UQDv2 - Interoperability & Future Roadmap

Author: Elizabeth Langer, Principal Technologist, CPC Collection: 2026-OCP-EMEA-Summit-Cooling-Environments-And-Liquid-Cooling

Summary

This presentation by Elizabeth Langer of CPC reports on the post-design-freeze progress of the OCP Universal Quick Disconnect version 2 (UQDv2) specification, covering interoperability testing results from Wave 1, the methodology developed for bench-independent pressure drop characterization, and the newly introduced seal washout test protocol. The work stream includes CPC, Stäubli, Ceng Parker, Danfoss, and other platform providers and QD vendors. The UQDv2 specification was design-frozen at the October 2025 OCP Global Summit, and the period since has focused on building prototypes, setting up test labs, and executing the four QD property tests (Burst, Fluid Loss, Force to Connect, Pressure Drop, and Seal Washout) that form the interoperability acceptance criteria defined in the spec.

The key technical challenge addressed in this presentation is achieving bench-independent, reproducible pressure drop measurements across multiple test sites and multiple vendors. The work stream introduced a standardized tare fixture, a methodology for verifying that the QD represents at least 50% of the gross pressure drop measurement, and polynomial coefficient publication so engineers can integrate UQD pressure drop curves into flow network models. Rated flow for the UQD08 size is 17.7 L/min (4.7 GPM), with the spec setting a maximum pressure drop of 1.7 psi; Wave 1 results from three intermixed vendors came in at approximately 1.0 psi ±0.2 — well within spec.

Seal washout is introduced as a new, critical failure mode addressed formally in UQDv2 for the first time. Under high-velocity disconnect conditions, the elastomeric o-ring seal on the socket side can extrude fully from its groove, jamming in the opposing connector half and tearing — a catastrophic failure. UQDv2 specifies a washout test protocol including water hammer arresters upstream and downstream of the QD, a connection speed limit of approximately 40 mm/s, and a phased pressure profile (static, flow, and disconnect regions) that enables laboratory characterization of the transient pressure spike, which occurs in approximately 2.5 milliseconds and can reach 40–50 PSI. The future roadmap points to higher flow ratings — industry is requesting 20–25 L/min — potentially via increased dash-6/dash-8 ratings or larger connector sizes (dash-10 or beyond), with alignment to the OCP Cold Plate Workstream planned.