Data Centers & Liquid Cooling

Why Coolant Quality Matters in Data Centers.

The rapid growth of AI-driven computing has made data center cooling one of the most demanding engineering challenges of our era. As rack densities surpass 40 kW and higher, traditional air cooling is reaching its thermal limits — and liquid cooling is becoming the standard for high-performance infrastructure. Coolant distribution units (CDUs) now circulate propylene glycol-water mixtures through technology cooling system (TCS) loops that run directly to server racks and GPU cold plates. The performance of these liquid cooling systems depends on more than pump speed and flow rate. The chemistry of the coolant itself — its pH, conductivity, glycol concentration, and inhibitor reserve — determines whether the system protects equipment or corrodes it. Sampling data from thousands of TCS loops across operating data centers shows that a majority of coolant systems are operating out of specification, creating risk of cold plate damage, corrosion, fouling, and unplanned downtime.

Sensorex’s pH and conductivity sensors are engineered for demanding process environments — with materials including PEEK and 316 stainless steel that are compatible with glycol-based coolant chemistry, and designs that minimize maintenance in environments where access is tightly controlled. Whether you are a chemistry service provider monitoring coolant health across a data center portfolio, a CDU manufacturer looking to integrate liquid quality sensors into your product, or a data center operator building a real-time coolant quality management program, we can customize sensors to fit whatever transmitter and controller systems you prefer.