May 8, 2014: 3M Introduces New Data Center Immersion Cooling Technology
Proof-of-Concept System Demonstrates the Technology
ST. PAUL, Minn. — 3M has announced the development of a fully functional supercomputer developed in collaboration with Intel and SGI that uses a new two-phase immersion cooling technology from 3M that reduces energy use while increasing supercomputer efficiency.
In this proof-of-concept, SGI® ICE™ X, a fifth generation distributed memory supercomputer, and the Intel® Xeon® processor E5-2600 hardware are placed directly into 3M™ Novec™ engineered fluid. 3M said the fluid is an efficient dielectric that keeps the hardware cooled with minimum additional energy, maximum performance, and better reliability. The two-phase immersion cooling technology can reduce cooling energy costs by 95 percent and reduces water consumption by eliminating municipal water usage for evaporative cooling, said the company. Heat can also be harvested from the system and reused for heating and other processes.