AI Data Center / Liquid Cooling

Hyperscale AI Data Center — 316L Liquid Cooling Piping System

Saudi Arabia / UAE, Gulf Region25+ tons pipe + 3,000+ flanges/fittings316L Precision Seamless Tube + 304L/316L Welded Pipe + Stainless Steel Flanges

AI data center liquid cooling CDU system

316L precision tubes for data center cooling

Project Background

A hyperscale cloud provider in the Gulf region is constructing a 200 MW AI data center campus, deploying over 50,000 NVIDIA H100/H200 and GB200 NVL72 GPU servers across three phases. The facility targets PUE ≤ 1.10 with full direct-to-chip (D2C) liquid cooling architecture and centralized CDU arrays. Phase one (60 MW) must complete civil works to commissioning within 14 months. The liquid cooling piping system faces three critical challenges: NVIDIA NVL compliance mandating 316L electropolished seamless tube with Ra ≤ 0.4 μm for CDU core loops; Gulf region cooling makeup water with high chloride concentration causing accelerated pitting in lower-grade materials; and ultra-cleanliness requirements for cold plate micro-channels only 0.3-1.0 mm wide.

Technical Specifications

CDU Core Loop (Secondary)	316L Precision Seamless Tube, φ12.7×1.0mm & φ19.05×1.2mm, 3.5 tons
CDU-to-Rack Mains (Secondary)	316L Seamless Pipe, DN25–DN80, SCH 10S, 8.2 tons
Facility Water Loop (Primary)	304L Welded Pipe, DN150–DN400, SCH 10S, 10.5 tons
Connections	316L Flanges (DN25–DN80, 300#), 304L Flanges (DN150–DN400, 150#), 3,000+ pieces
Standards	ASTM A269/A270, ASTM A312, ASTM A358, ASME B16.5

The Challenge

The NVIDIA NVL architecture creates unprecedented material demands: CDU core loops require 316L electropolished seamless tube with internal surface Ra ≤ 0.4 μm to prevent microbial adhesion and particulate release. Gulf region cooling water, with Cl⁻ concentrations of 500-800 ppm concentrating to 2,000-4,000 ppm after cycles, exceeds the pitting resistance of standard 304 (PREN ~19). Cold plate micro-channels (0.3-1.0 mm) mean any particle above 150 μm causes immediate blockage and GPU thermal throttling.

TOKO TECH Solution

TOKO TECH supplied multi-pass cold-rolled 316L precision seamless tubes with bright annealed finish, providing the ideal substrate for subsequent electropolishing to Ra ≤ 0.4 μm per NVIDIA NVL requirements. 100% borescope inspection plus roughness sampling verified batch consistency. For the high-chloride Gulf environment, 316L (PREN ≥ 26) was specified for all CDU core and rack supply lines, exceeding the critical pitting temperature threshold at operating conditions. Primary side 304L welded pipe with corrosion inhibitor dosing achieved optimal lifecycle cost. JIT zone-sequenced delivery aligned with construction phasing, eliminating on-site material stockpiling.

Search Keywords

AI data center liquid coolingNVIDIA NVL piping316L electropolished tubeCDU cooling pipehyperscale data center pipingdata center stainless steel pipe

Frequently Asked Questions

Why does NVIDIA require 316L stainless steel for liquid cooling?

NVIDIA's GB200 NVL72 architecture mandates 316L electropolished seamless tube for CDU core loops due to its superior pitting resistance (PREN ≥ 26 vs. 304's PREN ~19), mechanical strength, and cleanliness. Copper tubes risk corrosion in treated water, and rubber hoses cannot meet the helium leak rate requirement of ≤ 10⁻⁹ Pa·m³/s required for protecting $300,000+ GPU servers.

What surface finish is required for data center liquid cooling pipes?

NVIDIA NVL specifications require internal surface roughness Ra ≤ 0.4 μm (electropolished) for CDU core loops to prevent microbial biofilm attachment and particulate release. Standard general-service piping at Ra ≤ 0.8 μm (mechanically polished) is acceptable for distribution headers. The finish directly impacts system cleanliness and cold plate micro-channel longevity.

How much stainless steel pipe does a data center need?

A typical 100 MW hyperscale AI data center requires 20-35 tons of stainless steel pipe and fittings: approximately 40% 316L seamless for CDU core and rack supply, 50% 304L welded for facility water distribution, and 10% flanges and fittings. A single GB200 NVL72 rack contains approximately $3,000-$8,000 worth of stainless steel piping components.

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