Data center cooling
Release Date:
2026-02-26
A technology company in Guangzhou operates a computer data center with a large number of servers, resulting in overheating and necessitating cooling measures.
Before the rise of compute-intensive technologies, most server racks had a peak power rating of around 20 kW. Today, many server racks exceed 30 kW, and GPU‑based racks used for artificial intelligence and machine learning can surpass 40 kW. Clearly, air cooling can no longer meet the demands of high‑power chips, so Tripp recommends liquid cooling as an efficient solution for thermal management.

Data center cooling equipment: finned tube heat exchangers, featuring hydrophilic aluminum‑foil, windowed corrugated fins. A liquid flows through copper tubes to facilitate cooling; liquids exhibit significantly higher thermal conductivity and specific heat capacity than air. Water’s specific heat capacity is 1,000–3,500 times that of air, and its thermal conductivity is 15–25 times greater, enabling highly efficient cooling.
Liquid cooling systems typically require no compressors or fans—only pumps and sensors—thereby significantly reducing the power usage effectiveness (PUE). Liquid cooling offers exceptionally high energy efficiency and thermal density, delivers highly effective heat dissipation, and is unaffected by altitude, geography, or temperature. As a result, it is emerging as the new frontier in data center cooling technology.