On-Site Transformation | From Air Cooling to Liquid Cooling

 Recently, Lian Li's technical team successfully completed an air-to-liquid cooling retrofit for a client's server. This transformation was executed seamlessly from initial design to on-site deployment, resulting in the creation of a highly reliable, easy-to-deploy, and low-maintenance liquid cooling solution that dramatically improves heat dissipation efficiency and computational performance.

Client's Background and Challenges

The client originally had a 42U air-cooled server cabinet. However, with increasing computational power density, the pressure on the cooling system intensified. After multiple technical discussions and evaluations, the decision was made to upgrade the system using Lian Li's hybrid air-liquid cooling solution. This upgrade not only enhanced the cooling capacity but also reduced energy consumption and noise levels, providing a more stable and efficient operating environment.

Key Configuration Overview

Servers: Upgraded from air-cooled servers to cold plate liquid-cooled servers for improved thermal performance.

Cabinet: 48U 55KW Hybrid Air-Liquid Cooling Cabinet with built-in fan door for enhanced cooling.

CDU: 4U 65kW Rack-Mount CDU installed at the bottom of the cabinet to drive the liquid cooling system.

On-Site Implementation Process

Core Transformation: Custom Cold Plate Installation
Lian Li's technical team began by installing custom cold plates on the server’s heat-generating components. Every step, including thermal paste application, cold plate fixation, and pipe connections, was carried out with precision to ensure optimal thermal contact and maximum heat transfer efficiency.

Pipe Layout: Neat and Leak-Free
The layout of liquid cooling pipes is crucial to the system’s performance and stability. The team designed an efficient cable management system tailored to the cabinet structure, ensuring all pipes were neatly arranged. They then performed an airtightness test to ensure no risk of leakage, which ensures reliable long-term performance.

Cabinet Placement: 48U Hybrid Air-Liquid Cooling Cabinet Design
The standout feature of the 48U hybrid air-liquid cooling cabinet is its integrated fan door. During operation, the fan door works in tandem with the liquid cooling system, facilitating heat dissipation by cooling high-temperature coolant through the fan door itself. This design eliminates the need for an external cooling unit, significantly reducing site constraints and enabling efficient indoor heat dissipation.

CDU Deployment: 4U Module Powers the Entire Cabinet
At the bottom of the cabinet, Lian Li’s self-developed 4U 65kW rack-mounted CDU was deployed. Despite its compact 4U size, this CDU effectively drives the entire liquid-cooled server setup. It features high-precision temperature control, real-time adjustment of coolant temperature, and a built-in filtration system that prevents impurities from entering the cold plate channels. Additionally, the CDU monitors key parameters such as flow rate, temperature, and pressure. The dual-redundancy design ensures that if any single component fails, a backup system seamlessly takes over to ensure continuous server operation.

Attention to Detail: Reliability in Every Component
The reliability of the liquid cooling system is often determined by the quality of its individual components. Lian Li’s CDU products use only top-tier components from renowned international and domestic brands. The control system uses Siemens PLCs, supporting both local and remote monitoring. Even the quick-connect fittings are carefully selected and manufactured to ensure smooth connection and reliable sealing, which simplifies future maintenance and operation.

Successful Completion: Stable Operation and Client Satisfaction

After the installation, testing, and commissioning, the entire liquid cooling system was successfully launched. The retrofitted cold plate liquid-cooled servers are now operating smoothly, with significantly improved heat dissipation capabilities. The client has expressed high satisfaction with the overall quality of the delivery, recognizing the system’s reliability and efficiency.

Why Choose Lian Li Liquid Cooling?

All-in-One Delivery: The integrated design of the cabinet and CDU makes it easy to install and deploy on-site, minimizing installation time.

Flexible Deployment: The fan door’s closed-loop cooling design removes the need for external cooling units, allowing the system to operate in a variety of environments.

Redundancy and Reliability: The dual-system redundancy ensures that computational assets are always protected, even in the event of a system failure.

Comprehensive Functionality: Lian Li’s CDU includes core features such as temperature control, filtration, and monitoring, ensuring optimal system performance and maintenance.

Proven Expertise: Lian Li has extensive experience in retrofitting and upgrading liquid cooling systems for major platforms like NVIDIA, AMD, and Intel.

Tailored Liquid Cooling Solutions for Your Needs

Whether you’re building a new data center or upgrading an existing air-cooled server system, Lian Li offers custom liquid cooling solutions to meet your specific requirements. Our technical team will provide end-to-end design, implementation, and support services to ensure your system performs at the highest level of efficiency and reliability.

If you are interested in learning more about our liquid cooling solutions, contact us today for technical details and case studies. Let Lian Li help you elevate your computational capabilities with advanced cooling technology.