Intel and ExxonMobil unveil next-gen immersion cooling solution

Intel has launched a groundbreaking new tank design and immersion cooling solution for data centres, developed in collaboration with ExxonMobil and several other key partners. This innovative cooling technology, showcased at a recent conference, represents a significant advancement in data centre cooling efficiency, setting a new benchmark for the industry.

The event highlighted Intel’s next-generation G-Flow tank design, a revolutionary system that addresses the limitations of current single-phase immersion cooling. Traditional systems, which use hydrocarbon-based fluids, were limited to cooling capabilities of 300-350W for Xeon processors, a line of high-performance central processing units (CPUs) designed by Intel, primarily for use in servers, workstations, and data centres. The new G-Flow tank design, however, can cool chips exceeding 800W, and potentially more than 1 kW.

The combination of ExxonMobil’s advanced immersion cooling fluid with Intel’s new tank design has been shown to significantly enhance server performance and stability. Trials conducted by leading server provider H3C demonstrated a substantial reduction in energy consumption and optimised space utilisation for higher-density server deployments. This new solution meets the rigorous demands of high-performance computing (HPC) and artificial intelligence (AI) applications, making it a top choice for modern data centre operators.

Collaborative efforts

The development of this state-of-the-art cooling solution is the result of close collaboration across the value chain. “Our long-term collaboration with Intel has proven the significant advantages of our data centre immersion cooling fluid products in terms of cooling performance,” said Jerry Wang, Asia Pacific product manager for ExxonMobil. This partnership has enabled both companies to overcome technical barriers and achieve new heights in cooling efficiency.

Dr. Du, director of Thermal and Mechanical Design at Intel’s Data Centre and Artificial Intelligence Business Unit, emphasised the importance of multi-party cooperation in this achievement. “This technological breakthrough is the result of multi-party cooperation, setting a new benchmark for the data centre industry. The multi-party cooperation approach has played a crucial role in Intel’s technical support and total solution design, particularly in the validation of the G-Flow tank design, where the application of immersion cooling technology significantly enhanced processor performance and energy efficiency,” he said.

Shenzhen Eco-atlas Technology, the immersion cooling tank provider, also played a pivotal role in the development and deployment of this solution. “We are committed to providing high-quality products and comprehensive solutions to end-users, ensuring the performance of immersion cooling systems in practical applications,” said Shixuan Hu, general manager of Eco-atlas Technology.

This breakthrough demonstrates the importance of cross-value chain collaboration in driving technological progress and indicates the broad application of immersion cooling technology. The collaboration between chip manufacturers, server providers, and tank and fluid suppliers has enabled the rapid development and deployment of this cutting-edge cooling solution for the data centre industry.