watercooled

Watercooled refers to the use of liquid coolant to remove heat from a heat-generating source. In a water-cooled system, a liquid such as water or a mixture with antifreeze circulates through channels in the component, absorbs heat, passes through a heat exchanger where the heat is rejected to a secondary medium (usually air via a radiator), and returns to the source. The approach contrasts with air cooling, which relies on ambient air or forced convection across the hot surface.

Common implementations include automotive and industrial internal combustion engines, which circulate coolant through the engine block and cylinder head to absorb heat; computer and electronics cooling, where a water block or cold plate transfers heat from chips to a closed loop via radiator and fan or pump; and industrial cooling systems and data centers using large-scale cooling loops.

Most systems are closed loops containing a pump, reservoir or expansion tank, radiator or heat exchanger, hoses, and temperature controls. In engines, thermostats regulate flow; antifreeze additives prevent freezing and corrosion.

Benefits include higher heat capacity, greater efficiency in removing heat, and the ability to maintain more uniform component temperatures, enabling compact designs and quieter operation. Drawbacks include greater complexity, higher initial cost, risk of leaks, demand for regular maintenance, and potential for coolant degradation or freezing without proper additives.

There are direct liquid cooling (cold plate contact with heat source) and indirect cooling via heat exchangers, as well as open-loop versus closed-loop configurations. In high-performance computing and data centers, water cooling enables higher density and energy efficiency.