Stability Assurance in Liquid Cooling Systems for Data Centers: Methods, Challenges, and Solutions

The continuous increase in power density and overall energy consumption in modern data centers, primarily driven by artificial intelligence applications and high-performance computing workloads, has accelerated the adoption of advanced thermal management solutions. Liquid cooling systems (LCS) have become a prominent alternative to conventional air-based cooling approaches due to their higher heat removal efficiency, improved energy utilization, and suitability for high-density deployment scenarios. Despite these advantages, the practical implementation and long-term operational stability of liquid cooling systems remain key challenges, as such systems are vulnerable to multiple failure modes, including fluid leakage, material corrosion, particulate accumulation, and flow obstruction. This review systematically examines the technical methods and management strategies adopted to enhance the stability and reliability of liquid cooling systems in high-density data center environments. It provides a structured analysis of common failure mechanisms, with particular emphasis on their underlying causes and potential impacts on system performance and operational safety. In addition, the paper discusses water quality control strategies, material compatibility considerations, and structural design measures aimed at reducing leakage and corrosion risks. Real-time monitoring and early warning techniques, including sensor-based detection and data-driven diagnostics, are also reviewed as essential tools for maintaining stable system operation. Furthermore, the effectiveness of these solutions is evaluated through reported engineering practices, case studies, and experimental validation results. Finally, the importance of continuous monitoring, routine maintenance, and lifecycle management is emphasized, and future development directions for more robust, intelligent, and resilient liquid cooling systems are proposed to support the sustainable operation of next-generation data centers.