What is Immersion Cooling?
Immersion cooling is a relatively new technology. During immersion cooling, computer hardware is submerged in a non-conductive coolant. Pumps move the coolant to a heat exchange that brings the overall temperature down. Then the system moves it back into immersion tanks.
Immersion cooling is a relatively new technology. During immersion cooling, computer hardware is submerged in a non-conductive coolant. Pumps move the coolant to a heat exchange that brings the overall temperature down. Then the system moves it back into immersion tanks. There are two main types of immersion cooling, single-phase and two-phase.
What is the difference between single-phase and two-phase cooling?
The main difference between single-phase and two-phase cooling is that the coolant remains a liquid in the single-phase process. In the two-phase process, the liquid changes into a gas state while cooling the hardware. The gas then cools in the heat exchange and becomes a liquid again.
Single-phase cooling, like our Intelliflex system, has a much simpler design and lower operating costs than two-phase cooling. Since the coolant doesn’t evaporate into a gas, it doesn’t need to be replaced or topped up as often. The non-conductive coolant in a single-phase system can last more than a decade.
What are the advantages of immersion cooling?
There are many reasons to incorporate immersion cooling into your data centre, cryptocurrency mining, or artificial intelligence operation. Older, less effective liquid and air cooling methods are becoming unpopular, and more companies are choosing single-phase immersion cooling. These are some of the wins they’re experiencing.
One of the biggest reasons to switch to immersion cooling is cost savings. This cooling method immensely reduces overall energy consumption, resulting in lower operating costs and, therefore, higher profits.
Also, it’s the most efficient cooling method there is! With a solution like our Intelliflex system, you can drop your Power Usage Effectiveness (PUE) to 1.02 and achieve 95% efficiency.
The lower the PUE, the greener the operation. Immersion cooling is one approach to lessening the environmental impact of data centres.
In addition, there aren’t many fans used in immersion cooling. As a result, the process is almost silent, which makes the overall operation much safer.
Is immersion cooling safe for electronics?
If you’re unfamiliar with the process, submerging technology into liquid might seem strange, but there’s no threat of damage. Single-phase immersion cooling will not negatively impact your hardware. This is because the liquid used in the process is a non-conductive dielectric liquid or coolant. Another way to describe this is to say the fluid is very well insulated, so it is safe to interact with electrical parts.
Not only is single-phase immersion cooling safe for hardware, but it also protects it. Computer technology is expensive, and the bill increases when you have to replace parts. With this cooling method, dust and pollutants can’t enter the system, eliminating a potential hardware hazard. Keeping computers consistently cool also reduces stress on your hardware, so it’s likely to need less maintenance, helps you prevent data loss, and minimizes e-waste.
What industries use immersion cooling?
In the cryptocurrency industry, many miners are seeing benefits to this method. In fact, immersion cooling boosts efficiency despite rising hashrates. When your tech stays consistently cool, you can increase the clock rate of the application-specific integrated circuit (ASICs), so it will run faster without the risk of overheating. Whether you have a home mining rig or a commercial crypto operation, immersion cooling is a great way to cool tech efficiently without compromising revenue.
Many industries require data centres, and as the world’s reliance on data grows, so will the footprint these buildings have. The International Energy Agency estimates that by 2025, one-fifth of the energy worldwide will be consumed by data centres. A data centre stores a lot of IT technology, like servers, cloud computing equipment, and network switches. They also use a lot of energy. The typical PUE of a data centre is 1.58. With single-phase immersion cooling like our Intelliflex system, PUE can drop as low as 1.02.
The growing field of artificial intelligence also finds immersion cooling beneficial. AI is hard on technology! With immersion cooling, the hardware runs more smoothly for longer.
Is immersion cooling right for my business?
Immersion cooling is the future of cooling. In the past, liquid cooling was enough, but now, immersion cooling is the best solution for high-density data operations. This is an excellent option if you have sustainability goals to achieve but want to keep profits high. We’ve been involved in many innovative projects through the years and are here to support our partners with a “start to finish” cooling solution.
Our Intelliflex method features a customizable design, which we can tailor to any setting. In addition, our team values fast deployment, so we can get your system ready and shipped quickly.
Regardless of your industry, contact us today to see if immersion cooling can help your business become more sustainable and energy efficient.
FAQs on Immersion Cooling
Is immersion cooling efficient?
Yes! Immersion cooling is more efficient than other cooling methods. With our Intelliflex system, high-density computing hardware cools faster while decreasing energy consumption
Is immersion cooling expensive?
There are upfront costs to installing an immersion cooling system. This process typically has a higher installation cost but much lower operating costs than other cooling methods. Although it can be expensive, many business owners see it as insurance for the long-term viability of their operation.
Is immersion cooling better than liquid cooling?
Liquid cooling systems require less space and are less expensive to install, but that’s pretty much where the benefits stop. Immersion cooling is more efficient, easier to maintain, has lower operating costs, and is a much greener solution.
Why do you have to cool down data centres?
Think about your personal computer. When it’s working hard, it gets warm. Now multiply that by many, many computers! A data centre must have a cooling solution to prevent overheating. If hardware overheats, it can fail.
How do you cool down a data centre?
There are several solutions, like liquid cooling or air cooling. However, immersion cooling, in which the hardware is submerged in a non-conductive coolant, is the most environmentally friendly option.
