While many data center innovations can be classified as hype, today's immersion cooling is not one of them. With the data center liquid cooling market projected to reach $21.3 billion by 2030 at a CAGR of 27.6%, this technology is becoming increasingly crucial for meeting modern computational demands. To leverage this technology effectively, however, one must first dispel the myths. Below, we examine immersion cooling myths, debunk them, and highlight how they could harm your data center.
Five Immersion Cooling Myths
1. AIR COOLING IS GOOD ENOUGH
Without a doubt, air cooling has a heritage as the default solution for data centers. However, the time is fast approaching when the heat will be too much. According to the American Society of Heating, Refrigerating, and Air-Conditioning Engineers (ASHRAE), beginning in 2018, increased CPU capacities have required exponential power increases. This challenge has only intensified with the rise of AI workloads, including Generative AI (GenAI), Large Language Models (LLMs), machine learning (ML), and deep learning (DL).
As a result, data center operators who continue to rely solely on air cooling are growing closer to a point where they'll need to decide between increasing processing capacity and changing their cooling approach. And current needs aside, all data center leaders must consider the impact on scalability for years to come, especially as computational demands for AI and other intensive applications continue to escalate.
Still, proponents of air cooling point to its ubiquity, implying that liquid cooling is an untested approach. However, they may need to realize that other industries, like supercomputing, automotive, and nuclear energy, have been using liquid cooling for decades for sensitive equipment.
2. IMMERSION DEPLOYMENTS ARE TOO COMPLEX
If a data center operator feels comfortable with the viability of immersion cooling, they can be intimidated by what they perceive as complexity. Often, there's the concern of how to access and maintain critical equipment. However, at the same time, housing and operating equipment generate more heat in the same space.
Fortunately, the latest immersion systems, whether installed in new data centers or retrofitted to existing facilities, are designed with ease of operation in mind. Modern platforms like the XE9680-IR are specifically designed, fully validated, and supported for immersion environments, undergoing rigorous testing for thermal management, signal integrity, and material compatibility requirements. The latest immersion tanks provide access to critical hardware, power, and connectivity, permitting the servicing of the equipment they serve.
Another common concern is that immersion cooling requires special water treatment accommodations to alleviate safety and environmental issues. In modern single-phase installations, non-toxic, biodegradable liquids can be used.
3. THE RISKS OF IMMERSION ARE TOO HIGH
When discussing using liquids to cool electronic equipment, concern inevitably turns to safety. One common misconception is that immersion cooling presents an electrocution risk. While it is true that many liquids can be dangerous for people and electronic equipment, the fluids used in immersion cooling are both non-conductive and non-toxic.
Aside from electrocution, another common concern is that cooling liquids can catch fire. However, even though the oils used may technically be flammable, today's enclosed loop and single-phase immersion systems maintain a consistent state, making it one of the safest cooling options possible.
4. IMMERSION COOLING IS ONLY FOR LARGE DATA CENTERS
Given that immersion racks require more floor space (one immersion rack takes up the space of multiple air-cooled racks), one might assume that immersion cooling is suited only for larger installations. However, due to rack density, this is not true.
Given their greater cooling efficiency, immersion deployments can accommodate the latest servers running the latest technology. Modern platforms like the XE9680-IR demonstrate this capability, supporting two 5th Generation Intel Xeon Scalable processors up to 64 cores each and eight NVIDIA H100 or H200 700W SXM5 GPUs connected via four NVLink switch chips.
With air cooling, data center operators face greater complexity as their processing capacity grows. Therefore, the space lost by converting to immersion racks is more than made up by the ability to process more data faster than ever. Companies are leveraging immersion systems in edge installations with limited space.
Ultimately, immersion-cooling systems demonstrate their worth when considering metrics like Power Usage Effectiveness (PUE). In other words, it enables data center operators to use more energy to process data and not for cooling or other operations.
5. IMMERSION COOLING IS TOO EXPENSIVE
Data center operators tend to view any large-scale change as expensive. However, switching from air to liquid cooling can bring tangible cost benefits, starting with reducing cooling costs by 30% or more. This significant savings is achieved because organizations no longer need to invest in chilling and circulating air throughout the data center. As a result, the net outcome is a better PUE, indicating that the data center is utilizing its energy more efficiently. By embracing the power of liquid cooling, companies can boost their bottom line and contribute to a more sustainable future through reduced energy consumption.
In addition, cooler-operating equipment means less downtime. Data centers operating with immersion cooling can maximize the time between equipment failures and thereby extend the life of their servers. Therefore, they can reap the rewards of providing the highest possible service level while replacing equipment less often.
To Make Immersion Cooling a Reality for Your Data Center, Start with UNICOM Engineering
UNICOM Engineering's latest innovation, the XE9680-IR platform, showcases the real power of immersion cooling technology. This advanced platform combines dual 5th Generation Intel Xeon Scalable processors and eight NVIDIA H100 or H200 GPUs to tackle the most demanding AI workloads, from large language models to diagnostic imaging and high-frequency trading.
We've designed and validated every aspect of the XE9680-IR for immersion environments, ensuring optimal performance and reliability. Each system comes with our comprehensive support package, including a one-year base warranty with options to extend coverage up to five years.
As the data center liquid cooling market heads toward $21.3 billion by 2030, we're committed to helping you stay ahead of the curve. Ready to see how immersion cooling can transform your data center? Schedule a consultation to learn more about our immersion-ready solutions.