Gates has introduced the ThermalCool 2100SS Pump, a stainless steel pump built for rack-mounted coolant distribution units (CDUs) used in AI and high-density computing environments. The company is pitching the unit as a compact, high-output option intended to fit space-constrained, enclosed CDU designs inside the IT rack.
The ThermalCool 2100SS Pump is designed for 4U compatibility and is rated for up to 200 L/min of flow at 3 bar. Gates also calls out an integrated motor cooling approach aimed at CDUs with limited airflow or higher ambient temperatures: the motor is designed to be electrically dry and actively liquid-cooled by the same coolant the pump circulates, with no separate cooling circuit or fan.
For data center operators, the practical point is integration: as CDU form factors move into the rack, every component has to fit tight Z-height and serviceability constraints while still delivering enough head and flow to support dense cold-plate loops. A 4U pump that doesn’t require its own airflow path can simplify packaging inside enclosed CDUs, but real-world value will hinge on how it performs across a facility’s coolant chemistry, filtration, and maintenance practices.
On reliability and integration details, Gates lists stainless steel construction, OCP-compliant wetted materials, IP55 protection, and a rated 50,000-hour pump life. For controls, the pump supports CANBUS and MODBUS communications for integration with CDU monitoring and control systems. Gates also describes configurable connections and mounting options for different CDU layouts, plus support for parallel operation and N+1 redundancy to scale capacity and support uptime.
Rebekah Headley, general manager of data centers at Gates, said the pump was developed “in response to requirements from a leading CDU manufacturer,” adding, “That application-driven approach resulted in a configurable platform that takes the solution beyond the original application and into the broader data center cooling market.”
Gates said the ThermalCool 2100SS Pump is expected to be available globally in early 2027.
Source: Gates
