Energy-Efficient Liquid Cooling System for Data Centres

RAISe+

The Hong Kong Government launched the Research, Academic and Industry Sectors One-plus Scheme (RAISe+) in October 2023 to unleash the potential of local universities in transformation and commercialisation of R&D outcomes, and facilitate relevant collaboration among the Government, industries, universities, and research sectors. The scheme aims to provide funding, on a matching basis, for at least 100 research teams from universities funded by the University Grants Committee which demonstrate strong potential to evolve into successful startups. Each approved project will receive funding support ranging from HK$10 million to HK$100 million.

In the first round of the RAISe+ Scheme applications, two research projects led by PolyU members are among the first batch of 24 projects selected under the scheme. Prof. WANG Zuankai, Associate Vice President (Research and Innovation), Kuok Group Professor in Nature-Inspired Engineering, and Chair Professor of Nature-Inspired Engineering of the Department of Mechanical Engineering was one of the awardees.

The success and progress of our society’s businesses and innovations hinge on data and data centres. These centres, serving as crucial foundations for Artificial intelligence (AI), big data and other technologies, contribute to 3% of global energy consumption. Notably, cooling systems alone consume a significant 40% of this. Existing cooling methods are inefficient, expensive, harmful to the environment and contribute to substantial carbon emissions. Hence, the pivotal step towards achieving energy-saving and emission-reduction objectives in data centres lies in effectively reducing the energy consumption of cooling systems.

This project aims to commercialise the team’s Energy-Efficient Liquid Cooling System (ELCS) to address the very significant energy consumption by data centres for more sustainable cooling.

ELCS resolves the centuries-old Leidenfrost challenge using innovative nano-engineered surfaces, i.e., structured thermal armour. The first innovative aspect of ELCS is to utilise phase change cooling principles, whereby liquid coolant is transported to the hot area through heat pipes. The coolant undergoes vaporisation, carrying away the heat, which is then condensed back into liquid for reuse, achieving nearly zero-energy cooling. The System is expected to achieve high heat fluxes of ~1,000 W/cm², even at high temperatures of up to 1,000 ℃, which outperforms traditional methods. Another innovative aspect of ELCS is the integration of AI and the Intelligence of Things, enabling real-time monitoring and optimisation of the System’s thermal performance.