Things are heating up in the world of microprocessors — literally.
Next-gen CPUs will soon be packing more heat-emitting transistors into a single chip and increasing clock speed, creating cooling challenges and the condition known as "fatal-heat" — a predicament that both reduces the performance and compromises the lifespan of every component in a system.
So, what are the options for mitigating the high operating temperature resulting from power-hungry computers continuously processing and storing vast amounts of data in cryptocurrency mining operations and data centers?
This paper explores the benefits of liquid cooling for data centers and cryptocurrency mining operations, including its impact on efficiency, cost-effectiveness, and environmental sustainability.
Until recent years, the primary way of dissipating heat in a space full of powerful microprocessing technology was introducing cool airflow.
Using heat sinks and designing cooling systems to use the natural, upward flow of heat, combined with the use of fans to move air rapidly across the components has been the primary method of keeping CPU temperatures within optimal operating ranges since the mid-20th Century.
However, air has its limitations. It can only be as cool as the ambient, or surrounding, air.
A technique that involves cooling computer components with a non-conductive fluid to dissipate heat, liquid cooling is a technology that was first used in 1887 for insulating and cooling high voltage transformers. It first appeared as a means of cooling computer equipment in the 1960s — and it took until the 21st Century for liquid cooling to appear in data centers.
One of the main benefits of liquid cooling for data centers and cryptocurrency mining operations is its impact on efficiency — it’s simply a more efficient method of cooling compared to traditional air-cooling systems.
During air cooling, heat is transferred from the computer components to the surrounding air, which is then cooled by a fan or air conditioning system. This process is not an effective medium for heat transfer, and air can only absorb a limited amount of heat.
In contrast, immersion liquid cooling, for example, involves cooling the computer components using a non-conductive fluid — or even water, such as JetCool’s JetPlates technology which has a higher heat capacity than air. This means that the fluid can absorb more heat, resulting in a more efficient cooling process.
Liquid cooling can also be more cost-effective compared to traditional air-cooling systems because these systems require significant infrastructure, such as fans, ducts, and air conditioning units, which can be expensive to install and maintain.
Liquid cooling, on the other hand, involves utilization of a non-conductive dielectric fluid for cooling computer components, which can require less infrastructure.
Another advantage is reduced energy consumption and operating costs. Air cooling systems require a significant amount of energy, whereas immersion cooling requires less energy both because the fluid used for cooling can absorb more heat, and the cooling is taking place at the source of the heat.
Liquid cooling can also be more environmentally sustainable compared to traditional air-cooling systems that can create a significant carbon footprint due to the large amount of energy they consume. Liquid cooling, however, requires less energy, resulting in a lower carbon footprint.
Liquid cooling also reduces water consumption compared to traditional air-cooling systems that require a significant amount of water to cool the air conditioning units, which can result in significant water usage. Liquid cooling does not require water, and the fluid used for cooling can be reused.
There are two main types of liquid cooling: immersion and direct liquid cooling.
This is the process of placing a server or ASIC crypto miner, after removing the cooling fans, in a non-conductive liquid — typically a specialized mineral oil — then cycling that liquid over and through the equipment through a heat exchanger. This also allows the use of standard computing hardware.
There are two types of immersion cooling: single and two-phase.
Direct liquid cooling (DLC), or direct to chip cooling (D2CC) is a method that directly circulates liquid coolant over the surface of the chip.
In this process, the liquid coolant is typically pumped through a microchannel heat sink (cold plate) that is in contact with the chip. The heat generated by the chip is transferred to the coolant through the heat sink, and the coolant is then circulated to a radiator where the heat is dissipated into the surrounding environment.
Direct to chip cooling can provide better thermal performance compared to air cooling, as liquid has a higher heat capacity and thermal conductivity than air. This allows for more efficient heat transfer from the chip to the coolant. Additionally, direct to chip cooling can allow for higher overclocking and improved system stability because the cooler operating temperatures can reduce the risk of thermal throttling or system crashes.
With any technology, there are advantages and disadvantages to consider. In the sections below we will cover the general benefits and challenges of liquid cooling, then articulate the benefits and challenges of each specific type of liquid cooling we have covered.
In addition to the aforementioned benefits of liquid cooling, immersion cooling can allow the use of standard computer hardware. With immersion cooling, it is possible to take off-the-shelf hardware, remove the fans and immerse it in the tank of non-dielectric fluid.
While immersion cooling has several benefits for data centers and cryptocurrency mining, it also presents some challenges, including the cost of implementation. Immersion cooling requires specialized equipment, such as tanks, pumps, and fluid, which can be expensive to install and maintain.
Additional challenges include:
While direct to chip cooling provides advantages over other cooling methods, it also poses several challenges that include:
You can prevent “fatal heat” from murdering your datacenter hardware.
Liquid cooling options for datacenter and cryptocurrency mining equipment are the most efficient way of controlling operating temperatures. This technology extends the life of components, allows for higher performance by overclocking and increases environmental sustainability.
Controlling the temperature enables taking control of your profitability.
This is where c3controls can help. With a wide selection of electrical controls and circuit protection components, c3controls can deliver the electrical products essential for keeping Everything Under Control.
by Ted Wodoslawsky
One of the first things I learned about digital technology was the amount of heat it created. I started my career in the controls industry as a PLC Test Technician, testing and troubleshooting the individual circuit boards that made up the 1774-PLC system. One of those boards was the 1774-TB programming terminal interface module. It was made up of two circuit boards in a double-deck configuration. This was necessary to the storage limitations of EPROM technology at that time. All of those chips got hot — so hot, the EPROMs would work their way out of their sockets and could easily burn your fingers when you pulled the module out of its test chassis.
Controlling heat was a problem then, and it hasn’t stopped being a problem during the intervening 40+ years. It has only grown… hotter.
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