Introduction to Immersion Cooling

Immersion liquid cooling is a method that uses liquid as a heat transfer medium, submerging servers directly into a pool of non-conductive dielectric fluid. Heat generated by the servers is transferred to the surrounding liquid. Due to the temperature gradient within the liquid, heated liquid with lower density rises to the top, where it is replaced by cooler liquid from below. This heat transfer process is known as natural convection. Consequently, immersion liquid cooling systems do not require additional active cooling components such as fans, significantly contributing to improved energy efficiency in data centers.

There are two types of immersion liquid cooling, each operating slightly differently.

• Single-phase immersion liquid cooling

During this process, the coolant does not evaporate due to heat but remains in liquid form at all times. Coolant at a higher temperature within the liquid pool is pumped out by the Coolant Distribution Unit (CDU), transferring its heat to the heat exchanger. The heat exchanger, part of the secondary cooling circuit, transfers this heat to cooling water or external air. The cooled coolant is then pumped back into the liquid pool via piping, where it continues to participate in the server cooling process.

Single-phase immersion liquid cooling

• Dual-phase immersion liquid cooling

The method for two-phase immersion liquid cooling is similar to single-phase cooling. The coolant absorbs heat from servers or electronic components. Due to its low boiling point, the coolant evaporates upon heat absorption, undergoing a phase change. The resulting bubbles rise to the top of the liquid. When these bubbles collapse, they release vapor, which condenses back into liquid upon contact with the condenser. This condensed liquid then falls back into the liquid reservoir, ready to begin the next cycle.

Dual-phase immersion liquid cooling

Why do we need immersion liquid cooling now?

Traditional servers can be easily retrofitted for immersion liquid cooling since there is no need to consider airflow paths and space requirements inherent in conventional air-cooling systems. Compared to conventional air-cooling systems, immersion liquid cooling accommodates higher hardware densities while eliminating the need for cooling fans. This significantly reduces data center noise and power consumption, substantially improving Power Usage Effectiveness (PUE). Furthermore, the removal of mechanical components like cooling fans translates to reduced future maintenance requirements.

The Role of Zhongkewei in Immersion Liquid Cooling

For single-phase immersion liquid cooling, Zhongkewei offers a complete solution. Zhongkewei's immersion liquid cooling fluid is fully compatible with equipment systems from leading international suppliers such as Wiwynn, Submer, and LiquidStack.

Zhongkewei also offers dual-phase immersion liquid cooling solutions to help customers significantly reduce data center energy consumption, improve PUE, and lower operational costs and environmental impact. KEY Electronics' fluorinated liquid can reduce PUE below 1.08 and decrease total data center power consumption by up to 30%. Partner with Zhongkewei to drive data centers toward a more efficient, quieter, and sustainable future with advanced liquid cooling solutions.