Accelerated Performance Degradation of Single-Phase Cold Plates for Direct-to-chip Liquid Cooled Data Centers

Author

Lochan Sai Reddy Chinthaparthy

ORCID Identifier(s)

0000-0003-1128-7281

Graduation Semester and Year

2021

Language

English

Document Type

Thesis

Degree Name

Master of Science in Mechanical Engineering

Department

Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering

First Advisor

Dereje Agonafer

Second Advisor

Ratan Kumar

Abstract

Expanding demands for cloud-based computing and storage, the Internet of Things, and AI-based applications have escalated thermal loads in high-density data centers which necessitated the utilization of more efficient cooling technologies. Direct-to-chip liquid cooling using cold plates has proven to be one of the most efficient methods to dissipate the high heat fluxes of modern high-power CPUs and GPUs. While the published literature has well-documented research on the thermal aspects of direct liquid cooling, a detailed account of reliability degradation is missing. The present investigation provides an in-depth analysis of the reliability degradation of copper cold plates used in high-power direct liquid cooling with accelerated failure conditions of flow rate and temperature. A benchtop setup is designed using a combination of different materials like Rubber tube copper cold plate, metal fittings, Instruments capable of measuring the thermal, hydraulic performance of the cold plate along with coolant chemistry (pH, ORP and Electrical Conductivity). The degradation was analyzed by time-based data for change in pH, ORP, and electrical conductivity as indicators of corrosion in the cooling loop. Non-destructive analysis of the cold plates was conducted change in channel dimensions using SEM, and microscopic analysis of the cold plate channels for copper pitting. These experimental results are presented in engineering design considerations for the construction of the flow loop and the choice of working liquid to be used.

Keywords

Coolant chemistry, Thermal performance, Reliability

Disciplines

Aerospace Engineering | Engineering | Mechanical Engineering

License

This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-Share Alike 4.0 International License.

Comments

Degree granted by The University of Texas at Arlington

Recommended Citation

Chinthaparthy, Lochan Sai Reddy, "Accelerated Performance Degradation of Single-Phase Cold Plates for Direct-to-chip Liquid Cooled Data Centers" (2021). Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering Theses. 664.
https://mavmatrix.uta.edu/mechaerospace_theses/664