Can dunking electronics in fluid cut data centers’ water and energy use?

Researchers at the University of Texas at Austin's Center of Electromechanics and Bureau of Economic Geology are leading a study into advanced immersion cooling fluids for data centers. The initiative, spearheaded by Mike Lewis, director of UT's Center of Electromechanics, aims to address the escalating energy and water demands of modern data centers, particularly those supporting artificial intelligence and cloud computing. The core concept involves submerging electronic components directly into nonconductive, noncorrosive fluid, a method Lewis anticipates will become the predominant cooling pathway. This direct immersion cooling offers significant environmental benefits, with earlier research indicating up to a 90% reduction in water consumption and a 50% decrease in energy demand compared to traditional air-cooled or indirect liquid cooling methods. Steven Villarreal, an energy consultant, noted the high costs associated with older cooling technologies for both data centers and utility companies. Shannon Strank, deputy director of process improvement at the UT center, highlighted how immersion allows AI array stacks to achieve optimal efficiency with reduced resource use. The UT Austin team is currently testing various synthetic coolants, engaging with a dozen top liquid coolant companies to objectively evaluate their performance. While immersion technology faces barriers like higher upfront capital costs and the rapid pace of industry growth, the university's research seeks to provide crucial data to mitigate risks for companies considering adoption. The research group is also collaborating with the Electric Reliability Council of Texas (ERCOT) and hopes their findings could inform future legislation aimed at ensuring responsible data center operations.