What are the common cooling fluids?
Water:
Water is the most direct and cost-effective coolant. However, since water is not an insulator, it can only be used in indirect contact liquid cooling systems. A leakage in such systems can cause severe damage to IT equipment, such as servers.
Mineral Oil:
Mineral oil is another affordable cooling fluid. Single-phase mineral oil is non-toxic, odorless, and has low volatility. It is highly viscous, making it prone to leaving residue on equipment surfaces. While it has a high flash point, it can still catch fire under certain conditions.
Electronic Fluorinated Liquid:
The primary characteristic of electronic fluorinated liquid is its insulation properties and non-flammability. It is considered the safest coolant in liquid cooling systems for data centers and is currently the most widely used. However, it comes at a high cost.
Thermal Fluids:
Thermal fluids are specially designed liquids that are non-toxic, insulating, have a high boiling point, and are non-corrosive. These fluids can immerse electronic components, effectively isolating them from air, preventing oxidation reactions, and providing a clean, dust-free environment. As a result, thermal fluids significantly extend the lifespan of electronic components.
