The company’s VaporConnect Optical Feedthrough Modules for two-phase immersion cooling have been designed to address constant increases in data centre speed and capacity by leveraging a cassette-based design that bolts directly onto immersion tanks and enables optical transceivers and network cabling infrastructure to be swapped out without changing mechanical interfaces or impacting immersion tank architecture.
Reference designs for the new modules will be available commercially in Q1 of 2025.
“Molex continually embraces innovative optical solutions to ease data centre deployments and upgrades while alleviating critical thermal management challenges,” said Trevor Smith, general manager, Optical Connectivity, Molex. “VaporConnect gives customers the flexibility to upgrade connectivity and scale cooling system designs to keep pace with data centre growth by simply deploying a different module, which will accelerate upgrades while reducing overall energy, cooling and technology costs.”
These modules simplify the connections between optical transceivers contained within immersion tanks and cabling infrastructure that exists outside the tank using fully upgradeable sealed modules. Using VaporConnect, sealing and cabling can be accomplished inside the module, giving customers the opportunity to upgrade connectors without impacting immersion tank design or architecture.
In addition, customers have the flexibility to re-use standard cabling infrastructure for multiple product generations, which further reduces deployment time, cost and complexity.
Molex VaporConnect modules are designed to minimise external patching and shuffle requirements by leveraging Molex FlexPlane optical circuitry technology. As a result, complex optical shuffles and high-density fibre routing are integrated seamlessly within the module for simpler installation and plug-and-play operation.
A sealing gasket comes with every VaporConnect module, which is thoroughly tested using industry-standard, helium-leak testing to ensure a reliable seal with the tank wall. This also assures a seamless transition from the server line cards inside the tank to outside cabling infrastructure. Testing is underway for compliance with industry-standard GR-1435-CORE.
With the VaporConnect module, as many as 576 fibres can be integrated into a single module. A range of form factor options are available, including MPO, LC and very small form factor (VSFF) options, such as MMC, MDC, SN and SN-MT. This ensures conformance to existing infrastructure and streamlines system upgrades.
As part of Molex’s continued investment in this area, an EBO connector option is currently in development, with availability slated for the first half of 2025.
