Graduation Semester and Year

2018

Language

English

Document Type

Thesis

Degree Name

Master of Science in Mechanical Engineering

Department

Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering

First Advisor

Dereje Agonafer

Abstract

Fully immersion of servers in electrically non-conductive (dielectric) fluid has recently become a promising technique for minimizing cooling energy consumption in data centers. The improved thermal properties of these dielectric fluids facilitate considerable savings in both upfront and operating cost over traditional air-cooling. This technology provides an opportunity for accommodating increased power densities. It also minimizes and addresses the common operational issues of air cooling methods like overheating and temperature swing in the system, fan failures, dust, air quality, and corrosion. This paper presents various data about the performance of a fully single-phase dielectric fluid immersed server over wide temperature ranges (environment temperature) from 25°C to 55°C for prolonged periods in an environmental chamber. This work explores the effects of high temperature on the performance of a server and other components like pump, along with potential issues associated with extreme climatic conditions. The experimental data serves as a means to determine failure criteria for the server and pump by subjecting the system to accelerated thermal aging conditions i.e. around 55°C, consequently simulating the most extreme environmental conditions that the server may encounter. Connector seals are inspected for expected degradation upon temperature cycling typically at such extreme conditions. Throttling limit for the server and pump power draw for different temperatures are examined to assess pump performance. Determining the relations between component behavior and operating temperature provides an accurate measure of lifetime of a server. The scope of this paper can be expanded by reviewing the effects of low temperatures (from -20°C to room temperature) on server and component performance. Changes to various performance parameters like power draw of pump and server, lowest operating temperature and an understanding of issues like condensation can be examined to quantify upper and lower limits for pump and server performance.

Keywords

Non-conductive, Immersion cooling

Disciplines

Aerospace Engineering | Engineering | Mechanical Engineering

Comments

Degree granted by The University of Texas at Arlington

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