Industry and Company Analysis Summary Industry Overview - The data center and AI server liquid cooling industry is experiencing rapid growth due to increasing energy consumption and stringent green requirements. Liquid cooling technology is becoming a necessity as traditional air cooling cannot meet current demands [1][2][3] - The main liquid cooling technologies include cold plate, silent, and spray cooling, with cold plate technology currently dominating the market. However, silent cooling has superior heat dissipation capabilities, making it suitable for high-power density AI data centers [1][4] Key Points and Arguments - **Energy Consumption**: In 2024, China's computing centers are projected to consume 11,601 GWh, accounting for 1.68% of total electricity consumption, surpassing the annual output of the Three Gorges Dam. The government has set strict PUE standards for data centers, which will drop from 1.4 in 2023 to 1.3 by 2025 [2][3] - **Market Opportunity**: 3M plans to exit PFAS production by 2025, creating significant domestic replacement opportunities for companies like Juhua Co., Dongyue Group, and Nantong Zhanding [3][9] - **Liquid Cooling Demand**: The penetration rate of liquid cooling in AI data centers is expected to reach 85% by 2028, with overall cooling demand projected to exceed 100,000 tons [3][11] Liquid Cooling Technologies - **Cold Plate Cooling**: Dominates the market with a 91% application rate in 2022. It is mature and does not require extensive modifications to existing data centers, suitable for single cabinet power scenarios of 50-100 kW [4] - **Silent Cooling**: Although only 8% of the market in 2022, it offers the highest heat dissipation capacity, reaching 150 watts per square centimeter, and is ideal for high-density AI data centers [4] Cooling Media Characteristics - **Water-based**: Cost-effective and suitable for cold plate systems but requires additives to prevent microbial growth [5] - **Oil-based**: Used in silent cooling, with various types like mineral oil and synthetic oil, each having its pros and cons [5] - **Fluorinated**: Includes products like perfluoropolyether and perfluoramine, known for excellent thermal performance but higher costs and environmental risks [6][8] Future Trends - Fluorinated coolants, especially light fluorinated ethers, are expected to become essential in high-performance scenarios due to their material compatibility and environmental properties. New microchannel water-cooling technologies are emerging but are costly and complex [7] - The global cooling liquid demand is projected to grow fivefold in the next four years, with AI data centers contributing significantly to this increase [11] Key Companies and Market Dynamics - **Juhua Co.**: A leader in fluorinated compounds, with plans for 5,000 tons of production capacity [12] - **Dongyue Group**: Offers a comprehensive product line suitable for various liquid cooling solutions [12] - **China Petroleum**: Excels in oil-based cooling liquids with stable production capacity and cost advantages [12] Conclusion The liquid cooling industry is poised for significant growth driven by energy efficiency demands and technological advancements. Companies positioned to capitalize on these trends, particularly in the domestic market, are likely to see substantial opportunities in the coming years [3][9][12]

Core Viewpoint - The article discusses the growing importance of liquid cooling technology in data centers due to increasing power consumption and heat generation from AI server chips, highlighting the shift from traditional air cooling to liquid cooling solutions. Group 1: Liquid Cooling Technology Types - Liquid cooling technology is categorized into two main types: cold plate and immersion cooling, with cold plate cooling holding a 91% market share in 2022 due to its maturity and compatibility [3][31]. - Immersion cooling, while having the highest heat dissipation capability, accounts for about 8% of the market and is represented by companies like Shuguang Data and Guangdong He Yi [4][31]. - Cold plate cooling primarily uses water-based coolants, offering advantages such as low cost and fast heat dissipation [5]. Group 2: Cooling Liquid Material Systems - The main types of cooling liquids include water-based, oil-based, and fluorinated coolants [7]. - Water-based coolants are mainly used in single-phase cold plate cooling, supplied by companies like Compton and Unification [8]. - Oil-based coolants are used in single-phase immersion cooling, with suppliers like China Petroleum and Unification [8]. - Fluorinated coolants are crucial for high reliability and extreme physical conditions, with companies like Juhua and Dongyue Group achieving large-scale production [8]. Group 3: Microchannel Liquid Cooling Breakthroughs - Microchannel cold plate technology is becoming a focus for AI chip manufacturers, with companies like Nvidia and Microsoft pushing for MLCP standards [9]. - Domestic companies such as Highlan and Feirongda are gaining certifications and expanding their market share in this area [9]. Group 4: Market Size and Price Logic - By 2028, the global AI data center installation capacity is expected to reach 59 GW, corresponding to a cooling liquid demand exceeding 89,000 tons [10]. - The Chinese market for liquid-cooled data centers is projected to grow at a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 51.4%, with the industry scale expected to exceed 100 billion yuan by 2027 [10]. Group 5: Leading Projects - Major companies like Alibaba, Shuguang, Huawei, and Lenovo are implementing liquid-cooled data center demonstration projects, with Alibaba achieving a PUE of 1.12 in its 5A green liquid-cooled data center [14][15]. - Shuguang has realized the world's first large-scale commercial application of immersion phase change liquid cooling [15]. - Huawei's cloud data center in Ulanqab utilizes indirect evaporative cooling, achieving a PUE of 1.15 [16]. Group 6: Mainstream Cooling Pathways - The article outlines the mainstream cooling pathways, including water-based, oil-based, and fluorinated cooling liquids, emphasizing the rapid growth of the liquid cooling market [18][21].

Investment Rating - The report maintains an "Outperform" rating for the industry [1] Core Insights - The rapid growth of data centers and the increasing power demands necessitate efficient cooling technologies, with liquid cooling addressing high energy consumption and heat generation issues. By 2024, China's computing centers are expected to consume 166 billion kWh, accounting for 1.68% of the total electricity consumption [2][2] - The main liquid cooling technologies include cold plate and immersion cooling, with cold plate cooling being the most widely used due to its mature technology. Liquid cooling offers multiple advantages such as high heat transfer efficiency, energy savings, and reduced noise [2][2] - The market for cooling liquids is projected to grow significantly, with an estimated demand of approximately 89,000 tons for AI data centers by 2028, alongside 19,000 tons from traditional server installations [2][2] Summary by Sections 1. Main Cooling Paths - Liquid cooling technology is categorized into indirect cooling (mainly cold plate) and direct cooling (including immersion and spray cooling). Cold plate cooling is the most prevalent, while immersion cooling offers higher heat dissipation capabilities but comes with higher operational costs [2][2][2] 2. Water-Based Cooling Liquids - Water-based cooling liquids are primarily used in single-phase cold plate cooling, offering good thermal conductivity and low cost. However, they may pose risks of microbial growth [50][50] 3. Oil-Based Cooling Liquids - Oil-based cooling liquids, including mineral oil and synthetic oil, are mainly applied in single-phase immersion cooling. They are cost-effective and environmentally friendly but have lower thermal conductivity compared to synthetic alternatives [56][56] 4. Market Space Estimation - The liquid cooling market in China is expected to exceed 100 billion yuan by 2027, with a compound annual growth rate of 51.4% from 2019 to 2027 [17][17] 5. Commercialization of Liquid Cooling Technology - The commercialization of liquid cooling technology is increasing, with major IT companies like Alibaba, Baidu, and Tencent implementing successful liquid cooling applications [27][27]