- Overview
- PRODUCTS
- 1230 Fire Protection Fluid
- Aerosol Cleaners
- Electronic Grade Coatings
- Engineered Fluids
- Insulating Gases
- View All Products
- APPLICATIONS
- Aerosol Formulations
- Carrier Solvent and Lubricant Deposition
- Electronic Coatings
- Fire Suppression
- Immersion Cooling for Data Centers
- Insulating Gas
- Maintenance & Repair Cleaning Aerosols
- Solvent Cleaning and Vapor Degreasing
- Thermal Management
- View All Applications
- RESOURCES
- SUPPORT
Immersion cooling for data centers
With the explosive growth of the internet, artificial intelligence, cloud computing and high-performance computing (HPC), data centers are powering dramatic changes not just in business but in quality of life. But they come at a cost. For instance, U.S. data centers consume enormous amounts of electricity, some 2% of total energy consumption according to the U.S. EPA, much of it simply to run chiller units and fans to cool the computing hardware.
To help alleviate the cost of server cooling and its impact on the environment, 3M is leading the liquid cooling revolution for data centers. Our line of 3M™ Novec™ Engineered Fluids offer properties that make them ideal for immersion cooling, both in single-phase and two-phase operation. The result? Energy use (and costs) can be slashed by up to 97% while shrinking data center size and enabling optimal performance of server hardware — while helping reduce environmental impacts.
What is immersion cooling?
-
Data center immersion cooling helps improve thermal design by directly immersing IT hardware in a non-conductive liquid. Heat generated by the electronic components is directly and efficiently transferred to the fluid, thereby reducing otherwise needed active cooling components, such as interface materials, heat sinks and fans. These improvements increase energy efficiency and enable higher packaging densities.
- Reduces energy usage for server cooling, helping create a greener data center
- Involves fewer moving parts that require maintenance and replacement
- Increases hardware density, since the liquid is more efficient at removing heat
- Allows higher processor utilisation by maintaining temperatures below the thermal limit
- Maintains easy serviceability, with electronics emerging clean and dry
- Significantly reduces noise in server rooms
- Helps protect IT equipment from environmental contaminants such as dust and sulfur
3M has worked with leaders in the data center space to create fluids that are ideal for these applications and offer unique benefits such as a wider range of boiling points. Best of all, the technology is backed by more than 50 years of 3M’s material and application knowledge.
A smart way to keep temperatures — and costs — down
Liquid immersion cooling using Novec engineered fluids contributes to a lower cost of ownership in many ways, adding up to one smart choice for a business. Direct liquid cooling improves efficiency and reduces costs at every phase of your data center’s life, from design and construction, to operation, to maintenance, repair and replacement of hardware.
-
Reduce energy costs up to 97%The clearest advantage will be evident in your electric bill. The most efficient data center cooling methods can help improve data center energy efficiency (often the largest electricity cost for a data center) by up to 97%.
-
Save space with 10X less room requiredThe improved server cooling capacity means you can position electronics closer together — so you can fit 10 times the compute density in a given space. This opens the possibilities of where you can put a data center.
-
Optimize for greater performanceWith greater thermal efficiency, you can increase processing power and reduce latency beyond the limits of air cooling.
-
Mitigate equipment breakdownA server liquid immersion cooling system eliminates airborne contaminants and simplifies thermal design to reduce moving parts. This means you can run your electronics at full capacity with less wear and tear.
-
A sustainable choice for the environmentSaving energy is not only good for the bottom line — it’s good for the earth. Less power used means less need to generate electricity, which in turn means less fuel used and fewer emissions. Smaller data centers save construction materials and maintenance. If your goal is a greener data center, 3M Novec Engineered Fluids make these outcomes possible and at the same time feature:
- Favorable environmental profile
- Low global warming potential (GWP)
- Zero ozone depletion potential (ODP)
-
Safe for worker exposureBuilding a data center that uses immersion cooling doesn’t compromise safety for your operator. 3M designs all Novec engineered fluids to feature:
- Overall wide margin of safety for workers
- Low toxicity
- Non-flammability
See how liquid cooling can revolutionize business, supercomputing and Bitcoin mining
Whatever your business, liquid immersion cooling can play a role in unlocking additional opportunities and efficiencies. As a pioneer and innovator in immersion cooling, 3M has helped launch successful immersion-cooled data centers.
-
Businesses improve energy efficiency, drive down costs and demonstrate a commitment to the environment.
-
Supercomputing applications like those at universities and laboratories get maximum performance from their equipment.
-
Bitcoin miners drive down costs to maximize their return on investment.
-
Hyper-scale cloud computing operations find value with cost savings and flexible hardware configurations.
Questions and answers to help you build a greener data center
Server manufacturers, system integrators and data center engineers all face similar challenges: Design and assemble a data center that answers core customer needs in terms of cost, performance and reliability. Immersion cooling using Novec engineered fluids can help you answer those, and other practical needs, without compromise.
-
How does immersion cooling work?
Immersion cooling involves putting electronics directly in a non-conductive fluid, allowing heat to be transferred directly from components into the heat transfer fluid. In traditional computer server cooling systems, heat must transfer through several levels of thermal interface materials, air, heat exchangers and working fluids. Immersion cooling simplifies thermal design and increases heat transfer efficiency.
-
What are the benefits of Novec over mineral oil?
Many factors should be evaluated when selecting a working fluid. 3M Novec Engineered Fluids have a number of significant advantages versus other classes of dielectric fluids, including mineral oil. In addition to being non-flammable and non-combustible, Novec fluids have the boiling points and thermal stability needed for two-phase immersion cooling operations. Servicing and maintenance are made easy, since the electronics come out of Novec fluid clean and dry.
-
Is fluid loss a problem in Novec-based immersion cooling systems?
Immersion cooling systems are typically designed to be serviceable and hot-swappable, but are also designed with fluid containment in mind. By following 3M best practices and purchasing from a 3M authorized immersion cooling OEM, fluid losses can be held to inconsequential amounts.
-
How can I buy a Novec-based immersion cooling system?
Vendors are already offering proprietary server and mechanical systems based upon this technology, with others in development.
Three ways to achieve one cool data center
-
Two-phase immersion cooling
Two-phase passive immersion cooling exponentially increases heat transfer efficiency from boiling and condensation of Novec engineered fluids. This simple approach features almost no moving parts.
- Electronic components are submerged in a non-conductive liquid bath in an accessible, sealed enclosure
- The generated heat boils fluid into a gaseous state and it rises to the top of the enclosure
- The gas condenses on the lid or a condensation coil and rains back into the bath to repeat the cycle
- Heat transfer efficiencies can exceed boiling water in a material that can safely come in direct contact with electronics
-
Single-phase immersion cooling
In single-phase immersion cooling, the fluid has a higher boiling point and remains in its liquid phase throughout the process.
- Electronic components are submerged in a non-conductive liquid bath in an accessible, sealed enclosure
- The heat from the chip is transferred to the fluid
- Pumps are often used to flow the heated fluid to a heat exchanger, where it is cooled and cycled back into the bath
- 3M™ Fluorinert™ Electronic Liquids can also be used in this application
-
Indirect cooling: An immersion alternative
Thermal management challenges and techniques come in a variety of forms, so the unique properties of our fluids can be applied in a variety of ways to solve those challenges. One such challenge is the complexity of applying direct-to-chip (D2C) water cooling, due to the risk of leaks and difficulty cooling a series of processors in the same circuit. 3M Novec Engineered Fluids are a compelling working fluid option in these applications.
- Heat transfer efficiency comparable to or better than water, in two-phase operation
- Non-conductive working fluid, eliminating risk of damage from leaks
- All processors in a circuit maintained at the same temperature regardless of the number of nodes
Learn more about liquid immersion cooling and 3M data center solutions
-
Two-phase immersion cooling overviewDownload article (PDF, 2.15 MB)YouTube Novec videos
Get more answers about immersion cooling and Novec Engineered Fluids
Let 3M put our decades of experience in immersion cooling and data centers to work for you. Contact us with questions or requests that can help you realise your vision for your next data center project. We can help with:
- Application advice and best practices
- Technical data and test results
- Case studies and other materials
- Assistance ordering Novec engineered fluids or choosing between Novec fluids and 3M Fluorinert Electronic Liquids
- Information on immersion cooling equipment and service providers
