Overview of the Liquid Cooling Loop for Data Centers

This diagram illustrates a closed-loop liquid cooling system commonly used in data centers to manage high-density heat loads with high efficiency:

1. Cooling Distribution Unit (CDU)
   The CDU receives heat from the servers through a liquid loop (usually water or a dielectric coolant) and distributes the heated fluid to the heat exchange infrastructure.

2. Cooling Unit (CRAH)
   The Computer Room Air Handler (CRAH) or cooling unit interfaces with the chilled water system. It absorbs heat from the liquid circulating between the servers and the CDU.

3. Chiller
   The chiller cools the heated water from the CRAH using refrigerant-based cooling technology and transfers the heat out to the cooling tower.

4. Cooling Tower
   The cooling tower is the final stage where heat is rejected into the ambient air, typically via evaporation or air exchange.

5. Return Loop
   The cooled liquid is then returned back through the loop to the servers via the CDU, completing the cycle.

This continuous circulation allows for precise temperature control, energy-efficient operation, and scalable thermal management in high-performance computing environments like data centers.