Shell has unveiled Shell DLC Fluid S3, a new direct liquid cooling (DLC) solution engineered to address the escalating thermal demands of data centres powered by high-performance computing and artificial intelligence (AI).
The propylene glycol-based fluid is the latest addition to Shell’s liquid cooling portfolio, designed to deliver exceptional heat transfer performance and reinforce the company’s leadership in data centre cooling innovation.
As data centres become more powerful and densely packed, traditional air-cooling methods are increasingly unable to manage the intense heat generated by CPUs and GPUs running AI and other advanced workloads.
Shell’s DLC Fluid S3 directly targets these high-heat components, enabling server racks to operate efficiently at optimal temperatures.
According to Shell, the new fluid can improve Power Usage Effectiveness (PUE) by up to 27 per cent compared to conventional air-cooling, significantly reducing the need for energy-intensive air conditioning and supporting sustainability goals.
Shell DLC Fluid S3 is fully compliant with the Open Compute Project (OCP) PG25 coolant specifications, ensuring broad compatibility with the metals, elastomers, and plastics commonly used in server construction.
Its formulation is free of 2-ethylhexyl acrylate, borates, and silicates, which enhances material compatibility and stability over competing products.
The fluid also offers robust, long-term corrosion protection for a wide range of metals — including aluminium, brass, cast iron, steel, solder, and copper — with special emphasis on aluminium and its alloys.
Additional features include an expected service life of over six years — outperforming conventional inorganic acid technology (IAT) fluids — freeze protection down to –10 degrees Celsius (14 degrees Fahrenheit), and a fluorescent green dye for easy leak detection.
These attributes aim to minimise maintenance costs, maximise uptime, and protect manufacturers’ warranties by avoiding direct contact with microprocessors.
“With Shell DLC Fluid S3, Shell now offers both direct-to-chip and full immersion cooling solutions, and we’re not just keeping data centres cool in the age of AI — we’re powering the future of digital infrastructure,” said Aysun Akik, VP New Business Development and Global Key Accounts, Shell Lubricants.
“We are continuing our commitment to innovation that delivers on performance, sustainability, and reliability to support our customers’ goals.”
Akik added: “Our growing range of advanced liquid cooling solutions is designed to meet the diverse needs of modern data centres both today, and tomorrow — and are backed by the strength of Shell’s global footprint, supply chain and five technology development hubs around the globe.”
As AI and high-density computing continue to redefine the digital landscape, innovations like Shell DLC Fluid S3 are set to play a pivotal role in enabling data centres to operate more efficiently, reliably, and sustainably.
