mining module to be:
`stacked above and secured to the roof of the portable
`blockchain mining module; and stacked below and secured
`to the base of the portable blockchain mining module; and
`f) a third of the side walls and a fourth of the side walls,
`opposite to the third of the side walls with the third and the
`fourth of the side walls between the first and the second of
`
`the side walls, structured to permit respective portable
`blockchain mining modules that are identical to the portable
`blockchain mining module to be positioned in contact or
`close proximity adjacent the third of the side walls or the
`fourth of the side walls to form a horizontal row of portable
`blockchain mining modules.
`A methodis disclosed comprising operating a plurality of
`portable blockchain mining modules to process mining
`transactions,
`the plurality of portable blockchain mining
`modules being arranged to form a wall of portable block-
`chain mining modules, with each of the plurality of portable
`blockchain mining modules having a portable building that
`contains a plurality of blockchain mining processors andthat
`defines an air inlet and an air outlet, the wall having one or
`moreof: a vertical stack of two or more portable blockchain
`mining modules, with a base of one portable blockchain
`mining module secured to a roof of another portable block-
`chain mining module; and a horizontal row of two or more
`portable blockchain mining modules, with a side wall of one
`portable blockchain mining module positioned in contact or
`close proximity adjacent to a side wall of another portable
`blockchain mining module.
`In various embodiments, there may be included any one
`or moreof the following features: Theairinlet is defined in
`a side wall of the portable building. Each blockchain mining
`processor has associated with it a processor fan, which is
`oriented to direct air from the air inlet laterally across the
`respective blockchain mining processor and toward a center
`of the interior of the portable building. At least 50%, for
`example at least 75% of a total external surface area of the
`side wall formstheair inlet. A roof of the portable building
`defines an air outlet or a roof air passage to the air outlet. A
`floor of the portable building defines the air inlet or a floor
`air passageto theair inlet. At least 50%, for exampleatleast
`75% of a total external surface area of the side wall forms
`
`the air inlet. The power source comprises: a source of
`combustible gas produced from an oil production, storage,
`or processing facility; and a generator connected to the
`source of combustible gas. The power source comprises a
`source of power from other than an oil or gas well, for
`example the power source comprises grid or other utility
`power. The blockchain mining processor has a network
`interface; the network interface is connected to receive and
`transmit data through the internet to a network that stores or
`has access to a blockchain database; and the mining pro-
`cessor is connected to the network interface and adapted to
`minetransactions into blocks associated with the blockchain
`database and to communicate with the blockchain database.
`
`18
`
`18
`
`

`

`US 11,659,682 B2
`
`3
`the blockchain
`The network is a peer to peer network;
`database is a distributed database stored on plural nodes in
`the peer to peer network; and the blockchain database stores
`transactional information for a digital currency. A controller
`is connected to operate a ventilation, heating and cooling
`system to maintain the blockchain mining processor within
`a predetermined operating range of temperature. The block-
`chain mining system is mounted on a skid ortrailer. The skid
`or trailer comprises a generator driven by an engine, which
`is connected to the source of combustible gas. The engine
`comprises a turbine. The generator and engine may be
`mounted integral to the skid, trailer, or blockchain mining
`system. Operating the blockchain mining system to: mine
`transactions with the blockchain mining system, for example
`by mining the most recent block on the blockchain with the
`blockchain mining system; and communicate wirelessly
`through the internet
`to communicate with a blockchain
`database. The network interfaces comprise one or more of a
`satellite, cellular, or radio antenna, connected to a modem.
`Successfully mining a block by a mining processor provides
`a reward of the digital currency, and the reward is assigned
`to a digital wallet or address stored on a computer readable
`medium. The system runs on polyphase (three phase) power
`or single-phase power. The engine, plurality of blockchain
`mining processors, and cooling fan are oriented in line with
`one another along an axis defined by the portable building.
`The plurality of blockchain mining processors are located
`upstream of the engine or an engine radiator connected to
`supply and return coolant to and from the engine, along a
`cooling air path defined by the portable building and the
`cooling fan. Components are ordered as follows along the
`cooling air path—the plurality of blockchain mining pro-
`cessors, the generator, the engine, the cooling fan, and the
`engine radiator connected to supply and return coolant to
`and from the engine. A radiator is mounted across a cooling
`air path defined by the portable building andthe cooling fan,
`the engine connected to supply and return coolant to and
`from the engine. An engineradiator formspart ofthe engine,
`with the cooling fan forming part of the engine radiator, the
`engine radiator connected to supply and return coolant to
`and from the engine, and the engine radiator mounted across
`a cooling air path defined by the portable building and the
`cooling fan. One or more controllers for example connected
`to operate one or moreofthe plurality of blockchain mining
`processors, the engine, the generator, and the cooling fan.
`The one or more controllers are configured to modulate a
`speed of the engine to respectively modulate a current
`frequency and powercreated by the generator to respec-
`tively modulate a mining activity level of the plurality of
`blockchain mining processors. The one or more controllers
`are configured to modulate the speed of the engine in
`response to a production rate of a combustible gas that is
`connected to power the engine. The one or more controllers
`are configured to respectively modulate the mining activity
`by a) modulating a numberof, or b) a current frequency of
`powersent to, active blockchain mining processors in the
`plurality of blockchain mining processors. A vent that is
`structured to regulate a flux of air flow moving through the
`portable building along the cooling air path across the
`plurality of blockchain mining processors. The cooling fan
`defines or is adjacent to an air inlet or air outlet in the
`portable building, and the ventis adjacenttheair inletor air
`outlet to, when open, recirculate air flow across the cooling
`fan through the air inlet or air outlet. The vent comprises
`adjustable louvers. The portable building has side walls, a
`roof, and a floor. The engine is mounted on the floor.
`External surfaces of the portable building define an air inlet
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`and an air outlet along a cooling air path defined by the
`portable building and the cooling fan. The air inlet and the
`air outlet are defined by side walls of the portable building.
`The air inlet and the air outlet are defined by opposed end
`walls of the side walls. Louvers are at one or both the air
`
`inlet and air outlet. The plurality of blockchain mining
`processors are mounted on a rack in a vertical stack, adjacent
`the air inlet. The portable building comprises an intermodal
`transport container. The portable building has length, width,
`and height dimensions of each between three and nine feet.
`The portable building forms a ground engaging skid. The
`cooling fan is structured and oriented to provide sufficient
`cooling such that, in use, the plurality of blockchain mining
`processors do not require respective dedicated processor
`fans. The generator is structured to produce alternating
`current above 60 Hz, for example while the engine is
`running above 1800 RPM (revolutions per minute). The
`generator is structured to produce alternating current at or
`above 80 Hz, for example while the engine is running at or
`above 2400 RPM (revolutions per minute). The portable
`building encloses the engine, the generator, the cooling fan,
`and the plurality of blockchain mining processors; and the
`plurality of blockchain mining processors are located
`upstream of the engine or an engine radiator connected to
`supply and return coolant to and from the engine, along a
`cooling air path defined by the portable building and the
`cooling fan. Adjusting a vent to regulate a flux of air flow
`moving through the portable building along the cooling air
`path across the plurality of blockchain mining processors.
`The generator is operated to produce alternating current
`above 60 Hz to the plurality of blockchain mining proces-
`sors, for example while the engine is running at or above
`1800 RPM (revolutions per minute). The portable building
`is located at, and the engine is powered by a source of
`combustible gas produced at, a hydrocarbon production
`well, storage, or processing facility. Increasing a speed of the
`engineto increase one or both a current frequency and power
`generated by the generator to increase a mining activity level
`of the plurality of blockchain mining processors. Decreasing
`the speed of the engine to decrease one or both a current
`frequency and power generated by the generator to decrease
`a mining activity level of the plurality of blockchain mining
`processors. The speed of the engine is
`increased or
`decreased in response to a production rate of the combus-
`tible gas. The mining activity level is increased or decreased,
`respectively, by increasing or decreasing a) a numberof, or
`b) a current frequency and powersent to, active blockchain
`mining processors in the plurality of blockchain mining
`processors. The module mounting mechanism comprises
`cooperating mounting parts on the roof and the base that
`cooperate to secure to cooperating mounting parts on the
`base or roof, respectively, of the respective portable block-
`chain mining modules that are identical
`to the portable
`blockchain mining module to permit the respective portable
`blockchain mining modules to be stacked above or below
`the portable blockchain mining module. The cooperating
`mounting parts comprise respective apertures that align
`during stacking to receive respective fasteners to secure
`vertically adjacent portable blockchain mining modules
`together. The cooperating mounting parts comprise mount-
`ing rails on the base of the portable blockchain mining
`module. The cooperating mounting parts comprise lifting
`lugs on the roof of the portable blockchain mining module.
`The cooperating mounting parts are accessible from one or
`both the first and the second of the side walls. At least 50%,
`for example at least 75% of a total external surface area of
`the first of the side walls forms the air inlet. At least 50%,
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`US 11,659,682 B2
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`for example at least 75% of a total external surface area of
`the second of the side walls formsthe air outlet. An airfilter
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`across the air inlet. A cooling fan mounted within the interior
`and oriented to draw air from the air inlet to the air outlet
`
`across the plurality of blockchain mining processors. The
`plurality of blockchain mining processors are mounted on a
`rack within the interior in a vertical stack. The plurality of
`blockchain mining processors are connected to receive
`power from a power source externalto the portable building.
`The portable blockchain mining module further comprises
`one or more of: a variable frequency drive (VFD); a power
`distribution unit; and a load controller configured to adjust
`operation of the plurality of blockchain mining processors
`depending on input power. The portable building is a cube.
`The portable building has length, width, and height dimen-
`sions of about four feet. The portable blockchain mining
`system is structured to permit respective portable blockchain
`mining modulesthat are identical to the portable blockchain
`mining module to be secured to a third and a fourth of the
`side walls, opposite one another and located between the
`first and second ofthe side walls, to form a horizontal row
`of portable blockchain mining modules. Two or more por-
`table blockchain mining modules secured together to form a
`wall of portable blockchain mining modules. Two or more of
`the portable blockchain mining modules are stacked in a
`vertical stack one on top of the other and secured together
`using respective module mounting mechanisms. Two or
`more of the portable blockchain mining modules are
`arranged in a horizontal row and secured together using
`respective module mounting mechanisms. The portable
`blockchain mining modules are aligned such that the air
`inlets are located ona first side of the wall, and the air outlets
`are located on a second side of the wall. The portable
`blockchain mining modules are connected to receive power
`from a central power source. Before operating, stacking the
`plurality of portable blockchain mining modules in the
`vertical stack by securing the base of the first portable
`blockchain mining moduleto the roof of the second portable
`blockchain mining module. The wall has a horizontal row of
`two or more portable blockchain mining modules, with a
`side wall of one portable blockchain mining module secured
`to a side wall of another portable blockchain mining module.
`These andother aspects of the device and methodare set
`out in the claims, which are incorporated here by reference.
`
`BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE FIGURES
`
`Embodiments will now be described with reference to the
`
`figures, in which like reference characters denote like ele-
`ments, by way of example, and in which:
`FIGS. 1-7 are front perspective (FIG. 1), top plan (FIG.
`2), rear elevation (FIG.3, radiator and cooling fan removed
`for illustration), side elevation (FIG. 4), front elevation
`(FIG. 5), opposite side elevation (FIG. 6), and base plan
`(FIG. 7) views of a skid-mounted engine and generator
`combination
`
`FIG. 8 is an end elevation view of a generator used in the
`combination of FIG. 1.
`
`FIGS. 9-10 are side elevation (FIG. 9) and front perspec-
`tive (FIG. 10) views of a portable blockchain mining system
`that houses the engine/generator combination of FIG. 1.
`FIG.11 is a rear perspective view of the system of FIG.
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`9.
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`FIG.12 is a front perspective view of the system of FIG.
`9 with the access door open to reveal the interior compo-
`nents of the system.
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`FIG. 13 is a front perspective view of the system of FIG.
`9 with the access door open to reveal the interior compo-
`nents of the system.
`FIG. 14 is a front perspective view of the system of FIG.
`9 with three access doors open.
`FIG. 15 is a front perspective view of a typical ASIC
`processor.
`FIG. 16 is a cross-sectional view of the portable block-
`chain mining system of FIG. 9 showing the interior com-
`ponents.
`FIG. 17 is a rear perspective view of a variation of the
`portable blockchain mining system of FIG. 9 with arrows
`used to delineate the flow of air through the portable
`building.
`FIG. 18 is a cross-sectional view of the embodiment of
`
`FIG. 17 of the portable blockchain mining system showing
`the interior components.
`FIG. 19 is a schematic of electrical and network compo-
`nents of a portable blockchain mining system.
`FIG. 19A is a graph that illustrates short-term changes in
`available natural gas produced over time by an oil produc-
`tion, storage, or processing facility.
`FIG. 19Bis a graph that illustrates long-term changes in
`available natural gas produced over time by an oil produc-
`tion, storage, or processing facility.
`FIGS. 20-21 are rear and front perspective views, respec-
`tively, of a portable blockchain mining module, with a mast,
`and with module mounting parts accessible from the front
`and rear ends.
`
`FIGS. 22-24 are rear, front (with access door open), and
`rear (with a front access door open and the roof and one side
`wall removed for illustration) perspective views, respec-
`tively, of a portable blockchain mining module.
`FIG. 25is a side elevation view of the module of FIG. 22
`with the roof and one side wall removedfor illustration.
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`FIG. 26 is a rear perspective view of a variation of the
`embodiment of FIG. 22 with one side wall removed for
`illustration.
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`FIGS. 27-29 are rear perspective views of a wall com-
`prising a plurality of portable blockchain mining modules
`arranged in various configurations, including a single ver-
`tical stack (FIG. 27), two rows of four modules stacked
`vertically on one another (FIG. 28), and two rows of two
`modules stacked vertically on one another (FIG. 29), with
`the air inlets andair outlets of each module oriented to form
`an inlet side and an outlet side of the wall of modules.
`
`FIG. 27A is a close-up exploded view of cooperating
`module mounting parts mating with one another view a
`fastener to secure the stack together.
`FIG. 30 is a front perspective view of a portable block-
`chain mining module with a wider base than a height.
`FIGS. 31-33 are front perspective views of another
`embodimentof a portable blockchain mining module, in a
`vertical stack (FIG. 31) and a single module (FIG. 32), with
`the front access door removed for illustration.
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`FIG. 33 is a front perspective view of a plurality of the
`portable blockchain mining modules of FIG. 32 arranged in
`a vertical stack laterally adjacent a third module nearby.
`FIG. 34 is a schematic of an example arrangement of
`electrical and network components of a portable blockchain
`mining system with an engine and mining processors in a
`single container with a common cooling fan.
`FIG. 35 is a schematic of a second example arrangement
`of electrical and network components of a portable block-
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`US 11,659,682 B2
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`7
`chain mining system with an engine and mining processors
`in a single container with a commoncooling fan.
`
`DETAILED DESCRIPTION
`
`Immaterial modifications may be made to the embodi-
`ments described here without departing from what is cov-
`ered by the claims.
`A cryptocurrency (or crypto currency) is a digital asset
`designed to work as a medium of exchange that uses strong
`cryptography to secure financial transactions, control the
`creation of additional units, and verify the transferofassets.
`Cryptocurrencies use decentralized control as opposed to
`centralized digital currency and central banking systems.
`The decentralized control of each cryptocurrency works
`through distributed ledger technology,
`typically a block-
`chain that serves as a public financial transaction database.
`A blockchain is a form of database, which may be saved
`as a distributed ledger in a network of nodes that maintains
`a continuously growing list of records called blocks. Each
`block contains a timestamp anda link to a previous block.
`The data in a block cannotbe altered retrospectively without
`significant computational effort and majority consensus of
`the network. The first blockchain was conceptualized by
`Satoshi Nakamoto in 2008 and implemented the following
`year as a core component of the digital currency Bitcoin,
`where it serves as the public ledger for all transactions.
`Through the