Air-cooling methods for processors and servers handling intense high-performance computing (HPC) and AI workloads have proven to be woefully inadequate, driving up energy use and subsequent costs.
Alternative methods have emerged, such as liquid immersion cooling, which uses fluid instead of air to keep electronics from overheating, however, as of yet, there hasn’t been a standard to prove the reliability and deployability of available immersion solutions.
But, according to Intel, there is now: The semiconductor manufacturer has certified Shell Global Solutions’ immersion cooling fluids for use in data centers. Shell’s fluids are the first to receive official certification from a major chip manufacturer.
“We’re showcasing that it’s possible to skip the proof-of-concept phase and jump straight to pre-vetted solutions that have been proven to deliver enhanced performance, improve energy efficiency, and reduce environmental impact, backed by industry-first full certification and warranty options,” said Selda Gunsel, CTO and EVP of technology at Shell.
As reliable as air-cooled systems
The new Intel Data Center Certified for Immersion Cooling offering is intended to set a bar for efficiency and performance, according to Intel. It was “thoroughly and rigorously tested” in the company’s advanced data center labs, and passed its certification success criteria, explained Intel principal engineer Samantha Yates. The offering is powered by hardware from Supermicro and Submer, and is the first immersion method available for 4th and 5th gen Intel Xeon processors.
In Intel’s testing, Xeon processors remained as reliable with Shell’s immersion cooling fluids as in traditional air-cooled systems. Intel scientists also performed a comprehensive suite of material compatibility and rack scale reliability demonstration testing, Yates explained.
Along with the certification, Intel is offering a Xeon processor single-phase immersion warranty rider. This indicates Intel’s confidence in the durability and effectiveness of Shell’s fluids.
Yates explained that the rider augments Intel’s standard warranty terms and is available to data center operators deploying 4th and 5th generation Xeon processors in Shell immersion fluids. The rider is intended to provide data center operators confidence that their investment is guaranteed when deployed correctly.
Shell’s fluids are available globally and can be employed in retrofitted existing infrastructure or used in new builds.
Cuts resource use, increases performance
Data centers consume anywhere from 10 to 50 times more energy per square foot than traditional office buildings, and they are projected to drive more than 20% of the growth in electricity demand between now and 2030. Largely due to the explosion of AI, data center energy consumption is expected to double from 415 terawatt-hours in 2024 to around 945 TWh by 2030.
There are several other technologies used for data center cooling, including air cooling, cold plate (direct-to-chip), and precision cooling (targeted to specific areas), but the use of immersion cooling has been growing, and is expected to account for 36% of data center thermal management revenue by 2028.
With this method, servers and networking equipment are placed in cooling fluids that absorb and dissipate heat generated by the electronic equipment. These specialized fluids are thermally conductive but not electrically conductive (dielectric) thus making them safe for submerging electrical equipment.
“Immersion eliminates the use of power-hungry fans to cool servers by using the circulating immersion fluid to dissipate heat,” Yates explained.
According to Shell, single-phase immersion cooling:
- Lowers electricity use by up to 48%;
- Reduces C02 levels by up to 30%;
- Cuts water use by up to 99%;
- Requires up to 80% less floor space;
- Provides 40% more processing power;
- Cuts operating and capital expenditure by 40%.
Shell using immersion cooling in its own data centers
Shell says its immersion cooling fluid has more than a thousand times the thermal capacity of air, and results in less noise and a smaller footprint. Liquid cooling also eliminates the need for chillers, bearings, and evaporative cooling.
The liquids can be used in humid and hot locations and in temperatures up to 45°C (113°F). They are stable, free of per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) and biodegradable “to varying degrees,” according to Shell.
The company developed its single-phase immersion cooling fluids in its laboratories and uses them in its own data centers; Shell converted an HPC cluster in its Houston data center to liquid cooling in late 2023. The center has six tanks with 864 servers submerged in Shell fluids and draws from 100% renewable energy.
Shell has been working with Intel for the last two years to certify its immersion cooling fluids, which “have the potential to transform the way that data centres are cooled and how much energy they use,” said Jason Wong, global EVP for Shell Lubricants.
Source:: Network World