Experts predict that liquid cooling and immersion cooling technologies employed in data centers are entering a pivotal stage of development. A recent 2024 trend report indicates that liquid cooling will transition from a 'futuristic' concept to an indispensable 'necessity', occupying an increasingly important position in data center design.
This shift is underpinned by several established factors, which are expected to peak this year. As server infrastructure continues to enhance its performance, the heat generated far exceeds that of previous IT equipment, an inevitable trend. Increasing evidence suggests that traditional cooling methods may struggle to maintain the necessary cooling levels for data centers to operate optimally.
Therefore, data centers and their operators urgently need to proactively adopt new cooling solutions, including immersion cooling. Below are the reasons why immersion cooling is essential:
Why is Immersion Cooling Important?
By immersing IT equipment in a cooling dielectric fluid, immersion cooling technology demonstrates exceptional thermal conductivity, higher power density, and improved electrical energy efficiency. Properly deployed immersion cooling systems can reduce downtime, enable data centers to host and maintain denser server architectures, and enhance the power utilization efficiency of IT hardware.
Why is This Moment Crucial?
Immersion cooling technology is well-established, with a reliable track record and the trust of numerous leading companies in the technology industry. So, why is it receiving increasing attention now? Why should data center owners, operators, and managers seriously consider transitioning?
Part of the reason lies in the fact that traditional air-cooling methods are struggling to effectively address the cooling demands of increasingly powerful server infrastructures. The thermal design power (TDP) of next-generation processing units can reach up to 350 watts, while the current typical server rack power density is approximately 7 kW, and the industry is striving to achieve a density of 20 kW per rack (multiple servers consist of one rack). For data centers with continuously enhanced functionalities, excellent cooling technology has become a necessity.
For data centers, inadequate cooling systems are not viable options. Cooling failures are a common cause of data center outages, accounting for 13% of all outages annually according to Uptime Institute. With the increase in heat generation from infrastructure, this proportion is expected to continue rising. Furthermore, 70% of data center outage incidents cost $100,000 or more, and 25 percent cost more than $1 million.
Clearly, cooling failures can damage corporate revenues, and this threat is growing. Therefore, data center owners, operators, and managers should take immediate action to incorporate new cooling technologies such as immersion cooling into their current and future plans.
Why is Strategic Deployment Crucial?
Transitioning to immersion cooling technology presents a fantastic opportunity for data center operations to adapt to future developments. Meanwhile, partnering with the right collaborators is a key way to fully leverage its advantages.
An expert told Data Center Knowledge at the end of 2023, "Proper deployment of immersion cooling requires a comprehensive redesign of the data center. Therefore, although we expect to see 'temporary improvement solutions' within the next year, I predict that ultra-large-scale data center operators will prioritize and take necessary measures to strategically incorporate liquid cooling into their data center construction."
For ultra-large-scale data centers, adopting immersion cooling offers unique advantages, but strategic deployment helps maximize processing potential within limited space. Suitable solutions can make more efficient use of the space occupied by traditional cooling equipment. By adopting the right strategies, more server infrastructure can be designed and deployed within existing space. Regardless of the size of the data center operation, immersion cooling can help better prepare for the future.
Strategic deployment also involves evaluating alternative fluids. Early immersion cooling fluids were typically base oils directly procured from refineries, originally intended for other applications and industries, later adapted for use in data center cooling systems. Nowadays, immersion cooling fluids specifically formulated and developed for the unique needs of data centers offer optimized performance characteristics and better material compatibility. Additionally, with increasing power demands, the new generation of cooling fluids is expected to extend the expected lifespan of hardware.
If you are interested in immersion cooling and wish to learn more, now is the best time – Lorithermal is ready to provide you with full support.
Our immersion cooling fluid solutions can help data centers of any location and size achieve efficient cooling and improve operational efficiency. We closely collaborate with leading IT companies to help them build forward-looking infrastructures that meet growing data processing demands while maintaining long-term stability and flexibility.
Are you ready to take action? Contact us to learn how Lorithermal can bring transformation to your operations.
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