Increasing reliance on digital technologies in general and artificial intelligence in particular are dramatically increasing the energy consumption of data centers. Data centers consume far more energy per square foot than other commercial buildings. By the year 2030, data center energy consumption in the US is projected to reach 9% of the country’s electricity generation.
Computing hardware consumes large amounts of energy and generates large amounts of heat in the process. Currently, cooling the equipment so it doesn’t burn out accounts for as much as 40% of a data center’s total energy use.
Engineers at the University of California San Diego have developed a new cooling technology that could significantly improve the energy efficiency of data centers. The technology makes use of a specially engineered fiber membrane that passively removes heat through evaporation.
The membrane has a network of tiny, interconnected pores that draw cooling liquid across the membrane surface using capillary action. As the liquid evaporates, it removes heat from the electronics underneath. No extra energy is required.
Tests of the membrane demonstrated record-breaking performance in removing heat from electronics and being able to withstand very high levels of heat flux.
The researchers say that the technology is still operating well below its theoretical limit, and with additional work, can lead to optimized performance. The membranes will be integrated into cold plates, which are components that attach to power-hungry computing components to dissipate heat. The team is also launching a startup company to commercialize the new cooling technology.
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New Cooling Tech Could Curb Data Centers’ Rising Energy Demands
Photo, posted January 23, 2023, courtesy of Jefferson Lab via Flickr.
Earth Wise is a production of WAMC Northeast Public Radio
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