Leak detection system including thermally-reactive drip pan

A method for detecting a cooling fluid leak, the method comprising:

• circulating cooling fluid through a piping system coupled to a liquid-cooled server, wherein the server is mounted within a server rack;
• detecting, using one or more thermal imaging sensors, a change in thermal output of a drip pan, wherein the drip pan is mounted to the server rack and located under the piping system and is covered with a thermally-reactive coating;
• and
• generating, using a computer system, an indication of a leak in response to the change in thermal output of the drip pan.

A system comprising:

• a server rack having one or more liquid-cooled servers mounted therein, wherein the server rack includes a piping system configured to convey cooling fluid through the one or more liquid-cooled servers;
• a drip pan disposed underneath the one or more liquid-cooled servers, wherein a surface of the drip pan is coated with a thermally-reactive coating;
• one or more thermal imaging sensors in proximity to the drip pan, wherein the one or more thermal imaging sensors are configured to detect a change to a thermal output from the drip pan in response to contact of the cooling fluid on the thermally-reactive coating;
• and
• a computer system coupled to the thermal imaging sensors, wherein the computer system is configured to generate an indication in response to one or more of the thermal imaging sensors detecting a leak.