Overview of Safety Requirements for Liquid Cooling Technologies in Data Centers Supporting AI and ML Workloads

Driven by the increasing demands of artificial intelligence (AI) and machine learning (ML) workloads, the data center liquid cooling market is experiencing rapid expansion. This paper examines various liquid cooling technologies, including rear door heat exchangers, direct-to-chip cooling, and immersion cooling, while outlining their benefits and challenges in managing high heat densities. A key focus is on the safety requirements for these systems, particularly regarding pressurized liquid-filled components (LFCs), as addressed in Annex G.15 of IEC 62368–1. By analyzing the construction and testing requirements specified in the standard, this paper offers insights into designing safe and reliable liquid cooling solutions aimed at mitigating risks associated with leaks, preventing hardware damage, and ensuring regulatory compliance in AI and ML-driven data centers.