LIQUID COOLING FOR DATA CENTRES
Cooling the future: exploring liquid solutions for data centre efficiency
Liquid cooling for data centres offers businesses a range of benefits, including greater efficiency and sustainability, which presents opportunities for the channel, says Martin Ryder, channel sales director Northern Europe at Vertiv.
In data centre management, the search for efficiency and sustainability drives constant innovation. One such innovation garnering a lot of attention is liquid cooling, which promises a new era of energy-efficient cooling solutions poised to meet the evolving demands of modern computing infrastructures. With nearly one in five data centres already leveraging liquid cooling and an additional 61% considering its adoption, there is a good opportunity for the channel to help its customers with this growing technology. Liquid cooling in data centres brings a host of benefits that elevate operational and energy efficiency. Firstly, it excels in dissipating heat, surpassing traditional air-based methods by directly transferring heat away from components, optimising performance while minimising energy consumption. This precision in thermal management ensures uniform cooling across all parts, mitigating hot spots and extending the lifespan of equipment. Additionally, liquid cooling enables data centres to achieve higher power densities within a smaller footprint, crucial for accommodating the escalating demands of contemporary applications and workloads. What’s more, adopting liquid cooling translates into tangible energy savings, as it diminishes reliance on excessive air conditioning, reducing operational costs and aligning with sustainability objectives. Liquid cooling is also quieter because the fans in a liquid cooled system tend to rotate slower and quieter than those in an air-cooling system. This can enhance the working environment for data centre personnel and mitigate noise pollution in surrounding areas.
Beyond immediate benefits, investing in liquid cooling technology is future-friendly data centre infrastructure, offering flexibility to adapt to evolving hardware requirements and thermal challenges. This adaptability is essential in navigating the dynamic landscape of technology. Additionally, liquid cooling contributes to environmental sustainability efforts by curbing electrical energy consumption and minimising carbon emissions, thereby lessening the environmental impact of data centre operations. Challenges As with any technology, adopting liquid cooling in data centres also presents challenges for some organisations. It’s important to note that navigating the adoption of liquid cooling in data centres requires meticulous planning and collaboration among IT, facility and power teams because the IT stack, power usage and building chiller will all be impacted by AI deployment and the data centre infrastructure that enables it. A clear strategy and good communication will enable a smooth process for infrastructure deployment and operational efficiency. Successful implementation also hinges on broader collaboration, extending beyond internal teams to encompass channel partners and end clients. Engaging with supply chain partners and channel stakeholders becomes paramount, as their input and support are instrumental in ensuring a smooth transition to liquid cooling technology. From procurement of specialised equipment to logistical considerations, their involvement streamlines the deployment process and enhances overall project success.
Martin Ryder channel sales director Northern Europe
vertiv.com
Adopting liquid cooling translates into tangible energy savings, as it diminishes reliance on “
excessive air conditioning, reducing operational costs...
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