Solenoid valve design reduces cooling energy demand
Bürkert introduces Kick & Drop coil technology to reduce energy consumption and improve durability in data center liquid cooling systems.
www.buerkert.de
Data center cooling, liquid cooling systems, and industrial flow control are critical to maintaining performance and uptime in high-density computing environments. Bürkert Fluid Control Systems presents its Kick & Drop coil technology as an alternative to conventional solenoid valves, addressing energy efficiency and reliability challenges in direct-to-chip cooling.
Context: cooling requirements in data centers
Modern data centers increasingly rely on direct-to-chip liquid cooling, where heat from processors is transferred to cold plates and removed באמצעות circulating coolant. Maintaining precise coolant flow is essential, as processing loads can change rapidly, requiring immediate thermal response.
Solenoid valves are commonly used to regulate flow due to their fast response time and compact size, allowing integration within manifold systems close to processors. However, their traditional design requires continuous energization to maintain valve position, resulting in sustained energy consumption across large installations.
Energy consumption in large-scale deployments
In high-performance servers, multiple CPUs and GPUs require individual cooling circuits, each controlled by dedicated valves. Across racks containing hundreds of such systems, the cumulative energy demand of continuously powered solenoid valves becomes significant.
This continuous power requirement also generates heat, which can impact system efficiency and component lifespan, particularly in densely packed data center environments operating around the clock.
The energy saving technology is used in solenoid valves for a wide range of applications.
Kick & Drop coil technology
Kick & Drop technology modifies the operating principle of solenoid valves by separating actuation and holding phases. The system uses a high initial power input (“kick”) to move the valve into position, followed by a reduced power level (“drop”) to maintain that position.
This transition occurs within approximately 500 milliseconds, enabling rapid response to temperature changes while significantly reducing energy use during steady-state operation. The design can lower energy consumption per valve by up to 80%.
The dual-coil configuration generates a strong magnetic field during activation and maintains sufficient holding force at a lower voltage. This approach also increases actuation capability, enabling operation under higher pressure conditions compared to standard designs.
A wide range of Burkert's solenoid valves can be specified with Kick & Drop technology.
Thermal performance and durability
Reduced energy consumption leads to lower heat generation within the valve, improving thermal management. Operating temperatures are limited to approximately 55°C, reducing stress on internal components and extending service life.
Lower thermal load also minimizes risks such as material degradation and contributes to more stable long-term operation. This is particularly relevant in systems where continuous operation and reliability are critical.
Comparison with alternative control methods
An alternative to reducing energy consumption is proportional control using pulse width modulation (PWM). While PWM can lower average power usage, it introduces additional system complexity and may generate vibration and noise due to rapid switching.
In contrast, Kick & Drop technology achieves energy savings without requiring complex control systems, maintaining smooth operation and reducing mechanical stress.
Custom valve manifolds can reduce complexity and enable a more compact design as well as faster integration.
Integration and application in cooling systems
The valves can be integrated into customized manifolds designed for direct-to-chip cooling architectures. This allows compact system layouts and optimized flow control close to heat sources.
Applications include data centers supporting AI workloads, cloud computing, and high-performance computing environments. In these contexts, efficient flow control contributes directly to system reliability and operational cost management.
Operational impact
By reducing energy consumption and improving durability, Kick & Drop technology supports more efficient cooling system operation. It enables data center operators to lower energy costs while maintaining rapid thermal response and system stability.
As computing demands continue to increase, such improvements in supporting infrastructure play a key role in achieving both performance and sustainability targets.
Edited by an industrial journalist, Lekshman Ramdas, with AI assistance.
www.burkert.com
