GREEN MATTERS
and compliance requirements related to liquid cooling solutions can also pose complexities, but must be observed. Adhering to regulations is crucial to avoid legal and regulatory issues. Lastly, managing scalability and future expansion of liquid cooling infrastructure presents its own set of challenges. Anticipating future growth and achieving seamless scalability without disrupting operations require careful planning and foresight.
Overcoming the challenges Deploying liquid cooling is a signifi cant initiative that requires careful planning and consideration of sustainability and effi ciency without compromising the specifi c needs of the data centre. A comprehensive roadmap for eff ective deployment should include the following steps: Determine current and future workload requirements: Understand current and future workload needs, especially with increasing rack densities driven by advanced chipsets like x86 and AI-capable Graphics Processing Units (GPUs). Plan for space allocation and consider options like rack conversions or dedicated rooms with liquid cooling systems. Conduct a site audit: Evaluate the feasibility of integrating liquid cooling systems both technically and economically. This includes analysing airfl ow, assessing the capacity of current cooling equipment, conducting computational fl uid dynamics (CFD) studies, and assessing infrastructure adaptability for power-intensive workloads like AI. Model new infrastructure: Use data from the site audit to model the desired cooling infrastructure, identifying and overcoming obstacles such as weight restrictions, water availability, and access route concerns. Consider budget and site impacts: Develop a business case for executive consideration based on the audit and modelling exercise. Assess how construction will aff ect current operations and how adding extra heat loads will impact existing workloads and service-level agreements (SLAs). Ascertain sustainability targets: Regularly capture metrics to demonstrate progress in reducing emissions and consider liquid cooling as part of sustainability and circular economy programs.
Design the new solution: Work with design consultants and partners to customise a solution for site requirements. Select the right coolant fl uid considering factors like material compatibility, thermal conductivity, and corrosion protection. Procurement and vendor selection: Once the design is
fi nalised, procure necessary equipment and select vendors for manufacturing and integration of the liquid cooling system. Request quotes, evaluate proposals and choose suppliers based on factors like reliability, support and cost- eff ectiveness.
Installation and integration: Coordinate the installation of the liquid cooling system, providing proper integration with existing infrastructure. This may involve installing new piping, coolant distribution units (CDUs), and other components, as well as testing the system to check for functionality and effi ciency.
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Training and knowledge transfer: Provide training for
staff members who will be responsible for operating and maintaining the liquid cooling system. Teach them to understand how to monitor performance, troubleshoot issues and perform routine maintenance tasks to optimise system effi ciency and longevity.
Monitoring and optimisation: Implement a system for monitoring the performance of the liquid cooling system and collecting data on energy usage, temperature levels, and other relevant metrics. Use this data to identify areas for optimisation and implement adjustments to improve effi ciency and sustainability over time. As data centres evolve, the focus shifts towards exploring
the next stage in cooling technology. While liquid cooling has made strides, a hybrid approach integrating air and liquid cooling methods emerges as the next frontier. Hybrid cooling blends the benefi ts of air and liquid cooling while mitigating their limitations, promising more effi cient and sustainable solutions. It optimises effi ciency by combining precise temperature control with reduced energy consumption, enabling peak performance. Flexibility is a cornerstone of hybrid cooling, allowing data
centres to adapt to evolving workload demands without sacrifi cing effi ciency or reliability. Looking forward, the adoption of hybrid cooling is expected to grow, enabling data centres to meet the challenges of tomorrow’s digital landscape eff ectively. Beyond hybrid cooling, there will be further advancements in cooling technology in the near future. These may include the integration of advanced cooling materials, such as those with enhanced thermal conductivity properties, and the exploration of direct-to-chip cooling solutions for improved performance.
The choices we make in cooling technology will have a
signifi cant impact on energy consumption, carbon emissions and overall sustainability – and in embracing advancements like hybrid cooling, data centres can not only meet the demands of tomorrow’s digital landscape but also minimise their environmental footprint.
www.acr-news.com • June 2024 35
Another signifi cant challenge lies in ensuring that existing infrastructure can support liquid cooling systems or identifying and
addressing necessary upgrades. Budget
constraints may limit the scope of the project, necessitating careful
prioritisation and resource allocation.
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