Cooling copper plates could slash data center energy use by 90%

roesel

Until the micro/nano-patterned surface gets dirty at least.

ortusdux

Original publication - https://www.cell.com/cell-reports-physical-science/fulltext/...

purkka

90% of 30% of total energy use. So, actually 27%. What a title.

functionmouse

We should block all stories with "could" in the headline; "could" implies conjecture - not news.

aetherson

Copper is expensive, and the manufacturing process sounds finicky.

jnellis

I heard copper is better an transferring heat but aluminum is better at RELEASING heat via airflow. Hence you see copper tubes on cpu coolers that terminate in aluminum fins.

gblargg

> Due to a phenomenon known as Joule heating – an unavoidable consequence of how they operate at a fundamental level – chips dissipate almost exactly the amount of power they consume as heat. I don't think you'll ever make a chip not dissipate as heat the energy you feed into it for operation. Where else would it go?

miahi

In the energy results they are comparing their novel water block cold plate against an air cooled facility, not against a similar water-cooled facility.

bokohut

For those who are financially active controlling one's own investing outcome and you carry belief in the demand growth and need for this technique I have public information to share as it relates and supports this article. A few months back Eaton, a global electrical equipment supplier, announced acquisition of a company doing exactly this "direct-to-chip cooling systems" using liquid. This is not investment advice but only information to consider for future choice that reinforces this article's claims. Many here are aware of the foundational issues fast approaching while this large public company has already acted through acquisition to offer a direct liquid cooling solution to its customers. This solution comes at a higher Capex cost yet the long term Opex savings on energy expenses will more than justify that cost over time as compared to current methods using indirect cooling via air as the heat transfer medium. For the many here that have and still work and live in the heat and noise of datacenters removing one of the two will be a win, also direct liquid cooling is likely to reduce noise as well as fewer fans are needed to move air. I also believe that in time, given the creativity of our species, that someone will devise an applied use for this captured heat in liquid just as some landfills pipe venting methane to local heavy industries for revenue instead of just wasting it via flared burn off. Surreal times but this also brings significant opportunity of which energy savings will be top of mind for many. Stay Healthy!