Sermicro Group participates in a project within "Top Eco Cloud", focused on improving the security, efficiency and sustainability of IT systems and Telecommunications. One of the solutions provided is liquid immersion cooling in two phases. With this article we want to explain the remarkable benefits that this solution provides, what are the main differences with other types of cooling, on which equipment can be used, etc. If you have any further questions or would like more information, please contact us.

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What is the main benefit of this type of refrigeration?

• Energy saving. It consumes less energy to dissipate the same amount of heat generated by the IT, this is a saving. PUE ratio below 1.03 (For every watt consumed by IT equipment, less than 0.03 watts are consumed in cooling). Higher IT density and therefore more computing power per cubic metre.
• It does not consume or use natural resources to operate. For example, it does not use water or petroleum derivatives, which also extends the life of the equipment.
• It improves the security of IT systems and information, as they are isolated from the outside and their handling can be monitored.
• Saves space, as the size of liquid cooling systems is much smaller.
• Lower maintenance costs.
• Quiet, barely a murmur from bubbling.

What differentiates it from other types of cooling?

• Air cooling:
  • It requires more space, heatsinks, fans, heat removal corridors, secondary ducts and so on, which means more energy consumption and, to reduce this consumption somewhat and lower the PUE ratio, a lot of fresh water needs to be consumed.
  • The noise generated by air cooling systems is much higher and unbearable, especially if there are no protection systems for the data centre operator.
• Direct liquid cooling:
  • Reduces consumption somewhat, but greatly increases the space required for servers and racks; since they need larger housings to collect the tubes that carry the cold liquid and remove the hot liquid from the heat exchangers to the server chips.

• Single-phase liquid immersion cooling

• • The fluid is not converted to vapour, as oils are used, causing the equipment to become greasy and reducing its useful life.
• Two-phase liquid immersion cooling. Our system:
  • Cooling is more efficient, economical and safer, requiring less space.
  • It uses a 3M fluid called NOVEC, derived from fluorine, which is also a fire extinguisher, is non-toxic and has a high capacity for cooling and cleaning equipment, thanks to its rapid evaporation.
  • The cabinets are airtight, do not consume the fluid and its vapour is cooled inside the cabinet itself, condensing at the top when it comes into contact with a coil, returning to the liquid phase in a closed circuit, without using water.
  • This sealing offers a higher level of protection against possible errors (voluntary or involuntary) by operators and, in the event of an error occurring, it can be fully monitored.
  • Silent, as it is housed in a hermetically sealed metal enclosure, it is practically soundproof.

On what equipment can it be used?

• It can be used in standard equipment, with just a few changes, although the ideal equipment is specifically manufactured for this type of refrigeration. Nowadays, practically all the major manufacturers have them with a smaller size and equal or greater computing capacity (condensing more computing power in less space).
• This new equipment takes advantage of the great efficiency of the fluid in absorbing the heat generated, so the designer can afford to make the same equipment with much smaller size, also improving performance, consumption and efficiency per watt consumed.

What can it be used for?

• Its application is practically absolute, although it is more evident in large equipment or data processing centres where the cooling systems are more voluminous, as well as their consumption, so the savings are perceived sooner.
• In smaller systems, the initial cost of the hardware and fluid means that it is perceived later, but already, from the first minute, many of the benefits mentioned above can be appreciated.
• Specifically, by being able to have more IT condensed in less space and have lower consumption, it is possible to bring the computing units closer to the end user, without this being a typical or specific user, for example, researchers or industrial parks with a high level of digital development, day-to-day operations, such as traffic management, more efficient data establishment routes by better managing telecommunications and therefore, developing applications hitherto dreamed of but technically complex or possible in ideal environments. For example, streaming services between clients, online medicine, image analysis, personalised artificial intelligence, etc...
• Furthermore, the rack cabinets can be supplied integrated in a 10, 20, 40-foot container-type modular system or customised, ideal for reducing latency (connection speed) by bringing data processing centres closer to where the data is generated, making them an ideal complement to the deployment of 5G, or by locating them in renewable energy generating facilities to improve their economic performance.
• By making better use of the energy produced, the installation being self-consuming and certified, these containers are a mobility solution with a view to having transportable data centres for use in emergencies or for defence purposes, and can even be supplied, if necessary, with armour plating.

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In short, the current image we have of data centres is going to change completely, becoming silent, clean, sustainable places with more space and greater possibility of increasing their capacity and power, without fearing the resizing of cooling systems or their economic consequences, and this new image is directly linked to the best cooling system that any data centre should have, two-phase liquid immersion cooling of IT systems.