Perfluorocarbons - Cooling Applications

The Flutec™ liquids are a range of fully saturated perfluorocarbons each containing only Carbon and Fluorine atoms. Unlike other types of fluoro-liquids Flutec fluids contain no Chlorine, Bromine, Nitrogen, Oxygen or Hydrogen atoms.

The materials are exceptionally stable, have a unique combination of properties and do not deplete the ozone layer. Flutec™ liquids are colourless, odourless, effectively non-toxic, non-corrosive and non-flammable. They have high thermal-stabilities, negligible chemical activity, leave virtually no residue on evaporation and are chemically compatible with most major materials of construction. They are non-polar and have low heats of vaporisation, very low surface tensions and low boiling points in relation to their relatively high molecular weights.

Immersion or Direct Contact Cooling with Flutec™ Fluids

Perfluorocarbons, such as the Flutec fluids are electrically insulating, and so can be in direct contact with the chips producing the heat. They are also perfectly safe, being non-flammable and non-toxic, and are compatible with virtually all materials of construction. While a leak will result in a loss of cooling, it will not damage any of the components.

Compared to air, perfluorocarbons have a very high thermal bulk, and being in direct contact with the components producing heat provides a dramatic cooling effect. The perfluorocarbon can be circulated by a pump, and cooled by a radiator and fan, much like a car. Evaporative cooling is also an option, in which latent heat is removed rapidly when the liquid turns to gas.

The exceptional stability of Flutec also allows the direct cooling of lasers, where the light pulses pass directly through the thermally and chemically stable liquid (typically no absorbance in the UV down to about 250 nm and in the infra-red down to about 1350 cm^-1).

Direct-to-chip Cooling

Direct-to-chip cooling keeps the liquid searate from the electronics, flowing in pipework to deliver cooling. While aqueous systems are common, they have a bit issue if the pipe leaks - suddenly you have water on your electronics.

Perfluorocarbons offer a low-risk alternative. If your pipe bursts, you will loose some collng capacity, but your electronics will not get water damaged.

Low GWP Alternatives

Using the Flutec fluids for cooling can dramatically reduce the energy needed to cool your systems, which should offset the GWP concerns. However, F2 Chemicals Ltd does offer two alternatives with low GWP values (less than 150). Fluorotherm D and Fluorotherm T are fully-fluorinated alkenes, with similar - if not quite so outstanding - properties.