Erosion in Liquid Cooling Systems: Investigating Velocity-Dependent Degradation Mechanisms

This 23-minute talk by Christy Gonis, R&D Specialist at CoolIT Systems, presents research on velocity-dependent degradation mechanisms in liquid cooling systems for IT equipment. Explore a study that challenges the conventional 1.5 m/s velocity limit for preventing erosion-corrosion in cooling systems. Learn about the distinction between corrosion (electrochemical metal degradation) and erosion (mechanical damage from high-velocity fluid impact), and how their combination accelerates material loss. The presentation details an experimental methodology using copper coupons exposed to PG25 coolant under controlled conditions to measure mass loss and surface roughness changes. Understand the significance of wall shear stress (WSS) in erosion-corrosion processes and how it affects the mass transfer of corrosive species. Discover how this research aims to establish appropriate velocity thresholds for IT cooling systems that maintain efficiency without unnecessary restrictions while minimizing material degradation, as existing city water velocity guidelines may not be applicable to specialized IT cooling environments.