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The rapid growth in data storage and processing has led to higher energy consumption in data centers, primarily due to cooling needs. Efficient thermal management is critical to reducing environmental impact. Horizon Europe’s MODERATOR project aims to improve data center energy efficiency by integrating phase change materials (PCMs) with immersion cooling technologies for effective waste heat recovery in buildings and districts. This paper evaluates PCM50, a novel material developed by COWA and Lucerne University of Applied Sciences and Arts, for thermal energy storage (TES) systems. Designed for the 40–60 °C range, PCM50 is ideal for data center applications and providing heat for building systems or domestic hot water. The study assesses its performance using a MiniCell test bench, focusing on thermal cycling behavior and stability. Corrosion testing was performed to evaluate compatibility with TES system metals. The results show PCM50’s strong thermal stability and efficient energy storage, making it a promising candidate for waste heat recovery in immersion-cooled data centers. However, corrosion concerns highlight the need for further research into containment materials.

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Evaluation of Phase Change Materials for Thermal Energy Storage in Immersion-Cooled Data Centers: Findings from the MODERATOR Project

  • 会议论文

  • 发表日期：

    2026年

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  • Yannick Krabben,
  • Anabel Palacios,
  • Poppy O’Neill,
  • Luca Gürber,
  • Anastasia Stamatiou,
  • Jörg Worlitschek

摘要

The rapid growth in data storage and processing has led to higher energy consumption in data centers, primarily due to cooling needs. Efficient thermal management is critical to reducing environmental impact. Horizon Europe’s MODERATOR project aims to improve data center energy efficiency by integrating phase change materials (PCMs) with immersion cooling technologies for effective waste heat recovery in buildings and districts. This paper evaluates PCM50, a novel material developed by COWA and Lucerne University of Applied Sciences and Arts, for thermal energy storage (TES) systems. Designed for the 40–60 °C range, PCM50 is ideal for data center applications and providing heat for building systems or domestic hot water. The study assesses its performance using a MiniCell test bench, focusing on thermal cycling behavior and stability. Corrosion testing was performed to evaluate compatibility with TES system metals. The results show PCM50’s strong thermal stability and efficient energy storage, making it a promising candidate for waste heat recovery in immersion-cooled data centers. However, corrosion concerns highlight the need for further research into containment materials.