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Founded in 1899, CC Wakefield & Co. Limited initially focused on the production of lubricants for trains and heavy machinery. Over time, the company expanded its expertise to develop specialized lubricants for automobiles and aircraft engines, incorporating castor oil – a vegetable oil derived from castor beans – to ensure performance in conditions of extreme temperature. The product was called Castrol, and the company was named after its famous creation.
125 years later, Castrol remains at the forefront of innovation, applying its vast expertise in fluid engineering to address modern challenges.
One of his key focus areas is the development of advanced dielectric fluids for immersion cooling systems. This approach sees entire servers immersed in non-conductive fluids that absorb and transfer heat from the components, eliminating the need for traditional fans.
Advanced thermal management
The Castrol ON Liquid Cooling Center of Excellence in Pangbourne, UK, serves as a leading research and development center for liquid cooling technologies.
The facility develops custom solutions and rigorously tests fluid dynamics, material compatibility and server performance to address the challenges of traditional cooling methods.
On a recent visit, Storage Review had the opportunity to view Castrol’s state-of-the-art immersion tanks from suppliers such as GRC and Submer and was impressed by the adaptability and efficiency of the solutions.
The writer Jordan Ranous noted: “In one of the test cells, we observed the tank of GRC, which had a bright green light due to the specific fluid that Castrol used. The servers immersed in this tank were subjected to tests of compatibility and performance. Castrol ensures that every component, from CPUs to cables, can operate effectively in immersion cooling environments without degradation.”
Castrol’s ON range of single-phase dielectric fluids, including DC15 and DC20, aims to provide advanced thermal management, durability and safety, while maintaining efficient performance at operating temperatures between 40°C and 50°C, with some systems capable of manage up to 50 ° C. 70 ° C.
Chris Lockett, vice president of Castrol electrification and product innovation at BP, Castrol’s parent company, said. Storage Review“Currently, about 40% of energy consumption in data centers goes towards cooling. Immersion cooling can lower that figure to less than 5%, significantly reducing power and water use.
Data centers account for an estimated 2-3% of global energy consumption, with current liquid cooling efforts focused primarily on chip-directed solutions. Immersion cooling has the potential to set a new standard for thermal management and Castrol wants to lead this transformation, positioning itself as “a one-stop partner for liquid cooling solutions of today and tomorrow”.
