CDU Sensing and Control Solutions and Liquid Cooling Technology for Next-Generation AI Data Centers

October 13, 2026 · Macnica Korea

CDU Sensing and Control Solutions
and Liquid Cooling Technology for Next-Generation AI Data Centers

As AI servers generate increasingly higher heat, conventional air-cooling methods alone have reached their limits. With Liquid Cooling emerging as a critical technology for next-generation data centers, the importance of the CDU (Coolant Distribution Unit) for stable coolant supply and management is growing significantly.

This webinar introduces ADI's CDU sensing and control solutions and provides an opportunity to experience a CDU demo system with actual sensors and cooling components connected.

CDU · Liquid Cooling

Sensing · Control · Isolation

AI Data Center

Analog Devices

Key Content

Seminar Outline

AI Data Center and Liquid Cooling Market Trends

We examine the limitations of air-cooling and the transition to liquid cooling, as well as the rapidly growing CDU market landscape.

Increased heat generation in AI servers and limitations of air-cooling methods
Direct liquid cooling and immersion cooling CDU market trends
Data center liquid cooling market growth outlook

CDU Operating Principles and System Configuration

Understand the key components of CDU, the role of each block, and how sensing, control, and communication are integrated.

Tank, pump, valve, flow meter, pressure sensor, temperature sensor configuration
Cold plate, radiator, and fan control flow
Leak sensor and multi-channel fan management structure

ADI Sensing and Control Solutions Overview

We introduce ADI's core IC lineup applied to CDU design and detail the role of each product.

Fan Control — MAX31790 (management of up to 36 fans)
Temperature Measurement — LTC2984 · MAX31856
Analog I/O · Isolation — AD74416H · ADUM341E/342E
Power Protection — LTC4381 · LT8301 · MAX16058

CDU Demo System Demonstration

Through ADI's custom-built CDU demo system, experience the integrated operation of actual sensors, control, and communication.

Windows/Linux GUI and PI/PID control demonstration
Redfish-based BMC integration and remote monitoring
Hot Swap, Watchdog, and redundancy operation verification

ADI Key Products

ADI Solutions Applied to CDU Design

Fan Control

Up to 36-channel fan management

MAX31790

Controls fan speed via PWM and monitors rotation status and failures through Tach signals. Up to 36 fans can be managed with 6 ICs.

Temperature

RTD · Thermocouple measurement

LTC2984 · MAX31856

Converts heater and temperature sensor signals to digital format. Supports various RTDs including PT100/PT1000 and thermocouples. Up to 8-channel thermocouple input.

Analog I/O

16-channel ADC/DAC · Isolation

AD74416H · ADUM341E / ADUM342E

Measures analog signals from pressure, flow, and leak sensors and controls pumps and valves. Up to 5.7kV isolation provides industrial-grade noise environment protection.

Power Protection

Hot Swap · Watchdog · Isolated Power

LTC4381 · LT8301 · MAX16058

Provides power anomaly monitoring, Hot Swap board replacement, overcurrent protection, and automatic MCU restart functionality.

Solution Strengths

ADI CDU Solution Advantages over Traditional PLCs

Shortened Development Time

Sensor input, pump, valve, and fan control, isolation, power supply, GUI, and Redfish are all provided as a single reference design.

Reduced System Size

Integrates multi-channel analog and digital I/O on a compact 10cm × 10cm board. No need for separate sensor board development.

High Compatibility

Supports various industrial interfaces including PT100/PT1000, 0~5V, 0~10V, 4~20mA, PWM, and RS-485 on a single platform.

Simplified Maintenance

Automatic diagnostics, Watchdog, Hot Swap, and redundancy features make failure detection and board replacement easier.

Upper System Integration

Easily integrates with data center BMC via Redfish API. Supports Windows/Linux GUI, PI/PID control, and Secure Boot.

High Reliability and Security

Up to 5.7kV isolation, overcurrent protection, Secure Boot, and AES encryption meet high-reliability requirements in industrial environments.

Recommended For

CDU and Cooling Device Designers and Manufacturers

Hardware and firmware engineers designing and developing direct liquid cooling and immersion cooling CDUs for AI servers

Server, Rack, and Data Center System Engineers

Server and systems integration personnel building BMC and Redfish-based remote monitoring and control systems

Electric Vehicle Charger and ESS Developers

Engineers designing liquid cooling systems for ultra-fast chargers, ESS batteries, and power conversion equipment