FAQ

HyperCool's Direct-to-Chip Liquid Cooling Technology FAQ

• What is the HyperCool technology and how does it work?

  HyperCool is an innovative, waterless, two-phase, direct-to-chip cooling technology designed to manage the temperature of high-performance processors, such as CPUs and GPUs. The system uses a cold plate placed directly on top of these components. Inside the cold plate, a dielectric liquid absorbs heat from the chip.

  To better understand how HyperCool works, consider how boiling water keeps the bottom of a pot at a constant temperature. As long as there is water in the pot, the bottom stays at 100°C (212°F), the boiling point of water.

  Similarly, HyperCool maintains the chip at a steady temperature by using a fluid refrigerant inside the cold plate. This refrigerant boils at a temperature between 18°C and 50°C. The fluid evaporates when the chip heats up, carrying the heat away as vapor. The vapor is then condensed into liquid form and returned to the cold plate. As long as fluid is in the cold plate, the chip’s temperature remains within the desired range, regardless of its thermal design power (TDP).

• How does the ZutaCore cooling system work, and where are its components?

  While the ZutaCore cold plates sit on the processors, the system also features manifolds that distribute the liquid and vapor to and from a heat rejection unit. Together, these components create a highly cost-effective and sustainable cooling solution that is easy to install and requires minimal to no maintenance over time.

• Is the dielectric fluid in HyperCool safe for IT equipment, and what fluids are used?

  Yes, the dielectric fluid used in HyperCool is entirely safe for IT equipment and will not damage the server, even in the unlikely event of a leak. The system uses fluids like Opteon SF33 and R-1233zd, both nonconductive and noncorrosive. This fluid is designed to be maintenance-free and never needs replacement. Additionally, it has an ozone depletion potential (ODP) of 0 and a very low global warming potential (GWP), making it environmentally friendly.

• Does HyperCool use water or rely on flow for cooling?

  No, HyperCool does not use water or depend on flow for cooling. As mentioned earlier, HyperCool removes heat through boiling rather than fluid flow. The liquid flow is only necessary to fill the cold plate's pool. To give you an idea, the ZutaCore system requires a flow rate of just 0.3L/min for every 1000W. For example, cooling Nvidia’s B200 (1200W) would need a flow rate of 0.36L/min with HyperCool, compared to 1.8L/min for single-phase direct-to-chip water cooling. As we say at ZutaCore, “Water is for People, Not for Servers.”

• How does HyperCool’s two-phase direct-to-chip cooling compare to immersive liquid cooling?

  While both cooling methods use dielectric liquid, they operate differently. In immersive liquid cooling, entire servers and components are fully submerged in dielectric liquid within large, heavy tanks. In contrast, HyperCool's two-phase direct-to-chip cooling uses only a small amount of dielectric fluid, which is directed to a cold plate placed directly on top of high heat flux areas, like CPUs and GPUs. This liquid absorbs heat from the components, remains contained within the cold plate, and never comes into direct contact with the chips or server equipment. For a deeper comparison between immersive cooling and direct-to-chip cooling, you can refer to this blog.

• What is the maximum power that HyperCool can support?

  ZutaCore’s cold plates were tested and successfully cooled chips with a thermal design power (TDP) up to 2500W. No technical limitation prevents them from supporting even higher TDPs.

• What PUE is expected from a HyperCool system?

  HyperCool achieves as low as 1.04 PUE, delivering 10-20% better energy efficiency with dynamic cooling, smaller pumps, and no performance degradation over time.

• What maintenance procedure does the system require?

  HyperCool has very low maintenance requirements. The dielectric fluid never needs to be replaced even after years of usage and with no water being used, the system is free from corrosion and water-related threats such as mold and bio-growth.

• Can the heat generated by servers using HyperCool be reused?

  Yes, that is one of the unique advantages of HyperCool. Since the liquid maintains a constant temperature, the heat from the servers can be captured and repurposed for various applications. This includes heating adjacent offices, other parts of the data center, or nearby schools, office buildings, and swimming pools.