As the global appetite for data surges, driven by advancements in artificial intelligence and supercomputing, managing the heat generated by data center processors has become increasingly critical. Zurich-based startup Apheros, a female-led deep-tech company, is pioneering a novel approach to address this challenge through its patented metal foam technology.
Innovative Metal Foam for Cooling
Apheros has developed a unique metal foam with high porosity that significantly enhances heat transfer capabilities. This advanced material increases surface area for heat exchange and improves flow properties in liquid cooling systems. The company’s innovative foam technology promises to offer more efficient cooling solutions compared to traditional methods.
The startup recently secured $1.85 million in funding from venture capital firm Founderful to further develop and commercialize its metal foam technology.
Rising Data Center Energy Demands
McKinsey & Company projects that data center energy consumption will grow by 10 percent annually through 2030, with total power usage expected to reach 35 gigawatts by that year, up from 22 gigawatts in 2022. The largest data centers can consume as much energy as 80,000 households, generating significant amounts of heat that must be managed effectively.
Liquid Cooling Systems
To cope with increasing thermal loads, data centers are increasingly adopting liquid cooling solutions. These systems include heat exchangers, direct-to-chip liquid cooling, and immersion cooling setups. Liquid cooling systems are either incorporated into new data centers or retrofitted into existing air-cooled facilities to enhance cooling efficiency.
Advantages of Metal Foam
Apheros’ metal foam boasts a surface area that is 1,000 times greater than that of traditional cooling materials, making it highly effective for various applications beyond data center cooling, including lubrication and catalysis. The enhanced surface area of the foam facilitates superior heat transfer, enabling faster and more efficient heat removal.
Gaëlle Andreatta, co-founder and CTO of Apheros, highlights the transformative potential of their technology: “Our metal foams offer outstanding heat exchange and fluid transport properties, which could revolutionize thermal management in data centers and other sectors.”
The metal foam technology from Apheros is designed to integrate seamlessly with existing liquid cooling systems, providing an energy-efficient and cost-effective solution for managing heat in high-performance computing environments.
As data centers continue to expand and evolve, innovations like Apheros’ metal foam technology will be crucial in meeting the demands for effective and sustainable thermal management.