Liquid Cooling CDUs and Direct-to-Chip for AI and HPC Racks
Liquid cooling removes heat far more effectively than air for the highest-density AI and high-performance computing racks. Coolant distribution units (CDUs), such as Vertiv CoolChip and Liebert XDU, manage the cooling loop for direct-to-chip cold plates, scaling to roughly megawatt-class capacity. Comp-Utility designs, installs, and services liquid cooling and the supporting infrastructure across Central Texas.
What We Provide
Our Capabilities
Liquid Cooling Design
We design direct-to-chip liquid cooling and CDU loops integrated with your facility water or air systems.
Learn moreHigh-Density Power
We design the high-density power and UPS architecture AI clusters require alongside the cooling.
Learn moreInstallation and Service
We install, commission, and maintain CDUs and liquid cooling, coordinating with your IT deployment.
Learn moreBuilt for AI Heat
Bring Cooling to the Chip with CDUs
AI and GPU racks concentrate heat beyond what air can remove. Direct-to-chip liquid cooling circulates coolant through cold plates on the processors, and a coolant distribution unit (CDU) manages flow, temperature, and pressure and transfers heat to facility water or air.
Comp-Utility designs the CDU loop and integrates it with the rest of the cooling and the high-density power AI deployments demand.
Key Specifications
| Attribute | Liquid Cooling (CoolChip CDU / Liebert XDU) |
|---|---|
| Type | Coolant distribution unit (CDU) for direct-to-chip |
| Capacity | Up to roughly megawatt-class |
| Configurations | Liquid-to-air and liquid-to-liquid |
| Use case | Direct-to-chip cold-plate cooling for AI and HPC |
| Form factor | Floor or in-rack |
| Typical applications | AI / HPC, high-density liquid-cooled racks |
Specifications reflect representative liquid cooling CDU products; exact capacities and configurations vary. Contact us to confirm the current configuration for your project.
The Comp-Utility Difference
Why Comp-Utility?
Long-Standing Distribution Partner
As a long-standing distribution partner of Eaton, Schneider Electric, and Vertiv, we specify best-in-class systems and back them with factory-grade service.
Engineer-Owned and Operated
Comp-Utility is owned and operated by engineers, with licensed Texas Professional Engineers (P.E.) on staff. That rigor anchors every design, specification, and installation.
Turnkey, Single-Contract Partner
We sell, design, install, and maintain complete infrastructure end to end. One accountable team and one contract for power, cooling, distribution, and cabling.
24/7 Emergency Response and Preventative Maintenance
Our technicians provide preventative maintenance programs and 24/7 emergency response, with rapid on-site dispatch across Central Texas when facilities need us most.
Related Resources
Licensed, Certified & Recognized
We hold ourselves to the standards of the institutions we serve, from professional licensure and jobsite safety to the industry organizations that set the bar for mission-critical work.
Licensed Professional Engineers
State of Texas (TBPE)
OSHA 30 Certified
Field Technicians
AFCOM Member
Data center industry association
7x24 Exchange Member
Mission-critical infrastructure
Frequently Asked Questions
What is a coolant distribution unit (CDU)?
A CDU manages the liquid cooling loop in a data center, controlling coolant flow, temperature, and pressure to the cold plates or rear doors it serves, and transferring the captured heat to facility water (liquid-to-liquid) or air (liquid-to-air). CDUs are central to direct-to-chip liquid cooling deployments for AI and HPC racks.
What is direct-to-chip liquid cooling?
Direct-to-chip (cold plate) liquid cooling circulates coolant through plates mounted directly on processors and GPUs, removing heat at the source far more effectively than air. It is a leading approach for high-density AI racks and can be deployed alongside air cooling for the rest of the load. A CDU manages the loop that feeds the cold plates.
When do I need liquid cooling instead of air?
Liquid cooling becomes necessary when rack densities exceed what air cooling, even with containment and in-row units, can remove, which is increasingly common with AI and GPU clusters running tens of kilowatts per rack. Comp-Utility assesses your densities and recommends air, hybrid, or liquid cooling, and designs the transition as densities climb.
What is the difference between liquid-to-air and liquid-to-liquid CDUs?
A liquid-to-air CDU rejects the captured heat to the room air, which is simpler to deploy where facility water is not available. A liquid-to-liquid CDU transfers heat to a facility chilled-water or process-water loop, which is more efficient and scalable for larger deployments. Comp-Utility selects the type based on your facility infrastructure and scale.
Can liquid cooling be added to an existing data center?
Yes. Liquid cooling can be introduced for specific high-density rows or AI clusters while the rest of the floor stays on air cooling, using CDUs that reject heat to air or to a facility water loop. This hybrid approach lets you adopt liquid where it is needed. Comp-Utility designs the integration with your existing infrastructure.
How does liquid cooling affect power infrastructure?
AI racks that justify liquid cooling also draw very high power, so liquid cooling deployments go hand in hand with high-density power distribution and larger UPS and generator capacity. Cooling and power must be designed together. Comp-Utility designs both the liquid cooling and the matching high-density power as one coordinated system.
Who designs and services liquid cooling in Central Texas?
Comp-Utility designs, installs, and services direct-to-chip liquid cooling and CDUs across Central Texas, along with the supporting power and facility-water integration, and maintains it with 24/7 response. Call (512) 346-0999 or email sales@comp-utility.com to plan a liquid cooling deployment.
What maintenance does liquid cooling require?
Liquid cooling requires monitoring and maintenance of coolant quality, flow, and pressure, CDU pumps and heat exchangers, leak detection, and the connections to cold plates and facility loops. Proper maintenance is essential to protect expensive IT hardware. Comp-Utility provides scheduled service and monitoring for liquid cooling systems.