Passive components applicable to immersion cooling systems for data center servers
The infrastructure technology supporting this AI utilization is a hardware system capable of advanced and large-scale parallel computation, known as AI accelerators. Currently, many AI accelerators are installed in data centers, but the server/storage/network systems traditionally used in data centers are not designed specifically for the operation of AI accelerators.
Therefore, to install AI accelerators in data centers and provide services that meet the demand for AI, many technical challenges need to be addressed. Among these, cooling of the equipment is considered the most critical issue, and the development of next-generation cooling methods for AI accelerator systems is underway. Among these, immersion cooling systems are said to be the most promising technology due to their significant cooling effects.
This article introduces our company's efforts regarding passive component products for AI accelerator systems using this immersion cooling method.
What’s about the Immersion Liquid Cooling System
Immersion Liquid Cooling (ILC) is a system that can effectively cool the server equipment by immersing the server system units in Non-conductive liquid (Coolant) that transferring the generated heat at the devices by directly touching and keep cooling the device efficiently.
Advantage of the ILC System is
- Save cooling cost of the server system
- Reduce the failure rate of the server System Hardware
- Takes up less footprint of the entire data center system
- Reducing Noise sound from cooling fans
While Disadvantage of the ILC System is
- Higher initial cost for system introduction
- Complex maintenance due to residue of coolant (in Oil)
Etc…
Coolant Liquid Variations used for ILC System
Following types of coolant liquid are used for the ILC system.
- PFAS
- Silicone based oil
※ PFAS : Per-and Poly-Fluorinated Alkyl Substances
and so on.
Because of those coolant liquids are chemical substances, it is necessary to check whether the materials used in our product are effect of chemical reactions.
It is also necessary to check the electrical characteristics and/or reliability of our product won’t be affected by the liquid due to prolonged immersion in such liquid.
TDK has been conducting conformity tests and has prepared reports of the test results so that customers can use our products safely.
TDK’s activity for conforming of Passive Products to the ILC systems
TDK has been conducting conformity tests of our products for the ILC systems, and TDK also start developing products for supporting the ILC systems since 2021.
Based on Customer inquires, TDK has been conducting compatibility testing for passive components against those coolant liquids. Those test report on the results are available.
Availability of those test results or data is depending on the type of products.
TDK can support the customer for further passive components compatibility testing according to the customer's request.
Overview about each test method are shown in the table below. (Not all tests are applicable to all products.)
| Test Items | Description | Test Report Availability & Support from Customer Request | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Test - 1 | Liquid Soaking Test (Non-Loaded Condition) |
Supporting for both PFAS & OIL based Coolant Liquid. Test Performed by TDK Specified Testing Setup & Conditions. |
Available |
| Test - 2 | Soxhlet Extraction Test (Non-Loaded) |
Supporting only for specific PFAS based Coolant Liquid only. Test Performed by TDK Specified Testing Setup & Conditions. |
Support upon the Customer Request |
| Test - 3 | Liquid Soaking Test | Supporting only for OIL based Coolant Liquid only. Test Performed by TDK Specified Testing Setup & Conditions. |
Support upon the Customer Request |
| Test-1 | Test-2 | Test-3 |
|---|---|---|
| Liquid Soaking Test (Non-Loaded Test) |
Soxhlet Extraction Test (Non-Loaded Test) |
Loaded Test |
|
|
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Proposal of TDK’s Passive Products for the ILC System
TDK prepares the test results for products used in data server application.
| TDK Product Series | Product Image |
Test-1 Test Result Availability (Coolant Liquid Type) |
Link to Product Spec | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| OIL Base | PFAS Base | |||
| VLBUC120612 Series | 
|
✓ | ✓ | Link |
| MPZ1608 Series | 
|
✓ | Coming soon | Link |
| MLZ2012 Series | 
|
✓ | Coming soon | Link |
| MLP2012 Series |
|
✓ | Coming soon | Link |
| MCZ1210 Series | 
|
✓ | Coming soon | Link |
Inductor Test Report
Inquiry for Inductor| TDK Product Series | Product Image |
Test-1 Test Result Availability (Coolant Liquid Type) |
Link to Product Spec | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| OIL Base | PFAS Base | |||
| C2012 Series | 
|
Coming soon | Coming soon | Link |
| TDK Product Series | Product Image |
Test-1 Test Result Availability (Coolant Liquid Type) |
Link to Product Spec | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| OIL Base | PFAS Base | |||
| B43643 Series | 
|
Coming soon | ✓ | Link |
| TDK Product Series | Product Image |
Test-1 Test Result Availability (Coolant Liquid Type) |
Link to Product Spec | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| OIL Base | PFAS Base | |||
| NTCG104 Series | 
|
✓ | ✓ | Link |
| TDK Product Series | Product Image |
Test-1 Test Result Availability (Coolant Liquid Type) |
Link to Product Spec | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| OIL Base | PFAS Base | |||
| FS1406 | 
|
Coming soon | Coming soon | Link |
| FS3303 | 
|
Coming soon | Coming soon | Link |
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