OCP DCF - Technology Cooling System (TCS) Pipe Distribution Workstream Call (Dec 11, 2025)

Why It Matters

Standardizing modular cooling‑pipe solutions will enable data‑center operators to meet exploding megawatt‑scale demand faster, cheaper, and with lower environmental impact.

Key Takeaways

• OCP seeks standardized modular pipe “Legos” for megawatt cooling
• Pre‑commissioning aims to cut hazmat waste and deployment time
• Fluid temperature target set at 70 °C to balance viscosity and performance
• Industry collaboration required across OEMs, integrators, and data‑center owners
• Upcoming OCP EMA summit invites speakers on cooling‑system innovations

Summary

The Open Compute Project’s Technology Cooling System (TCS) workstream convened on Dec. 11, 2025 to accelerate cloud‑scale liquid‑cooling deployment. Participants reviewed the latest white paper on modular pipe distribution, emphasizing the need for standardized, “Lego‑like” components that can scale from 130 kW racks to megawatt‑class installations.

Key discussion points included a push for pre‑commissioning of pipe assemblies to eliminate hundreds of thousands of gallons of hazardous waste and reduce weeks‑long on‑site testing. The group also debated fluid inlet temperatures, settling on a 70 °C target to lower viscosity while keeping chip performance independent of pipe design. The “tsunami” metaphor—projecting 60 GW of cooling capacity and 900 miles of pipe—underscored the rapid market expansion and the urgency for unified standards.

Notable remarks highlighted the divergent temperature specifications among IT vendors and the risk of fragmented designs. Don noted, “If you’re a sales guy, you go ‘wow’; if you’re in supply, you go ‘holy Moses,’” capturing the tension between opportunity and operational strain. The call also promoted the OCP EMA summit in Barcelona, inviting speakers to shape the next phase of cooling‑system standards.

The implications are clear: without industry‑wide consensus on modular pipe systems and streamlined commissioning, data‑center operators risk cost overruns, supply‑chain bottlenecks, and environmental penalties. Adoption of these standards will be pivotal for meeting the projected megawatt‑scale cooling demand while maintaining sustainability and operational efficiency.