New Liquid Cooling Valve Cuts Data Center Weight
GF introduces a polymer-based control valve to improve efficiency in high-density AI rack infrastructure.
Updated on Oct. 24, 2026 in Data Centers
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GF introduced its new Multi Control Valve, a polymer-based component designed to optimize liquid cooling infrastructure for high-density data centers. The device replaces traditional multi-part metal assemblies with a single unit to improve system efficiency.
Why it matters
As AI workloads push rack power density thresholds toward 100kW, cooling systems must become more efficient and reliable. This valve architecture reduces leakage points and installation complexity in high-performance liquid cooling deployments.
The unit integrates five sensors for thermal energy calculation and weighs 70% less than standard metal counterparts. It supports IO-Link and BACnet MS/TP interfaces while maintaining an IP68-rated housing.
The players
GF
An industrial manufacturer providing flow and piping solutions, including liquid cooling infrastructure for data centers.
The details
The valve utilizes ultrasonic flow measurement and monolithic ceramic pressure sensors to calculate thermal distribution across the cooling loop. By integrating a linear flow valve and electronic actuator into a single assembly made of Polyphenylene Sulfide—a heat-resistant high-performance plastic—the device eliminates the need for complex multi-component instrumentation loops. It connects to building management systems through standard data bus interfaces, allowing for real-time monitoring and automation.
Timeline
October 24, 2026: GF introduced the Multi Control Valve.
The Tech Race
This component addresses the cooling bottleneck created by the shift toward 100kW rack power densities. It competes against traditional metal-based assemblies by offering a lower-weight, integrated alternative for modern data center architectures.
Data center operators can adopt this component to reduce installation labor and physical weight constraints in new facility builds. The system is designed to integrate into existing building management automation workflows via standard industry protocols.
The takeaway
The transition to plastic-based, high-performance fluid control marks a significant shift in data center cooling efficiency. Watch for real-world deployment benchmarks in upcoming high-density AI cluster installations.
Further reading
For more on the hardware driving thermal management, see Data Centers.
More information
Review the full Multi Control Valve product information provided by GF.
Source note: This article includes information reported by Datacenterdynamics.
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Should data center operators rely on automated hardware components to manage energy consumption and cooling?
