Two-phase cooling vendor LiquidStack has diversified, producing a unit that works alongside single-phase direct-to-chip cooling systems.
The coolant distribution units (CDUs) will link to other vendors’ cooling systems which rely on circulating coolant within the racks. It can handle 800kW to 1.5MW of heat-rejection coolant systems.
Earlier this week, the company announced plans for another new product range - a single-phase immersion system, yet to be fully detailed.
Available for pre-order on December 1, the new CDUs are intended for AI, HPC, and other dense power applications and will support “most commercially available direct-to-chip (DTC) solutions,” LiquidStack says.
LiquidStack has so far been known for two-phase cooling systems that allow fluid to boil and recondense, a process that can remove more heat than single-phase systems that rely on conduction and convection.
Two-phase cooling systems have become problematic as they use fluorinated solvents like 3M's Novec, which has been withdrawn because of health concerns over the PFAS class of substances, also known as "forever chemicals."
LiquidStack CEO Joe Capes told DCD that the company is still backing two-phase cooling, with fluids from other vendors that “outperform” Novec, but with this week’s announcements, the company is offering alternatives, saying it has a “mission to become a fully diversified provider of liquid cooling technology.”
Direct-to-chip is a logical step, as LiquidStack says it is currently the largest segment of the liquid cooling market, having developed for gamers running overclocked machines as well as HPC. In data centers, there is increasing demand for DTC systems, which need to be backed by specialized CDUs, that can be configured to different vendors’ offerings, says the company.
“There is no one liquid cooling solution that will fit every need or application, as data centers must factor in their location, workloads, sustainability goals, budget, and other considerations,” Nick Schweissguth, director of product management at LiquidStack, said.
“Many data centers will be taking a hybrid air and liquid cooling approach for the foreseeable future,” he continued. “As a full-service liquid cooling company, we are incorporating universal coolant distribution units (CDUs) for direct-to-chip technology into our portfolio of products and services, thus addressing all forms of liquid cooling.”
LiquidStack says there will be 800kW, 1.2MW, or 1.5MW versions of the product, able to handle high water temperatures. The system will have intelligent controls, and be designed for continuous use, with concurrently serviceable variable speed pumps, bypass and isolation valves, flow metering, and fluid temperature and pressure sensors.
The design - which we have not yet seen - is described as “a compact, noise-insulated enclosure accessible from all sides.”
