CoolIT Systems Demonstrates 15kW Coldplate, Extending Single-Phase DLC Beyond 2030 by Harold Fritts on June 4, 2026 Enterprise ◇ Server CoolIT Systems has announced the development of what it describes as the first 15kW direct liquid cooling (DLC) coldplate design, positioning single-phase liquid cooling as a viable path for AI infrastructure well beyond 2030. The company reports that the design delivers nearly four times the performance of earlier single-phase coldplates, indicating that the architecture can scale alongside increasing GPU and accelerator power levels. Single-phase DLC is already widely deployed across AI data centers, particularly in hyperscale environments. This latest development focuses on extending that model to support significantly higher thermal design power targets without requiring a transition to more complex cooling approaches. Scaling Thermal Capacity for AI Accelerators The 15kW coldplate represents a substantial increase in cooling capacity compared to prior designs. CoolIT states that the new coldplate delivers nearly 4x the capacity of the 4kW design it announced in March 2025 and more than 10x the cooling required for current-generation AI GPUs. This level of thermal headroom is increasingly relevant as next-generation AI accelerators push beyond traditional power envelopes. Higher per-device wattage combined with dense system packaging is driving the need for more efficient heat removal at the component level. Microchannel Design and Warm-Water Operation The coldplate is based on CoolIT’s Split-Flow microchannel architecture, designed to optimize heat transfer across high-power silicon. Validation was performed using a standard water-glycol coolant at a flow rate of 1.2 L/min/kW. The system is designed to operate in 45°C warm-water environments, aligning with broader industry trends toward higher coolant temperatures to improve overall data center efficiency. Warm-water cooling reduces reliance on mechanical chillers and enables more efficient heat reuse strategies. Alignment with Industry Direction The announcement reflects broader momentum behind single-phase DLC as a standard approach for AI infrastructure. NVIDIA has indicated support for single-phase liquid cooling operating at elevated supply temperatures in its platform roadmap, reinforcing the relevance of warm-water-compatible coldplate designs. By demonstrating performance at 15kW, CoolIT is positioning single-phase DLC as capable of supporting both current deployments and future accelerator generations without requiring architectural changes to cooling systems. Expanding Cooling Beyond the GPU In parallel with the coldplate development, CoolIT is working to extend liquid-cooling coverage to additional server components. This includes targeting peripheral devices and addressing localized hot spots within advanced AI processors. These efforts aim to increase total heat capture at the system level and improve thermal consistency across increasingly complex AI server designs. As power densities rise, comprehensive cooling strategies that go beyond the primary compute die are becoming necessary to maintain performance and reliability. Engage with StorageReview Newsletter | YouTube | Podcast iTunes/Spotify | Instagram | Twitter | TikTok | RSS Feed Harold FrittsI have been in the tech industry since IBM created Selectric. My background, though, is writing. So I decided to get out of the pre-sales biz and return to my roots, doing a bit of writing but still being involved in technology. Previous post: HPE XD230 STAC-A2 Record: Intel Xeon 6980P and Micron MRDIMMs Lead Financial Risk Benchmarks
