HKUST launches largest IT cooling system in HK

Henry Siu

The University of Science and Technology has launched the largest immersion cooling system in Hong Kong, enhancing the capacity of high-performance computing devices while significantly reducing energy consumption.

This makes HKUST the first local university to implement such a system in its data center and new research computing facility.

The innovative system submerges hardware in a specially designed, water-like coolant that directly absorbs heat from the components.

This coolant is non-corrosive, biodegradable, and boasts a lifespan of over 10 years, minimizing the ecological impact of the infrastructure.

Initially, the system comprises eight tanks, accommodating approximately 280 CPU and GPU servers dedicated to high-performance computing.

With this cutting-edge cooling technology, the university expects to avoid 900 tonnes of carbon emissions annually, achieving a remarkable 45 percent reduction in overall emissions.

It also reduces cooling energy consumption by over 80 percent compared to traditional rack-level air cooling, achieving a power usage effectiveness of below 1.1. The closer the PUE is to 1, the more efficient the energy usage.

This system is projected to save about HK$3 million in electricity costs each year while delivering over a 10 percent improvement in performance per watt.

Samuel Kwan Shu-kin, director of HKUST's Information Technology Services Center, said: "GPU performance degrades when temperatures are too high. This system maintains lower temperatures, allowing for higher operational speeds."

He also said traditional cooling methods, which rely on air conditioning and fans, consume significantly more electricity and are less effective at cooling.

The immersion cooling technology enables AI-driven tasks that typically require days of processing to be completed in hours, such as data analysis for vaccine development and materials science.

Tim Cheng Kwang-ting, HKUST vice-president for Research and Development, said: "While this technology primarily supports advancements in medical applications and AI for science, it offers benefits for all disciplines on our campus."

This state-of-the-art immersion cooling technology is supported by the University Grants Committee's Alterations, Additions, Repairs, and Improvements program.

It will also be implemented in a new eight-story data center for high-performance computing, set to be completed on the HKUST campus in 2026, according to Kwan.

henry.siu@singtaonewscorp.com