Immersion Cooling for Data Centers: A True Breakthrough

Liquid immersion cooling is a technology gaining adoption as a practical option for overcoming data center heat issues and the subsequent loss of rack density. Some of tech’s biggest names are taking advantage, and demand is only growing.

Immersion cooling applications submerge computer components in a nonconducting dielectric fluid. Two types of immersion cooling systems are in use today: single-phase and two-phase. Though both methods involve fully submerging hardware in fluid, each approach differs significantly.

In single-phase immersion cooling, hardware is submerged in a dielectric fluid that makes direct contact with the IT equipment, conducting heat away as the fluid flows through a heat rejection mechanism. Organic or halogenated fluids may both be used in this application, although the latter are typically associated with higher cost and a less favorable environmental sustainability profile.

In two-phase cooling, a fluorocarbon-based fluid readily boils when in contact with equipment hot spots, transitioning the fluid from a liquid to a vapor that can be condensed in a heat exchanger and recirculated into the cooling tank. This phase change of liquid to gas allows the fluid to draw large amounts of heat from the equipment, but also requires integration of system design elements to facilitate the transition and a sealed system to prevent costly fluid loss from evaporation.

For data centers, both setups can lead to major benefits, including:

Enhanced
power density

Extended
equipment life

Better thermal
performance

Better use of
floor space

Greater Power
Usage
Effectiveness

Comparing Data Center Cooling Options