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MARKET TRENDS· MARCH 22, 2026
Future of Liquid Cooling in AI Data Centers
Why GPU-dominated workloads are accelerating the transition from air to liquid infrastructure.
GPU thermal design power has increased faster than air cooling can absorb. Rack densities that were edge cases two years ago are becoming standard for AI training clusters today.
This is the structural driver behind CDU adoption. Where liquid cooling was an option, it is now a requirement for any high-density AI deployment.
Supply chains are scaling to meet that demand, but capacity for pumps, heat exchangers, and qualified fittings remains the gating factor for many builds.
KEY TAKEAWAYS
- →GPU TDPs are pushing past air-cooling thresholds
- →Rack densities of 100kW+ are becoming standard for AI
- →CDU deployment volume is expanding accordingly
ORIGINAL ANALYSIS · CDU SUPPLY
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