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Heat transfer dependence of power usage effectiveness of an augmented two-phase immersion cooling system for high-power servers

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  • Ma, Yu
  • Bao, Yuchen
  • Li, Ji

Abstract

Owing to the heat dissipation needs of high-power servers in data centers and lowering power usage effectiveness, two-phase immersion cooling technology combined with surface modification technology is an advanced and efficient thermal management solution. In this paper, first, a new simplified hypothesis for the geometric relationship between the size of the cavity and the size of the bubble is proposed on the basis of the existing nucleate boiling model. Second, sintered spherical copper powder porous structures with three particle sizes were prepared and compared, among which d60 (porous surface with a median particle diameter of 60 μm) yielded the best boiling enhancement result, which increased the critical heat flux (CHF) and heat transfer coefficient (HTC) by 45 % and 470 %, respectively, compared with a smooth copper surface, and the superheating required for the onset of nucleate boiling was reduced to 0.3 °C. Last, a two-phase immersion cooling system with surface modification technology was built for high-power servers. Compared with a smooth surface, an optimal porous surface (d60μm porous surface) can withstand 40 % higher heating power while maintaining the surface junction temperature below 68 °C, with lower external cooling power consumption, and achieve an ultralow power usage effectiveness (PUE = 1.03).

Suggested Citation

  • Ma, Yu & Bao, Yuchen & Li, Ji, 2025. "Heat transfer dependence of power usage effectiveness of an augmented two-phase immersion cooling system for high-power servers," Energy, Elsevier, vol. 323(C).
    • Handle: RePEc:eee:energy:v:323:y:2025:i:c:s0360544225014951
    DOI: 10.1016/j.energy.2025.135853
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    References listed on IDEAS

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