As the digital era advances, datacenters have become the backbone of modern technological infrastructure, housing countless servers that process and store massive amounts of data. With the rise of edge computing, 5G communication, and artificial intelligence (AI), the energy consumption of datacenters has surged dramatically. A significant portion of the energy supplied to datacenters is devoted to cooling systems, which are essential for maintaining the optimal performance and longevity of the servers. Traditional cooling methods, however, are becoming increasingly insufficient. This is where immersion cooling technology offers a promising solution to datacenters’ escalating thermal management challenges.

The Need for Advanced Cooling Solutions

According to a report by Cushman & Wakefield, the total electricity consumption of datacenters in 2018 was predicted to account for 20% of global electricity consumption by 2025. Notably, the cooling systems alone can consume between 30% and 50% of the overall electricity in datacenters. This significant energy expenditure has enhanced cooling performance a critical research focus for improving datacenter energy efficiency.

We had earlier given an insight into the conventional cooling technologies used in datacenters. You can read about the same here. But, traditional cooling methods, such as forced air cooling, heat pipes, and water cooling, each have their limitations. Forced air cooling, for instance, relies heavily on the environment of the server room and the airflow provided by fans, which can lead to uneven cooling and higher energy costs. Heat pipes are effective for localized high heat flux but are not suitable for overall system cooling. Water cooling, while more efficient than air cooling, still faces challenges in terms of installation complexity and maintenance.

Immersion Cooling Technology

Immersion cooling technology, particularly single-phase immersion cooling (SPIC), addresses many of the shortcomings of traditional cooling methods. In immersion cooling, servers are directly immersed in a dielectric coolant, which efficiently absorbs and dissipates heat. This method significantly reduces thermal resistance and enhances thermal transport efficiency, leading to more uniform and effective cooling.

Advantages of Immersion Cooling

1. Enhanced Heat Transfer: Immersion cooling provides superior heat transfer capabilities compared to air and water cooling. The dielectric coolant, in direct contact with the server components, removes heat more efficiently and uniformly. Studies have shown that SPIC can reduce the central processing unit (CPU) temperature significantly, thereby improving server performance and reliability.
2. Energy Efficiency: One of the key metrics for evaluating the efficiency of datacenters is Power Usage Effectiveness (PUE). SPIC systems have demonstrated a substantial reduction in PUE, with decreases of up to 20.8% compared to forced air cooling and 17.6% compared to water cooling plate solutions. This reduction translates to significant energy savings and lower operational costs.
3. Reduced Dependence on Server Room Environment: Unlike traditional cooling methods, immersion cooling systems are less affected by the ambient conditions of the server room. This makes them more adaptable to various operational environments and reduces the need for stringent environmental controls.
4. Lower Maintenance Costs: Immersion cooling systems often require less maintenance than traditional cooling systems. The reduced thermal stress on server components leads to longer lifespans and lower failure rates, further driving down maintenance and replacement costs.

Practical Implementations and Future Prospects

Despite the numerous advantages, the widespread adoption of immersion cooling technology has been hindered by certain challenges, particularly the high cost and environmental impact of traditional electronic fluorine liquids used as coolants. However, recent research has highlighted the potential of oil coolants, which offer improved thermal performance and stability at a lower cost. These advancements are paving the way for more cost-effective and sustainable immersion cooling solutions .

To address these challenges, comprehensive performance evaluations and optimization studies of SPIC systems have been conducted. These studies involve constructing three-dimensional models of blade servers using different cooling methods and comparing their thermal performance, flow characteristics, and energy consumption. The findings indicate that oil coolants with appropriate thermal properties can significantly enhance the performance of SPIC systems.

Furthermore, ongoing research is focused on refining the mechanisms by which the thermal properties of oil coolants affect immersion cooling performance. This includes investigating the impact of coolant viscosity, flow resistance, and convective heat transfer capacity. Such insights are crucial for optimizing the design and operation of SPIC systems, ensuring their safe and efficient use in practical engineering applications.

Conclusion

As datacenters continue to grow in scale and complexity, the demand for more efficient and sustainable cooling solutions will only intensify. Immersion cooling technology, particularly single-phase immersion cooling, offers a promising pathway to meet these demands. By providing superior heat transfer capabilities, enhancing energy efficiency, and reducing operational costs, immersion cooling is poised to revolutionize thermal management in datacenters. With ongoing research and technological advancements, the future of datacenter cooling looks increasingly immersive.

About Wired and Wireless Technologies (WAWT)

WAWT, a strategic technology analyst and consultancy firm, specializes in the wireless power and power supply industry. Its comprehensive reports on the power supply market, titled “AC-DC and DC-DC Merchant Power Supply Market Report” and “External Power Adapters and Chargers Market Report”, offer critical market data, insights, and market intelligence. It also provides the latest market size estimates and forecasts for the power supply market, catering to companies across the power supply ecosystem. The report covers product segments, regional segments, and power classes, and includes a detailed analysis of power supply vendors’ market share. Furthermore, it ranks power supply companies/vendors based on their revenues, across industry sectors.

In summary, WAWT’s reports are considered to be an invaluable resource for businesses seeking to understand the power supply landscape, make informed decisions, and stay competitive in this dynamic industry.

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