Liquid immersion cooling is the ideal technology for cooling equipment in high density environments

With the demand for data centre services increasing daily, operators are looking for effective ways to manage their facilities and keep them running. One main concern for these facilities is the cooling of the equipment. With more and more equipment packed into a smaller space in high-density environments, the heat generated can quickly become overwhelming. This can lead to equipment failure, decreased performance, and even downtime. To prevent these issues, data centre operators must implement effective cooling systems that can efficiently remove heat from the environment. Liquid immersion cooling is among the options that are highly billed to deliver the desired results. This modern cooling technology solves the two main challenges faced by high-density environments: cooling the equipment and reducing power consumption.

As it has been widely quoted on different fronts, liquid immersion cooling is an effective method for cooling high-density environments, such as data centres. Traditional air cooling systems are not great for such domains as there are possibilities of hot spots, which can cause components to overheat and fail.

Air is ineffective in removing heat

Generally, air is much less effective at removing heat than a liquid; therefore, when used to cool the equipment in high-density environments, the results may be disappointing, to say at least. Air has a lower heat capacity and thermal conductivity. Heat capacity is the amount of heat energy required to raise the temperature of a material by a certain amount. At the same time, thermal conductivity is the ability of a material to conduct heat.

In traditional air cooling systems, cool air is blown over components to remove heat. With its relatively low heat capacity and thermal conductivity, air’s ability to absorb and release heat will be limited. This may lead to hot spots in high-density environments, where some data centre components generate more heat than others, resulting in uneven cooling.

Liquid has a higher heat capacity

On the other hand, liquid has a greater heat capacity and thermal conductivity when compared to air. This allows it to absorb and remove more heat from data centre equipment efficiently. Liquid immersion cooling systems typically use a non-conductive liquid, such as mineral/synthetic oil or dielectric fluid, to submerge components in the liquid. The liquid absorbs heat from the components and carries it away, providing more effective cooling than air.

Other benefits

Liquid immersion cooling has also benefited data centre operators in its capacity to reduce the amount of power consumed in these facilities. Unlike traditional air cooling, where fans circulate cool air through the equipment, the “futuristic” data centre cooling method involves submerging the equipment. This technique helps absorb excess heat more efficiently. The cooling process’s efficiency helps reduce the amount of power needed in data centres. This means that data centres using liquid immersion cooling can reduce their energy consumption, associated costs, and carbon footprint.

Apart from increased efficiency and reduction of power consumption, liquid immersion cooling has other benefits to a data centre. It helps to improve the reliability and lifespan of equipment as they are protected from dust and other contaminants that can accumulate in air-cooled environments. With the use of liquid, the data centre cooling enjoys an even distribution of heat across the equipment; this greatly reduces the risk of hotspots and equipment failure. Noise pollution is also highly checked in this system, further improving the environment around these facilities.

Liquid immersion cooling is a highly effective solution for cooling high-density environments. Data centres not only enjoy reduced power bills but also increase the longevity of equipment and improve the working conditions in the facilities.