DATA CENTRE COOLING
CONTINUED
Contributors
Markus Rex
synaxon-services.com
Simon Harris, director of critical infrastructure at BCS, notes that while liquid cooling is often positioned as a key solution, its adoption has been relatively slow, due to high initial costs, lack of universal standards and greater familiarity with air-based cooling systems. “Finally, not all workloads benefit from the high-density cooling capability that liquid systems offer and for lower-density applications, traditional air cooling is often considered sufficient,” he adds. “But liquid cooling is significantly more efficient at transferring heat, allowing for higher server densities and reduced energy consumption, lower energy bills and operating costs. It is currently the best option for cooling AI and other compute-intensive workloads. It’s also a good option in space-constrained environments, delivering more efficient use of rack space and reducing the overall footprint of the data centre.” Refurb or rebuild Which method of cooling will then inform the next steps for what a business does with its data centre(s), which includes a range of options from refurbishment to decommissioning and rebuilding. “Each option has its own challenges, all of which are influenced by cost implications and the sustainability agenda,” says Simon. “Retaining and upgrading existing stock has several advantages not least that
several legacy sites are located on prime land with good power connections that can facilitate extra cooling. “Most legacy sites can be retrofitted with the specialist equipment needed but it is likely that air cooling will still be part of the solution for the site. Connecting all players in the refresh cycle is key, especially with liquid cooling deployment and its relative lack of maturity in the value chain. Building some partnerships between the client, the technology vendor, the cooling technology specialist and the designers etc will help to create the optimal engineered solution. Objectives must be efficiency, hitting a viable cost point, the programme, the continuity of service for incumbent customers and workloads and future maintenance requirements. This means assembling the right team of client sponsor, professional team, contractor and supply chain. “Refresh projects are not as straightforward as new builds and require different skill sets. Rather than total rebuilds, many operators are adopting phased upgrades, pairing AI- ready modules or adjacent high-density segments alongside legacy systems maintaining continuity while upgrading capacity. Solutions like liquid cooling retrofits, enhanced containment and reinforced cabinets enable targeted enhancements in existing facilities.”
Simon Harris
bcsconsultancy.com
Sue Preston
hpe.com
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