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Submer SmartPod: Leading the charge in immersion cooling technology.

Written by Polina Martinuka
Published July 23rd, 2024
6 min read
Updated July 25th, 2024

Summary

Submer SmartPods are revolutionizing data centre cooling with their advanced liquid immersion technology. Designed to significantly reduce energy consumption and enhance the performance of high-density computing environments, SmartPods submerge servers in a specially engineered dielectric fluid. This innovative approach not only minimizes the need for traditional air conditioning systems but also ensures optimal thermal management, leading to substantial operational cost savings and a reduced environmental footprint.
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Details

Name
Submer SmartPod
Date of establishment
2018
Organization

Deep dive

Products and Services

Unlike traditional air cooling systems, SmartPods submerge servers in a dielectric fluid that efficiently dissipates heat, drastically reducing energy consumption and enhancing performance. This innovative approach allows data centres to handle high-density computing demands while maintaining optimal thermal management. Submer offers a range of immersion cooling solutions, including the SmartPod EVO and SmartPod EXO, designed to fit various data centre sizes and needs, ensuring scalability and adaptability.

SmartPod EVO

"Plug & Play Immersion
at Scale"

Source: submer.com

The SmartPod Evo can handle over 140 kW of heat dissipation, making it suitable for high-density computing environments. It uses liquid immersion technology to dissipate heat, providing a highly efficient and sustainable alternative to traditional air cooling systems.

One of the standout features of the SmartPod Evo is its plug-and-play design, which simplifies installation and integration into existing infrastructures. It connects to standard water loops and is compact enough to fit into complex data centre layouts. This ease of deployment is complemented by modular cable management and configurable dry zones for IT and power equipment, enhancing operational flexibility and maintenance.

The SmartPod Evo also supports hybrid cooling systems, allowing it to work alongside air-cooled racks for optimized cooling efficiency. This adaptability makes it an ideal choice for data centres looking to maximize their cooling capabilities while minimizing energy consumption and environmental impact.

SmartPod EXO

"Enduring Performance
to Rely On"

Source: submer.com

It offers exceptional heat dissipation, capable of handling up to 361 kW, making it ideal for environments that require extreme cooling efficiency. The SmartPod EXO is particularly suited for data centres and AI factories, providing a compact and scalable solution that maximizes density per square foot while ensuring reliable performance.

One of the key features of the SmartPod EXO is its adaptability, with options for either a unitank or twin tank configuration. The twin tank design ensures concurrent maintainability, meaning each Cooling Distribution Unit (CDU) can handle 100% of the load, providing 99.999% availability and enhancing uptime.

The SmartPod EXO also excels in climate resiliency, utilizing hot water up to 140°F (60°C) for cooling, which makes free cooling a viable option and reduces direct water usage.

Case Studies

PeaSoup's Sustainable Cloud Initiative:

In collaboration with PeaSoup, Submer's SmartPod EVO was deployed to create a cloud infrastructure powered entirely by renewable energy. This case study demonstrated significant reductions in CO2 emissions and operational costs. The SmartPod EVO's compact design and quick deployment capabilities made it a perfect fit for PeaSoup's eco-friendly cloud vision. The immersion cooling technology not only enhanced energy efficiency but also provided a scalable and sustainable solution for modern data centres.

Telefónica's Evaluation of SmartPod EXO:

Telefónica tested the SmartPod EXO under extreme conditions to evaluate its reliability, efficiency, and hardware performance. The SmartPod EXO maintained the coolant temperature below the maximum target of 55ºC, even under maximum load conditions, demonstrating its effective thermal management. The system's redundancy ensured continuous operation without downtime. The case study also highlighted energy savings, reduction in non-IT consumption, and favourable PUE (Power Usage Effectiveness) performance, proving the SmartPod EXO's efficiency and cost-effectiveness in real-world scenarios.

Market Position

Submer has established itself as a leader in the data centre cooling industry, particularly in the niche of liquid immersion cooling. The company’s innovative solutions have positioned it at the forefront of sustainable and efficient data centre operations. By addressing the growing need for energy-efficient cooling methods, Submer has attracted a broad customer base that includes tech giants, cloud service providers, and high-density computing facilities.

Competitors

  1. Iceotope Technologies: offers precision immersion cooling solutions, designed to cool IT equipment efficiently while reducing energy consumption. Their solutions are applicable across various sectors, including data centres, edge computing, and high-performance computing.

  2. GRC (Green Revolution Cooling): provides liquid immersion cooling systems that help data centres reduce energy costs and environmental impact. Their products are known for being scalable and easy to integrate into existing data centre infrastructures​.

  3. Asperitas: specializes in immersion cooling solutions aimed at enhancing energy efficiency and sustainability in data centers. Their products are designed to support high-density computing environments and reduce operational costs​.

  4. LiquidStack: focuses on two-phase immersion cooling technology, which offers high efficiency and reliability for data centres and edge applications. Their solutions are geared towards supporting the growing demands of modern computing workloads.

  5. Fujitsu: provides immersion cooling solutions as part of its data center infrastructure offerings. They focus on enhancing the energy efficiency and performance of data centres, particularly in high-performance computing environments.

  6. Schneider Electric: offers a range of cooling solutions, including liquid immersion cooling, aimed at improving the efficiency and sustainability of data centers. They are known for their comprehensive approach to data centre infrastructure management.

Challenges and Opportunities

One of the main challenges for Submer is convincing traditional data centres to adopt liquid immersion cooling over established air-cooling systems. The initial investment and the shift in infrastructure can be significant barriers.

However, the growing emphasis on sustainability and the rising cost of energy present substantial opportunities. As more organizations prioritize reducing their carbon footprint and operational costs, Submer’s solutions become increasingly attractive. Additionally, the expansion of high-performance computing and artificial intelligence applications, which require efficient cooling solutions, offers further growth prospects for Submer.

Sustainability and Impact

Traditional air cooling systems are energy-intensive, often requiring large amounts of electricity to maintain optimal temperatures. In contrast, SmartPods use dielectric fluids that provide efficient thermal management with much lower energy input. This reduction in energy usage not only lowers operational costs but also minimizes the environmental impact, aligning with global efforts to combat climate change. Submer’s commitment to sustainability extends to its entire product lifecycle, from design to deployment, ensuring eco-friendly practices at every stage.

Pricing

For detailed and customized pricing, it is recommended to contact Submer directly through their website, where they can provide a quote based on specific needs and deployment scales, since their pricing is not publicly listed.


Polina Martinuka
Written by:
Polina Martinuka
Sustainability Research Analyst
Recently graduating from a university in the UK, with a Bachelor's degree in Multimedia Journalism, Polina brings a unique blend of investigative skills, the ability to analyze complex data and environmental awareness.