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💧 AI Server Liquid Cooling Explained: CDU, Cooling Loops, and Stainless Steel Pipe Applications 2024/11/29

Future Data Center Standard! Why Are AI Servers Switching to CDU Liquid Cooling?
As AI servers become more powerful, heat dissipation has become one of the main challenges in modern data centers. Traditional air-cooling systems can no longer handle the high power density and thermal load of AI servers, making liquid cooling the new mainstream solution.
But did you know? The efficiency of a liquid cooling system doesn’t just depend on the coolant itself—it’s also influenced by the pipe design, Cooling Distribution Unit (CDU), and material selection.
This article explores the technology behind AI server liquid cooling and explains the role of the CDU, pipeline design, and the advantages of stainless steel pipes in these systems.
 ➤ Why Do AI Servers Need Liquid Cooling?
Modern AI servers—such as NVIDIA H100 or AMD MI300X—consume between 700W to 1500W per GPU, pushing air cooling to its limits. Here’s why:
❌ Limited air-cooling efficiency – Increasing server density restricts airflow and reduces cooling effectiveness.
❌ High power consumption – Air systems rely on massive fans and air conditioners, increasing energy costs.
❌ Scalability limits – High-power servers require more cooling space, constraining rack layouts.
To address these issues, many data centers are adopting liquid cooling, which uses the coolant’s high thermal conductivity to directly absorb and transfer heat. In this setup, the CDU (Cooling Distribution Unit) and the pipeline design are key to system stability and efficiency.
 ➤ What Is a CDU (Cooling Distribution Unit)?
 ● Functions of the CDU
The CDU is the core component of a liquid cooling system. Its main functions include:
✔ Controlling coolant flow and temperature to ensure stable heat dissipation.
✔ Improving cooling efficiency and reducing data center PUE (Power Usage Effectiveness).
✔ Distributing coolant to each rack to ensure even cooling across all servers.

 ● How the CDU Works
1️⃣ Coolant circulation – The coolant flows from the CDU into the server’s cold plate, absorbs heat, and returns to the CDU.
2️⃣ Heat exchange – The CDU’s heat exchanger transfers heat to a secondary cooling system (e.g., facility water or cooling tower).
3️⃣ Flow control – Internal pumps adjust coolant flow rate to maintain stable operation.
💡 In short, the CDU acts as the “brain” of the liquid cooling system—managing coolant temperature, pressure, and flow to ensure optimal server performance.
 ➤ How Are Liquid Cooling Pipelines Designed?
In a liquid cooling system, pipeline design determines coolant flow, pressure stability, and overall thermal performance. There are three common pipeline architectures:

 ● Manifold System
Ideal for large-scale data centers. Stainless steel manifolds distribute coolant evenly to each rack.
✅ Advantages: High efficiency, stable pressure, multi-rack cooling support.
❌ Disadvantages: Higher initial installation cost.

 ● Dedicated Cooling Loop
Suitable for small server rooms or high-power servers. Each server has an independent cooling loop with a dedicated pump.
✅ Advantages: High flexibility; no interference between systems.
❌ Disadvantages: Higher maintenance costs.

 ● Immersion Cooling
The latest technology immerses entire servers in non-conductive cooling liquid for maximum heat dissipation.
✅ Advantages: No need for pipelines, ultra-efficient heat removal.
❌ Disadvantages: Still developing; high upfront cost.
 ➤ Applications of Stainless Steel Pipes in AI Server Cooling Systems
Material selection for cooling pipelines is crucial. Common options include stainless steel, copper, and high-strength plastic. Among them, stainless steel stands out for its corrosion resistance and pressure durability, making it ideal for AI server cooling systems.

 ● Why Choose Stainless Steel Pipes?
✔ Excellent corrosion resistance – Grades 304 / 316 resist chemical erosion from coolants.
✔ High strength and pressure tolerance – Withstands high-pressure circulation without deformation or rupture.
✔ Low thermal expansion – Maintains stability under temperature fluctuations.
✔ Long service life – More durable than plastic or copper pipes, ideal for long-term use.

 ● Stainless Steel vs Other Cooling Pipe Materials
💡 Click to view / 點此查看：Stainless Steel Pipe vs Other Cooling Materials
材質
Material		 耐腐蝕性
Corrosion Resistance		 導熱性
Thermal Conductivity
不鏽鋼管
Stainless Steel Pipe		 極佳
Excellent		 中等
Moderate
銅管
Copper Pipe		 良好（易氧化）
Good (oxidizes easily)		 高
High

💡 Conclusion: For durable, high-pressure, and corrosion-resistant cooling pipelines, stainless steel is the best choice!
 ➤ Conclusion: Stainless Steel x AI Cooling — The Future of High-Efficiency Heat Management
As heat dissipation demands rise in AI data centers, liquid cooling is becoming the future standard. The CDU and pipeline design directly affect the system’s stability and efficiency. With its corrosion resistance, strength, and longevity, stainless steel has become a key material in next-generation AI cooling systems.
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