Oil and gas giant Shell has launched its first cooling fluid for direct liquid cooled (DLC) hardware.

The company says its Shell DLC Fluid S3 has been designed to meet the needs of AI and high-performance computing data centers.

Based on propylene glycol, the fluid will complement Shell’s existing cooling liquid portfolio, which is aimed at immersion-cooled installations.

According to Shell, the S3 fluid has been formulated to ensure long-term corrosion protection for DLC systems. It is compatible with a wide range of materials, and lasts for more than six years, which Shell claims is up to four years more than competitive conventional inorganic acid technology-based fluids

The fluid meets Open Compute Project PG25 coolant specifications, including standards for material compatibility, and offers antifreeze protection down to temperatures of -10°C (14°F).

“With Shell DLC Fluid S3, Shell now offers both direct-to-chip and full immersion cooling solutions,” said Aysun Akik, VP new business development and global key accounts at Shell Lubricants. “We are continuing our commitment to innovation that delivers on performance, sustainability, and reliability to support our customers’ goals.”

Akik added: “Our growing range of advanced liquid cooling solutions is designed to meet the diverse needs of modern data centers both today and tomorrow – and are backed by the strength of Shell’s global footprint, supply chain, and five technology development hubs around the globe.”

Shell has offered immersion cooling fluids to help cool high-density compute hardware for several years, and last year showcased immersion tanks filled with its coolant at a data center in Houston, Texas.

Other oil companies including Shell, Castrol, ExxonMobil, ENEOS, and SK Enmove have launched data center coolant fluids. US food giant Cargill and chemical firm Chemours are also active in the space.