Immersion Cooling technology
Immersion Cooling technology is a heat dissipation technology for Data Centers by submerging servers in dielectric fluid, which is a non-conductive liquid. It helps directly and efficiently transfer heat from the equipment, while also reducing energy consumption, preventing dust, and increasing the overall safety of the system.
Details and features
Features and Highlights
Cools equipment directly using dielectric fluid (Dielectric Fluid)
Ideal for high-density heat Data Centers and Servers
Helps reduce the workload of the air conditioning system when properly designed
Supports the Green Data Center concept (environmentally friendly)
Available in both Single-Phase and Two-Phase systems
Types of Immersion Cooling Technology
Single-Phase: The liquid remains in a liquid state at all times and circulates through a heat exchanger (Heat Exchanger) to dissipate heat.
Two-Phase: The liquid evaporates into vapor when heated and condenses back into liquid again, offering higher heat transfer efficiency.
Fire Safety
Dielectric fluid (Dielectric Fluid) is non-conductive, reducing the risk of short circuits.
Reduces the chance of sparks and fire propagation.
Submerging equipment in liquid reduces oxygen levels at risk points, making the likelihood of fire extremely low.
What is Immersion Cooling Technology?
Immersion Cooling technology is a heat dissipation technology for data centers by submerging servers or certain electronic components in a non-conductive liquid coolant, or dielectric coolant, to transfer heat directly from the equipment rather than using air as the primary medium like conventional cooling systems.
The core concept of Immersion Cooling is to pull heat directly from the heat source itself. This makes it ideal for workloads with high computing power densities, such as AI, HPC, GPU Servers, Edge Data Centers, or data centers looking to increase thermal management efficiency.
However, the design of an Immersion Cooling system must be evaluated in conjunction with the data center infrastructure, electrical systems, monitoring systems, fire protection systems, and equipment requirements. Specific details regarding coolant, compatibility, operating temperatures, and actual efficiency should refer to the Datasheets / Technical Reports.
What Type of Data Center is Immersion Cooling Technology Suitable For?
Immersion Cooling is suitable for data centers or server rooms with high heat loads or limitations in adding air-conditioning-based cooling systems, such as:
Area Type | Reasons to Consider |
AI / HPC Data Center | Features high-density GPUs or servers that release significant heat. |
High-density Server Room | Limited space, but requires increased processing power. |
Edge Data Center | Requires a compact cooling system that is easier to monitor and maintain. |
Data Centers seeking to reduce air conditioning load | Helps reduce partial reliance on air conditioning systems (depending on design). |
Green Data Center Project | Suitable for evaluation in line with energy-saving and sustainability goals. |
Server Rooms with heavy loads | Useful to consider when existing cooling systems begin to become insufficient. |
Key Advantages of Immersion Cooling Technology
Immersion Cooling technology or Dielectric Coolant is a cooling fluid with non-conductive electrical properties, allowing it to be used directly as a medium to absorb and transfer heat from certain electronic components. However, the type of coolant should be chosen appropriately for the actual equipment and system used.
Key advantages to consider:
Transfers heat directly from the equipment.
Suitable for servers or equipment with high heat density.
Reduces noise generated by fans within the system.
Fits the concepts of Green Data Centers and High-Density Data Center Cooling.
Helps manage thermal loads more efficiently.
What is the Difference Between Single-Phase and Two-Phase Immersion Cooling Technology?
Immersion Cooling technology has two main approaches commonly discussed, Single-Phase and Two-Phase, with the following differences:
Type | Working Principle | Points to Consider |
Single-Phase Immersion Cooling | The liquid absorbs heat from the device but remains in a liquid state. The heat is then sent through a heat exchanger to be dissipated. | The system structure is easy to understand, but requires proper design of flow, tanks, coolant, and heat rejection systems. |
Two-Phase Immersion Cooling | The liquid absorbs heat until it changes phase into vapor, then condenses back into liquid to recirculate in the system. | It may offer high efficiency in some cases, but requires detailed evaluation regarding coolant, system sealing, maintenance, and technical specifications. |
Choosing between a Single-Phase and Two-Phase system should be based on server type, thermal load, budget, maintenance model, and facility readiness.
Why Immersion Cooling Technology is Ideal for Servers with High Heat Density
High heat density servers, such as GPU servers, AI servers, or HPC clusters, generate vastly more heat than general IT systems. Conventional air cooling can reach its limits when rack density increases or when the room layout cannot provide sufficient cool air and airflow.
Immersion Cooling technology is a compelling alternative because it extracts heat directly from the equipment through dielectric coolant, allowing the system to handle high IT loads more effectively when properly designed.
However, it does not mean that Immersion Cooling is always suitable for every data center. In practice, it remains necessary to check if the servers support immersion systems, how it impacts the manufacturer's warranty, what the maintenance guidelines are, and how the electrical and safety systems must be adapted to align harmoniously across the entire facility.
Safety and Integration with Fire Protection Systems
For data centers implementing Immersion Cooling technology, fire protection planning remains essential. This includes alarm systems, early warning detection, clean agent fire suppression systems for the rooms or zones involved, localized spot suppression, and emergency action plans.
What to Evaluate Before Choosing Immersion Cooling Technology
Before deciding to adopt Immersion Cooling technology, preparations and readiness evaluations should be thoroughly conducted across multiple dimensions, rather than looking at cooling system costs alone.
Information to evaluate:
Equipment Type: The layout of servers, GPUs, storage, or IT equipment to be installed and used.
Heat Load and Density: The estimated heat load and rack density of the system.
Coolant Properties: The type of coolant selected, along with verifying technical datasheets.
External Heat Dissipation System: The design of the heat exchanger or heat rejection system.
Installation Space: The size and structure of the space required to install tanks or immersion units.
Infrastructure Support: Readiness of power supply, monitoring systems, and anomaly alert systems.
Maintenance Processes: Maintenance procedures, including how equipment is inserted/extracted and how spare parts are replaced.
Warranty Conditions: The impact on the product warranty of the computers and servers.
Energy Efficiency Goals: Metrics to meet Green Data Center concepts or power usage effectiveness (PUE) objectives.
Related Articles and Pages
To learn more about data center systems and fire protection, you can visit the following pages:
Read more: What is PAF-222?
View product category: Clean Agent Fire Extinguishers
Compare systems: Piping Types for Permanent Fire Suppression Systems
View cabinet systems: Types of Fire Suppression Cabinets
Local automatic systems: Clean Agent Fire Extinguisher with Automatic Thermal Detection (PZGW Series)
Inquire about prices and system documentation: Contact for a Quote
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)
What is Immersion Cooling technology?
Immersion Cooling technology is a heat dissipation technology in which servers or certain electronic components are submerged in dielectric coolant to transfer heat directly from the device instead of using air conditioners.
What is Dielectric Coolant?
Dielectric coolant is a cooling fluid that does not conduct electricity, making it safe to use directly with electronic equipment while acting as a medium to pull heat out of the system.
Is Immersion Cooling technology suitable for all types of data centers?
Not necessarily. This technology is suitable for specific projects that require exceptionally high cooling efficiency, such as AI, HPC, or High-Density Data Centers. However, in practice, a readiness evaluation of IT equipment, space structures, power systems, and maintenance procedures must be performed.
Does Immersion Cooling technology reduce the risk of fire?
Immersion Cooling technology is designed to be a cooling system, not a direct fire suppression system. Although the properties of the fluid are non-conductive and help reduce the risk of ignition in certain contexts, it should not be assumed that it completely eliminates all fire risks.
