Cooling tech in computing can come from the strangest of places. Previously we saw Microsoft, which would be considered a usual suspect in the data centre space, moved from submerging servers to flooding them. More recently, we are seeing something that looks more conventional – direct cooling, like the kind you would see on the average gaming PC. But the cooling fluid itself which is the one coming from strange places, and more specifically it comes from oil and gas giant Shell.
The fluid is called the Shell DLC Fluid S3, and no, its not Downloadable Content, but Direct Cooling Fluid. According to the company, this cooling fluid stands out due to its compatibility with a wide range of materials, and corrosion preventive properties. It’s also said to provide freeze protection, down to as low as -10 degrees Celsius.
Shell also claims that the fluid lasts longer than conventional inorganic acid technology (IAT)-based fluids. And because it’s dyed fluorescent green, any leak is easily detected.
In its announcement, Shell says that using this DLC Fluid S3 can improve Power Usage Effectiveness (PUE) by up to 27% compared to air cooling. Its use can also “reduce the need for energy-consuming air conditioning”. While the fluid itself seems impressive, it’s not as radical a solution as flooding your servers with a non-conductive liquid that boils at half the temperature of plain water. In fact, it’s fluorescent green colour may make it more at home in a gaming PC’s AIO cooler instead.
