THERMAL MANAGEMENT AND EMC
reviews physical space and maintenance requirements for existing infrastructure. Compliance with safety regulations and assessing on-site water suitability are also crucial steps.
Model new infrastructure in desired space With this data and partner support, IT and facility teams can then model the desired hybrid cooling infrastructure in the data centre and identify obstacles to overcome. These obstacles can include weight restrictions, a lack of on-site water, the need to install new piping, access route concerns and other issues.
Consider budget and site impacts The audit and modelling exercise provides the IT and facility team with insight into how extensive the liquid cooling deployment will be to develop a business case for executive consideration.
The IT and facility team will also want to consider how on-site construction will disrupt current operations and what impact adding extra heat loads on site will have on current workloads and service-level agreements (SLAs). For example, colocation and managed services teams will want to review proposed new heat loads to make sure that they can maintain temperature and humidity for existing customers.
Factor in effi ciency and sustainability gains
Since liquid cooling removes heat at the source, it can be more effi cient than air cooling alone and lowers facilities’ PUE metrics. It also uses water or fl uid to cool systems and allows teams to recapture and reuse heat, enhancing WUE. After auditing systems and benchmarking data, teams can regularly capture metrics, demonstrating progress in improving PUE and WUE. These gains can reduce indirect or energy-regulated emissions (Scope 2) for enterprises. As a result, liquid cooling can be an essential part of enterprises’ sustainability programs.
Designing the new solution With this information, the IT and facility team can work with the design consultant and partners to design a new solution customised for site requirements. The joint team can then use that information to create a bill of materials and services (BOMS), request quotes and select the manufacturers to build and integrate the liquid cooling system.
At this point, selecting the right coolant “
A hybrid approach to cooling, which combines both air and liquid cooling technologies, has emerged as a compelling solution.
fl uid is paramount for ensuring optimal system performance and longevity becomes clear. Factors such as material compatibility, thermal conductivity and corrosion protection must be carefully considered.
A hybrid approach
Ultimately, a hybrid approach to cooling, which combines both air and liquid cooling technologies, has emerged as a compelling solution. In this way, the strengths of each cooling method can be leveraged to optimise thermal management in data centres, offering several key advantages. By strategically employing liquid cooling to target specifi c hotspots and enhance temperature control, this approach optimises effi ciency and reliability in cooling systems. Leveraging liquid cooling’s superior heat transfer capacity, the hybrid approach can support dense workloads without compromising performance while reducing overall energy consumption compared to conventional air cooling methods. What’s more, its fl exibility and scalability allow for tailored solutions that can adapt
”
to evolving workload demands, facilitating incremental upgrades and expansions as necessary. Additionally, the diversifi cation of cooling methods in a hybrid approach enhances redundancy and reliability, diminishing the risk of system failures and ensuring uninterrupted operation, even during maintenance or outages. In conclusion, the adoption of liquid cooling heralds a new era in data centre thermal management, marking a signifi cant leap forward in addressing the escalating demands of modern IT infrastructure. Embracing hybrid air-liquid cooling solutions not only augments operational effi ciency and performance, but also fosters sustainability, aligning with the growing emphasis on environmentally responsible practices in the digital landscape. However, to successfully deploy liquid cooling, it is important to work with experienced providers that can provide valuable consultancy and customised designs. A good example is how the University of Pisa collaborated with Vertiv to expand its infrastructure capacity to support High Performance Computing and AI. As data centre environments continue to evolve at a rapid pace, remaining vigilant and proactive in exploring emerging technologies and innovative cooling solutions will be paramount. By embracing this forward-looking approach, organisations can not only navigate the challenges of the digital age, but also seize opportunities to drive sustained business growth and competitiveness in an increasingly dynamic marketplace.
JULY/AUGUST | ELECTRONICS FOR ENGINEERS 43
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