Congatec unveiled an acetone-based liquid cooling system at Embedded World 2025 that addresses the problem of temperature management in extreme cold conditions.
Image source: Congatec
CPUs need heat dissipation even in extremely cold conditions, as heat density remains a problem. Congatec’s system ensures reliable operation at -40°C, as acetone only freezes at -95°C. Liquid cooling systems often use water, which has an excellent specific heat of vaporization (2260 J/g), but it freezes at 0°C and cannot be used in extremely cold environments.
The thermal properties of acetone eliminate ice formation and reduce the risk of condensation – this substance ensures reliable operation of the heat transfer mechanism in polar research, high-altitude infrastructure, refrigeration equipment and industrial automation in harsh climates. Such a system can be used, for example, in a server operating at a polar station, which needs to collect and process data locally before transmitting it to researchers.
The solution integrates with the Congatec Computer-on-Module (COM) range, including COMe, COM-HPC and COM-HPC mini, eliminating the need for custom cooling systems. For custom implementations, an additional heat pipe adapter can be installed. Under normal conditions, the developer emphasized, water remains the preferred coolant: it has a greater ability to dissipate heat, is cheaper and more readily available.