What Is immersion liquid cooling? Lori can provide two phase and single phase immersion liquid cooling

What Is Immersion Cooling?

With the rapid development of global digitization, the cost of cooling systems, energy consumption, cooling space, and impact on the environment have all become considerations in the selection of cooling systems for digitized equipment such as data centers, high-performance computing, and AI servers.

Immersion cooling is an advanced heat dissipation technology that utilizes a special liquid (referred to as a dielectric fluid) to cool heated components. This method absorbs heat from the heat source through the convection of the liquid and transfers it to the external environment via single-phase or two-phase systems. Notable advantages of immersion cooling include its excellent heat transfer performance, stable fluid dynamics characteristics, and the ability to directly contact and cool hot components in liquid form. Currently, commonly used dielectric fluids include mineral oil (MO) and virgin coconut oil (VCO). Compared to indirect cooling methods, immersion cooling ensures uniform cooling across the entire surface of the component, effectively reducing thermal stress caused by localized overheating and improving temperature uniformity in the system. By using cooling media with high thermal conductivity, low viscosity, and high heat capacity, immersion cooling can achieve efficient heat dissipation.

Lori focuses on advanced thermal management solutions for high performance computing (HPC) and data centers.Our products drive the development of green data centers, providing sustainable new and innovative solutions for the development of liquid-cooled servers, immersion liquid cooling systems in data centers.

Classification of Immersion Cooling

Immersion cooling can be categorized into single-phase immersion cooling and two-phase immersion cooling based on whether a phase change occurs during the process.

Single-Phase Immersion Cooling

A single-phase immersion cooling system, as illustrated, is a circulation cooling method that does not undergo a phase change. In this system, electronic components are fully immersed in the dielectric cooling liquid, with servers installed vertically in a cooling tank filled with the thermally conductive dielectric liquid. Heat is transferred through direct contact between the server components and the cooling liquid, and then this heat is removed and cooled in a heat exchanger within the cooling distribution unit (CDU), ultimately being released to the external environment via a cooling tower. Notably, unlike two-phase systems where the coolant boils and generates steam, the coolant in single-phase immersion cooling systems does not boil during the process. Compared to traditional air cooling methods, single-phase immersion cooling technology can significantly reduce computer component temperatures by up to 13°C.

Two-Phase Immersion Cooling

In two-phase immersion cooling, as depicted, electronic components are immersed in a sealed container of a phase-change liquid or a specially designed liquid bath. When the surface temperature of the electronic components exceeds the boiling point of the liquid, a heat transfer process is triggered, causing the liquid close to the components to begin boiling and converting into steam, marki.ng the occurrence of a phase change. Subsequently, this steam rises to a water-based condenser mounted above the liquid bath, where it further condenses back into liquid. During this process, heat is absorbed and carried away by the coolant, while the condensed steam returns to the liquid bath as droplets, completing the cycle.

Lori Immersion Cooling Components

Lori is a trusted global innovator of sustainable solutions. We provide immersion liquid cooling cooling components that make our computing and data center customers' products better, safer, faster, and more reliable. Our immersion liquid cooling cooling solutions advance our customers' immersion liquid cooling technologies, enabling to collaborate with chipmakers, server manufacturers, and coolant suppliers to develop cutting-edge immersion liquid cooling cooling solutions to maximize performance in the world's most advanced data centers.

Lori Connecting Plate

Nowadays, artificial intelligence is developing rapidly, in order to promote energy saving and emission reduction in data centers, and to create green data centers.Intel released the G-Flow immersion liquid-cooling solution, which innovates the design of immersion liquid-cooled machines and immersion liquid-cooled servers, introduces new connecting plates, and solves the problem that customers need to solve - decoupling of immersion liquid-cooled cabinets and server designs.Lori innovative design of the connecting plate improves the coolant cooling capacity for IT components such as CPUs and GPUs, and meets the customer's need for flexibility in a single-phase immersion liquid cooling system.

Lori Two-phase Boiler Plate

Two-phase immersion liquid cooling has the process of coolant boiling and vaporizing.Lori has developed the two-phase boiler plate in order to enhance the boiling ability of the immersion liquid cooling coolant and to promote the consistency of the coolant flow, and dissipates a large amount of heat.Lori two-phase boiler plate for high-power, high-heat CPUs and GPUs is optimized for advanced liquid cooling systems for supercomputers, AI systems, and hyperscale computing applications and can customized materials, BEC materials, homogenizing plates, and other components to optimize two-phase immersion liquid cooling systems for advanced liquid cooling systems for supercomputers, artificial intelligence systems.

Benefits of Immersion Cooling

Liquid immersion cooling technology is renowned for its efficient energy utilization in electronic products, which is one of its significant advantages. This efficiency primarily stems from the integrity of its design, avoiding the additional power consumption and efficiency losses associated with traditional cooling systems featuring connectors, valves, and fans.

Significant Cost Savings

Immersion cooling offers considerable economic advantages. For certain types of immersion cooling, fans may not even be necessary, while the heat regulation effect is excellent. Additionally, traditional cooling technologies occupy a large amount of space and increase overall costs. In contrast, liquid immersion cooling technology can greatly enhance server density, meaning more systems can be deployed within the same space. Dielectric liquids effectively absorb heat, allowing for a reduction or even elimination of less efficient indoor air conditioning systems.

Lower Infrastructure Requirements

Traditional cooling methods require complex infrastructure and equipment support, which may involve additional functionalities, increasing energy consumption. Immersion cooling systems, on the other hand, are relatively simple and can operate stably without complex infrastructure, lowering installation power consumption and overall operational costs. Facilities using immersion cooling technology can be more compact compared to traditional air-conditioned server rooms, potentially reducing space requirements by one-third. Moreover, since no additional air conditioning equipment is needed, the energy consumption for air conditioning can be significantly reduced or eliminated.

Simplified Installation and Maintenance

The high-density layout of servers simplifies the installation process of immersion cooling systems. Additionally, using harmless and non-flammable liquids as coolants makes maintenance easier. Some types of immersion cooling systems also address fire risk concerns by ensuring the non-flammability of the cooling liquid in their intrinsic design. In contrast, the installation and maintenance processes of traditional methods are relatively cumbersome. The notable advantage of open pool immersion cooling systems is the elimination of server-level piping, fluid connectors, and enclosed housings, making this solution more adaptable to various environments and reducing maintenance efforts for server components. The ease of installation and maintenance contributes to system reliability, helping to avoid increased energy consumption due to difficulties in these processes.

Excellent Environmental Performance

Environmental technologies are crucial for ensuring safety for both the environment and users. Utilizing eco-friendly technology not only avoids additional costs and energy consumption but can also enhance overall efficiency. For instance, traditional cooling technologies may require additional noise reduction measures due to noise issues, and emissions may need extra treatment for safety. In contrast, liquid immersion cooling technology produces very low noise and is considered a more environmentally friendly solution. It outperforms traditional cooling technologies, as the materials and infrastructure used in traditional systems lead to greater noise and energy consumption, which can be up to 40% higher. Furthermore, immersion cooling technology features efficient power usage and outstanding thermal management systems. Importantly, it does not use refrigerants that can damage the ozone layer or exacerbate the greenhouse effect, such as hydrofluorocarbons (HFCs), R22, and R113.

Stable and Uniform Temperatures

Immersion cooling is characterized by stable and uniform temperature properties, which are essential for ensuring proper heat distribution and preventing overheating. Overheating of electronic components can lead to performance degradation, increased energy consumption, reduced efficiency, and even permanent damage. Experimental data indicate that using dielectric nanofluids at a concentration of 0.3% results in lower temperature differences compared to mineral oil and other nanofluids. In solar photovoltaic applications, immersion cooling can provide uniform temperature distribution without hotspots and optimal temperature reduction effects. Similarly, in battery thermal management systems, immersion cooling can maintain a more uniform temperature distribution.

Applications of Immersion Cooling

Immersion cooling technology is widely applied in electronic devices such as computer servers, data centers, solar photovoltaic systems, battery packs, and power transformers. Its efficient heat dissipation provides a stable operating environment for these devices.

Data Center

In data centers, the temperature increase of computers and servers can lead to reduced computational speed, thus increasing energy consumption. Traditional cooling technologies exhibit high energy consumption in data centers, while immersion cooling technology performs exceptionally well. Experiments show that immersion cooling technology tested on a 2-kilowatt power converter operates at an efficiency of 97.2% in deionized water. Additionally, immersion cooling technology can enhance the energy efficiency of data centers and protect their components from damage.

Cryptocurrency Mining

The mining process of cryptocurrencies like Bitcoin requires high-performance computing devices that generate a large amount of heat during operation. With the popularity of Bitcoin and advancements in mining hardware, traditional air-cooled data centers can no longer meet the power density and energy efficiency demands of the high-performance computing market. Therefore, immersion cooling technology is widely applied in the cryptocurrency mining field. In particular, two-phase immersion technology has a power density that is 100 times higher than traditional air-cooled servers and offers greater cooling efficiency. Additionally, new technological methods have simplified the implementation process of immersion cooling technology.

Power Transformers

Power transformers generate harmonic losses during operation, leading to increased component temperatures and reduced lifespan. To address this issue, immersion cooling technology can be employed to manage thermal energy. Experiments demonstrate that immersion cooling technology is more effective than traditional air cooling methods. In power transformers, a combination of immersion cooling and finned heat exchangers can be used to achieve more efficient heat dissipation.

Electric Vehicle Battery Cooling Systems

Electric vehicle batteries experience reduced performance at high temperatures, necessitating an effective cooling system to manage battery temperature. Experiments indicate that immersion cooling technology is more suitable for electric vehicle battery cooling than plate-based cooling systems. Immersion cooling can cool the entire surface of the battery, improving temperature uniformity and reducing localized heating effects on the anode and cathode.

Solar Photovoltaics

In the solar photovoltaic field, cooling of concentrated photovoltaic cells is crucial. If the heat generated by the cells is not properly managed, it will reduce their efficiency. A reliable heat dissipation system is needed to maintain the high-performance of photovoltaic cells. Early research mainly focused on the electrical and optical effects of liquids on cells. As research progressed, new cooling methods emerged, such as surrounding the cells with a shallow liquid layer to capture light. Furthermore, liquid immersion technology for cells not only offers surface wetting and optical advantages but also allows photovoltaic cells to be directly immersed in liquid for more effective cooling. On sunny days, photon energy radiation is optimal but can also raise the surface temperature of photovoltaic cells, making cooling essential for maintaining optimal energy efficiency. Experiments show that immersion cooling can significantly enhance the cooling performance of solar photovoltaics.

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