Development of thermal management technologies

New cooling technologies are being developed to address rising global temperatures, spanning both industrial infrastructure and personal wearable applications.

In the technology sector, liquid cooling has become essential for AI infrastructure. High-power AI server racks generate significant waste heat that traditional air cooling cannot manage. In South Korea, heatwaves have forced strict temperature controls in data centers to prevent GPU shutdowns. This has led to developments such as LG Electronics receiving Nvidia certification for Direct-to-Chip (D2C) cooling, while KT Cloud has begun implementing this technology in its AI data centers.

Simultaneously, the consumer market is seeing the emergence of advanced wearable cooling devices designed to combat extreme heat. Innovations include water-cooled garments like the ‘ChillerX Pro’, which uses a Peltier chiller system and an electric pump to circulate chilled water, maintaining surface temperatures around 15 degrees Celsius. Other developments include air-cooling systems like the ‘COOLER MASTER’, which utilizes a backpack-style compartment for ice packs to cool airflow directed toward the user’s neck, back, and shoulders.

As extreme heat impacts outdoor sectors like agriculture, cooling technologies are being categorized into three primary types: fan-equipped clothing for sweat evaporation, water-based cooling via circulation or evaporation, and Peltier cooling using thermoelectric elements for direct contact. To mitigate heatstroke risks, new consumer products are integrating these methods with portable features, such as waist-mounted fans equipped with semiconductor cooling plates and solar panels for auxiliary charging.