Innovative cooling thanks to new aluminium heat exchangers
Many datacenters today rely on copper-based heat exchangers which are reliable and effective, thanks to their excellent thermal conductivity and resistance to corrosion. However, as sustainability and cost-efficiency become even more critical, aluminium is emerging as a compelling alternative. Through this workstream proposal, OVHcloud, as well as Valeo, aim at advancing aluminium heat exchanger technology in datacenters.
The initiative will seek to establish and open-source robust guidelines for internal linings, coating and coolants to address corrosion concerns. The project will also aim to ensure aluminium’s viability in the datacenter, ensure compatibility with existing infrastructure while enhancing performance, reliability and sustainability. In sustainability terms, using aluminium requires only about 5% of the energy needed for new production1, compared to 15-20% for copper1.
Aluminium’s lightweight properties will support its use in modular systems and advanced heat exchanger designs, such as microchannel heat exchangers. Rigorous testing in real world conditions will validate the durability of the coatings, the effectiveness of the coolants, and the overall thermal management capabilities of aluminium systems. This will result in a comprehensive white paper on the integration process, with presentations at industry summits and updates to relevant guidelines if necessary.
“Following our previous contributions with OCP, we are thrilled to ignite conversations into bringing to the datacenters new aluminium-based innovative cooling systems that are energy efficient and sustainable” said Miroslaw Klaba, R&D Director OVHcloud. “OCP will help in driving faster innovation for scalable solutions ultimately facilitating broader adoption of aluminium heat exchangers.”
