Cooling

Unlocking cooling efficiency within data centres

By Kelley Mullick, PhD, Vice President of Technology Advancement and Alliances, Iceotope Data centres are grappling with an unprecedented surge in data generation. The rise of the internet, cloud services, Internet of Things (IoT) devices, social media, and Artificial Intelligence (AI) has ushered in a data revolution. Moreover, the traditional role of data centres is rapidly evolving, transitioning from mere data storage hubs to interactive powerhouses, thanks to high-performance computing (HPC) and AI applications that propel vast data streams to the edge of networks. Sustainability is also a critical concern within the industry, driven in part by the implementation of the Paris Agreement — an internationally binding treaty aimed at combatting climate change since 2016. Under this agreement, signatory countries have committed to cutting carbon emissions in half by 2030 and achieving net zero emissions by 2050. Corporate sustainability goals are increasingly documented in environmental, social, and governance (ESG) reports, as consumers and investors favour environmentally responsible companies. This push to reduce carbon footprints and limit water consumption underscores the importance of sustainability in business considerations. Amidst these challenges and opportunities, liquid cooling is emerging as a pivotal solution. Enterprises and data centre operators navigating their transition to liquid cooling should conscientiously weigh three pivotal factors: sustainability, serviceability, and scalability. Sustainability The burgeoning energy usage, surging power costs, and looming government regulations are casting a spotlight reducing data centre energy consumption. Sustainability is no longer being viewed as a cost on business, as many companies are now using sustainability as a criterion for vendor selection. Serviceability Whether within the heart of a data centre or at the remote edges of networks, the clamour for simpler, cost-effective servicing of equipment reverberates. A technician capable of seamlessly swapping a module within the confines of a data centre campus should easily be able to do the same at a remote location. This becomes particularly vital for telco providers navigating the challenges and costs of service and maintenance. With a multitude of remote sites in their network, minimising on-site maintenance emerges as a key cost-saving strategy. Scalability The traditional data centre is no longer the centre of our data. Today, workloads must scale from the cloud to the edge, adapting to diverse environments, from single servers at cellular base stations to ruggedised edge solutions to enterprise-grade data centres. Repackaging conventional IT solutions fall short in addressing the demands of harsh IT landscapes and nor the sustainability demands to reduce power consumption. Purpose-built solutions are needed to address these concerns. The landscape of liquid cooling Liquid cooling stands at the forefront of solutions capable of efficiently and cost-effectively accommodating modern compute requirements. However, not all liquid cooling solutions are the same. Direct-to-chip, or cold plate cooling, allows for a heat transfer of fluid to be delivered to specific IT components requiring cooling. This technology offers peak cooling performance at the chip level but still necessitates auxiliary air cooling. It serves as an interim solution to cool the hottest chips but falls short of addressing long-term sustainability goals. Tank immersion, on the other hand, provides a more sustainable alternative, as nearly 100% of the heat can be recaptured and reused and the use of fans in the data centre may be eliminated. However, new facility designs and structural requirements mean that using brownfield data centre space is nearly impossible. New construction buildings with reinforced flooring are required. Moreover, specialised training is requisite to service the equipment, adding to operational complexities. Precision liquid cooling combines the best of both technologies and effectively addresses their inherent limitations. Precision liquid cooling removes nearly 100% of the heat generated by the electronic components of a server, while reducing energy use by up to 40% and water consumption by up to 100%. It does this by using a small amount of dielectric coolant to precisely target and remove heat from the hottest components of the server, ensuring maximum efficiency and reliability. This eliminates the need for traditional air-cooling systems and allows for greater flexibility in designing IT solutions. There are no hotspots to slow down performance, no wasted physical space on unnecessary cooling infrastructure, and minimal need for water consumption. Beyond these environmental and efficiency gains, precision liquid cooling also reduces stress on chassis components, slashing component failures by 30% and extending server lifecycles. The ability to hot-swap servers both within data centres and remote locations streamlines service calls, eliminating exposure to inclement environmental elements and substantially reducing the risks associated with service operations. Understanding the advantages of liquid cooling technologies, especially in the context of rising IT equipment demands and evolving sustainability requirements, becomes crucial for making informed decisions about the future of data centres. By embracing liquid cooling solutions, we can strategically position our organisations for enhanced operational efficiency, reduced energy consumption, and adherence to emerging sustainability standards. Precision liquid cooling technology stands out as a superior choice. As we make strategic decisions for the future of our data centres, adopting this innovative technology will empower us to navigate the ever-changing landscape of data centre requirements, while also fulfilling our commitment to a sustainable and environmentally conscious future.

LiquidStack unveils single-phase immersion cooling offering

LiquidStack has announced its new single-phase liquid cooling solution. The announcement marks the first step in the company’s planned expansion of its DataTank product portfolio to offer a comprehensive range of advanced liquid cooling solutions. LiquidStack’s new single-phase liquid cooling solution provides data centres with a powerful and economical option to shift from air cooling to energy-efficient and sustainable immersion cooling. The product was unveiled by LiquidStack, CEO, Joe Capes, during a presentation at DCD Connect Virginia, and will be available for quotation and pre-order on 1 December, 2023. The final product name and additional product details will be announced on that date. “LiquidStack is unwavering in its ambition to support the future of AI and other high compute processing,” says Joe Capes, CEO, LiquidStack. “Since LiquidStack’s launch, our mission has always been to become a full service provider of the most advanced liquid cooling solutions in the market, and our new single-phase offering is a key step toward completing our liquid cooling technology stack.” LiquidStack’s single-phase liquid cooling technology delivers industry-leading efficiency and performs better than W32 thermal guidelines set forth by the American Society of Heating, Refrigerating and Air-Conditioning Engineers at >2.8kW/U, making it suitable for AI. Its advanced flow technology and flow dynamics significantly improve heat transfer, resulting in a higher performance of >110kW with W32 water. The solution offers superior efficiency compared to other leading single-phase liquid immersion products, which deliver less than 100kW per full size tank at similar conditions. In addition, it uses non-hazardous dielectric fluids and will be available at pricing of assured value, ensuring favourable total cost of ownership (TCO). Additional features and benefits include:  Server scalability: Occupies the exact footprint that holds four typical 19” or 21” racks, and is designed to enable data centres to easily retrofit existing white space and adopt liquid cooling. Flexible for most IT systems: Integrates multiple IT form factors, including 1U, 2U, 4U, 600mm, 750mm, OCP, ORV3 and more. Expandable resiliency: Offers an expandable N to 2N Tier IV redundancy system to ensure high resiliency and reliable operations. Easy deployment: Includes features that simplify installation and serviceability. Compatibility: Fits with LiquidStack modular data centre solutions as well as trane chillers and services.

Is your cooling system ready for winter?

Dave Palmer, General Manager UK at ICS Cool Energy In today’s competitive business, minimising operating cost and mitigating risk, while keeping focused on energy efficiency and delivering the temperature control a business needs to keep running and succeed, is important. Experienced plant and facility managers know that deferring regular maintenance to save money in the near-term is a poor practice and will likely cost the organisation more in the long-term. Delaying the maintenance of complex process cooling applications places crucial assets at risk for more extensive damages and costlier repairs in the future. Decreased system life, decreased reliability, increased failure rates, and increased downtime are typical by-products of deferring maintenance to later dates. This article addresses the steps needed to prepare your temperature control equipment for the inevitable winter, but a good practice that helps maximise investment is to have a proactive maintenance plan customised to the process needs and all times of the year. A combination of regular and preventive maintenance helps optimise system performance and reliability throughout the year and throughout the lifecycle of the equipment. Getting ready for winter It may seem that during winter, the demands on the chiller plant system are lower, but the production in industrial applications hardly ever stops and cold weather can create added pressures on the equipment situated outside. Autumn is the perfect time for a thorough review of the system and to apply the right proactive maintenance measures to avoid costly interruptions or downtime when temperatures drop significantly and things go wrong. In-depth reviews of your systems will also allow you to consider technologies and ways in which your system could be enhanced to reduce operating costs and increase performance. Let’s look at some of the elements that need to be addressed when preparing for winter: Water treatment, glycol dosage, its quantity and quality Cooling systems depend on the fluid circulating within the equipment. A right water treatment plan is essential for the longevity, efficiency and reliability of the process equipment. In winter, glycol or anti-freeze is important to lower the freezing point in the application of the chilling system and prevent the fluid inside the system from freezing. However, it’s not merely about adding glycol. Utilising the correct glycol concentration is essential, but it’s quality matters just as much. It goes without saying never to use automotive antifreeze, as it is formulated for engine cooling and can cause problems with flow rates / pressures and reduced heat transfer. Uninhibited glycol and water mixtures are very corrosive, hence, inhibited type plays a crucial role in ensuring the fluid in your system doesn’t freeze and the pipework doesn’t corrode. Inhibitors protect against corrosion, scale and rust and act as a pH buffer and a biocide. It’s best never to use less than 25% glycol, which will ensure that an adequate quantity of inhibitors is present and protect you from the winter freeze. Going below this threshold makes it a feeding ground for bacteria. It’s also important not to mix different types of glycol or different brands. Incompatibilities can lead to formula separation which clogs filters, strainers and pump suctions as well as reducing its transfer properties. Over-mixing can also cause problems so it’s best to use only the glycol concentration necessary to protect the equipment. Adding just glycol to a system isn’t enough when it comes to treating your water. The chilled water system must be flushed, cleaned and sanitised prior to adding a new water/glycol solution. Selection of the appropriate water treatment also isn’t a once-size-fits-all matter. While there are universal products available in the marketplace, it would be beneficial to have a fluid analysis carried out on any hydraulic circuit prior to the administration of glycol/antifreeze. It is equally important to ensure the fluid is checked regularly. The water/glycol solution must be regularly sampled and tested to ensure there are no underlying or progressive contamination and/or corrosion issues arising. Adiabatic systems – protection first If your system is equipped with dry air coolers or adiabatic coolers, they have unique requirements. They are a cost-effective and environmentally friendly alternative to a cooling tower. Providing significant savings on water usage, they require significantly less maintenance and operational costs and no ongoing chemical treatment or registration with local authorities, while operating at optimal efficiency in high ambient temperatures. Given their operational nature, adiabatic systems can be vulnerable in winters. In winter, the glycol level must align with the predicted lowest ambient temperatures. In case there is no glycol/antifreeze in the system, switching off and draining down the adiabatic system will prevent the pipe work from freezing. Alternatively trace heating can be applied to protect the adiabatic feed pipework. Managing dormant equipment For equipment left dormant in winter, the risk isn’t just freezing, but also the degradation of moving parts. Regular circulation prevents the fluid from settling and keeps the internal components lubricated. With no glycol/antifreeze in the system, it’s important that the system pumps are switched on to circulate the fluid particularly when ambient temperatures drop below 3°C. If this happens for an extended period of time, the pump will heat the fluid and this may require to switch the chiller back on to make sure the fluid temperatures are controlled. Embracing technological upgrades Both large and small companies are under pressure to reduce energy consumption and improve the operating efficiency of their equipment. Winter is also a good time to embrace technologies that are not just an efficiency measure, but a step towards sustainability that will benefit the operations throughout the year. Heat recovery: With cooling systems comes the potential of heat recovery. Recycling waste heat from cooling systems will help to increase the efficiency of the system. Combined heating and cooling applications provide unique opportunity to reclaim or harvest energy available within the same plant or building. The waste heat energy from cooling, that would have been rejected to the atmosphere, can be harnessed effectively and reused by heat recovery at medium temperature for space heating, preheating water, etc. or the recovered energy can be boosted up to 120°C with high temperature heat pumps for other processes. Combining heat recovery from chillers with a booster heat-pump opens an untapped opportunity to lower overall energy demand and reduce CO2 emissions. Low temperature processes are large thermal efficiency opportunities when using heat recovery and heat pump boosters. Variable Speed Drives (VSD): Controlling the flow of air and water in process temperature control systems is an effective, permanent way to meet the ever-changing demands put on a system and enhance its efficiency, therefore, it’s important to consider technologies that maximise part-load efficiency. Constant volume cooling systems operate at one speed, regardless of the cooling load. This means that they consume the same amount of energy, whether the cooling load is high or low. By contrast, installing a VSD, you can meet varying system flow rate requirements or just increase energy efficiency. Variable speed components meet the actual load required during any given time over a wide operational range, meaning their speed and output varies to reflect the conditions and demands. By precisely matching output to the cooling demands, compressors and fans operate at their fastest levels when demand is high, and modulate to slower levels when demand is lower, for a high Seasonal Energy Efficiency Ratio (SEER), a measurement of part-load performance. The result is lower annual energy use and typically smaller annual energy bills. VSD technologies are applied by chiller manufacturers across product portfolios, but it can also be retrofitted to existing chillers, making it an excellent option for businesses looking to improve the efficiency and reduce the energy consumption of their cooling systems. Variable speed pumps are also key to matching the flow of the system to the required capacity. They avoid wasted power and energy compared to traditional on/off pumps and have the potential to save up to 50% on pump energy. What’s more, the cost and power output savings are magnified on larger systems with pumps greater in capacity than 15kW, with the initial investment quickly offset by energy bills and prolonged equipment life. Free cooling: Any organisation using an externally sited chiller to cool their process can benefit from free cooling. It can be implemented whenever the outside temperature is low enough to cool down the process fluid without the intervention of a chiller (mechanical cooling). This can be in the form of partial free cooling (where the chiller’s compressors are still doing some of the work to cool) to full free cooling (where the full load on the chiller is offset). In contrast, an externally sited chiller’s compressors with no free cooling capabilities will be working flat out to achieve the same. It can be achieved in one of two ways, either by integrating a free cooling coil into an existing chiller installation or as a standalone (sometimes referred to as a bolt-on) unit. Standalone and integrated free cooling offer many benefits depending on the application and the site in question. As the ambient air temperature continues to fall, the amount of process heat taken out of the process fluid by the air increases, progressively reducing the load on the chiller. At 5°C below the process supply fluid temperature, all the process heat is removed by the ambient air in the free cooler – providing full free cooling. This makes free cooling the cheapest and greenest way to provide cooling. Conclusion Winterisation of process cooling systems demands a comprehensive, meticulous approach. Beyond the immediate need to prevent freezing, there’s a broader objective and opportunity to ensure equipment health, optimise performance, and embrace energy efficiency upgrades. This can provide a roadmap to achieve all these goals, ensuring that when winter arrives, your cooling systems are more than just prepared. Ensure your equipment is operating at its best by having a proactive service in the autumn. Being proactive ahead of time will save you a lot of downtime.

Shell reduces energy consumption with immersion cooling fluids

Shell Lubricants has introduced a range of single-phase immersion cooling fluids to keep computer components cool in an efficient way, while helping to cut energy consumption and lower carbon dioxide emissions in energy-intensive facilities such as data centres. “We believe Shell’s immersion cooling technology is an essential piece of the puzzle in tackling data centre energy use that will be key to helping customers deliver on their sustainability commitments,” says Mansi Tripathy, Vice President, Shell Lubricants for Asia Pacific. “Made from natural gas using Shell’s gas-to-liquids (GTL) process, Shell Immersion Cooling Fluids are designed to maximise the energy efficiency and performance of data servers and information technology (IT) components.” Shell’s GTL products made from natural gas are synthetic fluids. The colourless and odourless fluids are inherently biodegradable to different extents, stable and provide excellent performance and material compatibility. Combined with other low carbon solutions offered by Shell, such as renewable power, smart energy management services and certified carbon credits, the deployment supports data centre operators’ goals of optimising performance sustainably.  With the growing use of data-intensive technologies, demand for server space is increasing rapidly, placing greater demand on global data centres. Data centres account for about 1% of global electricity consumption, with more than a third of this power used for cooling electrical components.  Shell is an early adopter of the immersion cooling technology and recently upgraded its high-performance computing (HPC) cluster at Skybox, which already operates on 100% renewable power purchased to demonstrate a fully integrated, optimised, and scalable solution for its customers. The immersion cooling solution, implemented in Shell’s HPC cluster in Amsterdam, is also helping Shell deliver high-end processing power while reducing its energy consumption within a T-Systems managed data centre.  Shell Lubricants is also looking to work with key players in the data centre ecosystem in Asia – such as tank original equipment manufacturers (OEMs), system integrators, data centre owners and co-locators – for proof-of-concepts with its immersion cooling fluids to meet next generation computing requirements.

Data centre cooling market size to reach $61bn by 2035

As per the report by Market Research 365, "The data centre cooling market size was valued at USD16.2bn in 2022 and is projected to cross USD61.1bn by 2035."The market growth is driven by the increasing demand for efficient cooling solutions in data centres worldwide. As data centres continue to expand in size and complexity, the need to maintain optimal operating temperatures becomes critical to ensure the performance and longevity of equipment. This has led to a surge in the adoption of advanced cooling technologies that can effectively manage heat dissipation and energy consumption. The escalating volume of data generated by businesses and individuals has spurred the establishment of larger data centres, intensifying the demand for efficient cooling systems. Additionally, stringent environmental regulations and the need for energy-efficient operations have driven the adoption of innovative cooling solutions that can minimise the carbon footprint of data centres. The emergence of AI and high-performance computing has further accentuated the requirement for robust cooling mechanisms to prevent hardware overheating. Despite the promising growth prospects, the data centre cooling market is not devoid of challenges. One significant restraint is the high initial cost associated with implementing advanced cooling technologies. This can deter small and medium-sized enterprises with budget constraints from adopting these solutions. Moreover, the complexity of integrating new cooling systems into existing data centre infrastructure poses technical challenges, potentially leading to operational disruptions during the transition phase. Amidst the challenges, the data centre cooling market presents several opportunities for innovation and growth. The development of scalable and modular cooling solutions has the potential to address the financial barriers faced by smaller enterprises, allowing them to adopt efficient cooling gradually. Additionally, the rising interest in liquid cooling and direct-to-chip solutions opens doors for companies to provide cutting-edge technologies that significantly enhance cooling efficiency and reduce energy consumption. The market can be segmented based on cooling techniques, solutions, and end-users. Cooling techniques encompass air-based cooling and liquid-based cooling, each with its own set of benefits and drawbacks. Solutions include precision air conditioning, containment systems, and chilled water systems. End-users of data centre cooling solutions range from IT and telecom companies to government organisations, each with specific cooling requirements dictated by the scale and nature of their data centre operations. Investments in the data centre cooling market are largely directed towards research and development of innovative cooling solutions. Start-ups and established players alike are channelling resources into designing energy-efficient and sustainable cooling technologies that cater to the evolving needs of modern data centres. Additionally, investments in partnerships and collaborations between cooling solution providers and data centre operators are on the rise, facilitating the seamless integration of advanced cooling systems into existing setups. In conclusion, the data centre cooling market is undergoing a significant transformation driven by the surge in data generation, energy efficiency concerns, and technological advancements. While challenges such as cost and integration complexities exist, the market offers ample opportunities for businesses to introduce innovative cooling solutions that cater to a diverse range of data centre requirements. As the industry continues to evolve, collaboration between stakeholders and a focus on sustainability will play pivotal roles in shaping the future landscape of data centre cooling.

Redefining liquid cooling from the server to the switch

By Nathan Blom, CCO, Iceotope Liquid cooling has long been a focal point in discussions surrounding data centres, and rightfully so, as these facilities are at the epicentre of an unprecedented data explosion. The explosive growth of the internet, cloud services, IoT devices, social media, and AI has fuelled an unparalleled surge in data generation, intensifying the strain on rack densities and placing substantial demands on data centre cooling systems. In fact, cooling power alone accounts for a staggering 40% of a data centre's total energy consumption. However, the need for efficient IT infrastructure cooling extends beyond data centres. Enterprise organisations are also looking for ways to reduce costs, maximise revenue and accelerate sustainability objectives. Not to mention the fact that reducing energy consumption is rapidly becoming one of the top priorities for telcos with thousands of sites in remote locations, making the reduction of maintenance costs key as well. Liquid cooling technologies have emerged as a highly efficient solution for dissipating heat from IT equipment, regardless of the setting. Whether it's within a data centre, on-premises data hall, cloud environment, or at the edge, liquid cooling is proving its versatility. While most applications have centred on cooling server components, new applications are rapidly materialising across the entire IT infrastructure spectrum. BT Group, in a ground-breaking move, initiated trials of liquid cooling technologies across its networks to enhance energy efficiency and reduce consumption as part of its commitment to achieving net zero status. BT kicked off the trials with a network switch cooled using Iceotope’s Precision Liquid Cooling technology and Juniper Networks QFX Series Switches. With 90% of its overall energy consumption coming from networks, it’s easy to see why reducing energy consumption is such a high priority. In a similar vein, Meta released a study last year confirming the practicality, efficiency and effectiveness of precision liquid cooling technology to meet the cooling requirements of high-density storage disks. Global data storage is growing at such a rate there is an increased need for improved thermal cooling solutions. Liquid cooling for high-density storage is proving to be a viable alternative as it can mitigate for variances and improve consistency. Ultimately, it lowers overall power consumption and improves ESG compliance. Liquid cooling technologies are changing the game when it comes to removing heat from the IT stack. While each of the technologies on the market today have their time and place, there is a reason we are seeing precision liquid cooling in trials that are broadening the use case for liquid cooling. It also ensures maximum efficiency and reliability as it uses a small amount of dielectric coolant to precisely target and remove heat from the hottest components of the server. This approach not only eliminates the need for traditional air-cooling systems, but it allows for greater flexibility in designing IT solutions than any other solution on the market today. There are no hotspots that can slow down performance, no wasted physical space on unnecessary cooling infrastructure, and minimal need for water consumption. As the demand for data increases, the importance of efficient and sustainable IT infrastructure cooling cannot be overstated. Liquid cooling, and precision liquid cooling in particular, is at the forefront of this journey. Whether it's reducing the environmental footprint of data centres, enhancing the energy efficiency of telecommunication networks, or meeting the ever-increasing demands of high-density storage, liquid cooling offers versatile and effective solutions. These trials and applications are not just milestones, they represent a pivotal shift toward a future where cooling is smarter, greener, and more adaptable, empowering businesses to meet their evolving IT demands while contributing to a more sustainable world.

ICS Cool Energy expands with a cold store dedicated team

ICS Cool Energy has announced the expansion of its hire division with a management team dedicated to cold stores. The team of engineering specialists that will manage the UK fleet of low to ultra-low temperature containerised cold store solutions is: Ralph Howes, Cold Store Major Accounts Manager Lisa Townsley, Cold Store Business Development Manager, South Kayla Shaw, Cold Store Business Development Manager, North Mike Elver, Cold Store Senior Sales Engineer The company's cold store container units can be used where raw or finished products require temporary or long-term temperature-controlled storage to preserve or increase shelf life. Cold stores can add storage space and deliver high cooling capacity in combination with precise temperature control from fresh to deep frozen, even in the most severe applications with high ambient temperatures, frequent door openings and long running hours. The units can be also applied in R&D applications, where a temperature-controlled environment is required to enable Accelerated Life Testing (ALT) of critical components. ICS Cool Energy temperature-controlled containers are available in 10ft, 20ft and 40ft length and feature tried and tested refrigeration technology from Thermo King. The units can be plugged in the 360-500V, 50 or 60Hz power supply to ensure cold or frozen temperatures in the container. Designed originally for global, seagoing reefer applications, its containers are equipped with features that make them suitable as static cold stores. They are washable with wash down drains, have man trapped person alarms, lighting inside emergency escape release and conform to BRC audit standards. The units can also be adapted to meet customer needs with options including telematics, remote monitoring, and controlled atmosphere. Customers can also benefit from a modular approach, where multiple cold stores, joined together without connecting walls, can be linked with buildings without time consuming engineering, ground works, or long planning permission process.

Vertiv enhances manufacturing capacity for chilled water solutions

Vertiv has unveiled an upgraded testing room at its thermal management centre near Tognana, Italy. This sizeable investment significantly increases the facility’s testing capacity and manufacturing capabilities in the existing space and demonstrates its ongoing commitment to the advancement of chilled water systems to help drive liquid cooling adoption. It also shows the company’s support of increasing demands on data centres, including high-performance computing, artificial intelligence (AI) and generative AI (GenAI). The upgraded testing room will allow Vertiv to do standard and tailored tests of customer equipment, spanning all of the cooling solutions in its product portfolio - both air and water-cooled, balancing a thermal load greater than 2MW with a chamber air temperature up to 55°C. Moreover, it will also be able to test units equipped with low global warming potential (GWP) refrigerants. This upgrade comes at a critical time for the data centre industry. Operators are expanding rapidly to meet increasing capacity needs, whilst at the same time seeking to minimise their environmental impact. More than 100 European data centre operators and trade associations have signed The Climate Neutral Data Centre Pact committing to climate neutrality by 2030. Chilled water systems play a key role in helping to reach this goal by enabling operators to upscale data centre capacity whilst simultaneously limiting direct and indirect emissions. These systems apply low-GWP refrigerants that enable significant reduction of direct and indirect CO2 emissions, decreasing a data centre’s carbon footprint. “Resource-efficient chilled water solutions are important to the sustainable growth of the data centre industry, and we must continue to focus on how we can evolve and improve the technologies for operators and the environment,” says Karsten Winther, President EMEA at Vertiv. “We are proud of the market-leading work we have achieved for our customers. For example, we worked with sustainability focused colocation provider, Green Mountain, to deploy 5MW of high-efficiency chilled water cooling systems. Enhancing the testing and manufacturing capacity at our thermal management facility allows us to continue to innovate in this space and deliver even more value to the industry and our customers.” “In December, we will introduce our new Vertiv Liebert AFC high capacity, inverter screw with low-GWP refrigerant chiller up to 2200kW to the EMEA market. This new testing room will enable us to test these larger capacity units,” says Roberto Felisi, Senior Director, Thermal Global Core Offering and EMEA Business Leader at Vertiv. “We continue to explore opportunities to further invest in our capabilities to support projected growth and demand for thermal management systems, particularly liquid cooling solutions.” To celebrate the latest expansion, Vertiv welcomed employees’ families for a special visit to the facility, including the Thermal Management Customer Experience Centre. The open day featured activities designed specifically to engage children and young people, offering insights into data centres and the significance of thermal management. Highlights included guided tours of production lines and primary laboratories, as well as Vertiv’s own data centre which provided a first-hand look at the machines in action. Depending on age, the young visitors could partake in thermodynamics workshops and explore topics such as cold generation and the behaviour of hot and cold air particles. They also got the chance to experience Vertiv’s cutting-edge augmented reality applications, like the Vertiv XR app, and navigate a virtual data centre. Click here for more latest news.

B­­T takes the plunge with new liquid cooling trials

BT Group has announced that it is trialling several liquid cooling technologies that could substantially improve energy consumption and efficiency metrics in its networks and IT infrastructure, in pursuit of its commitment to becoming a net zero business by the end of March 2031. The group will trial precision liquid cooled network switches using a solution provided by Iceotope and Juniper Networks QFX Series switches, which are widely used in existing network cloud architectures. Ahead of the trial, they have together demonstrated a replica ‘set-up’ using an HP x86 server at BT’s Sustainability Festival. The demonstration showed how power used to cool a network switch typically deployed in a data centre could be significantly reduced. All electronic and electrical systems generate heat during operation that must be dissipated to maintain working capability. Like most large data centres, network and IT equipment across its estate is currently cooled using air-based systems. As network capacity and demands increase, next generation IT and network hardware will have to work harder and will become hotter. Consequently, the power needed to cool them will increase, driving up energy consumption and operational cost. BT Group is, therefore, exploring numerous alternative cooling techniques and in addition to its trial with Iceotope and Juniper, the company will trial the following liquid cooling systems. Precision liquid cooled networking servers and data centre equipment, with Iceotope and Juniper Full immersion of networking servers in an immersion tank, with Immersion4 Liquid-cooled cold plates of networking equipment in a cooling enclosure, with Nexalus Cooling using sprayed-on partial immersion of data centre equipment, with Airsys. Typically, these techniques bring several benefits including a 40-50% reduction in power needed to cool systems vs air cooling, higher equipment density saving on real estate footprint and therefore further power usage reductions, and reduced material usage-reducing carbon footprint. Further, rather than heat dissipated into the air, liquid cooling systems can channel exhausted heat to be reused to heat other parts of a building. Liquid cooling enabling equipment can also be deployed in more environmentally challenging environments such as areas with more contaminants. Maria Cuevas, Networks Research Director, BT Group, says, “As the UK’s largest provider of fixed-line broadband and mobile services in the UK, it isn’t a surprise that over 90% of our overall energy consumption – and nearly 95% of our electricity - comes from our networks. In a world of advancing technology and growing data demands, it’s critical that we continue to innovate for energy efficiency solutions. Liquid cooling for network and IT infrastructure is one part of a much bigger jigsaw but is an area we’re very excited to explore with our technology partners.”

Iceotope Technologies announced as 'Great Place to Work'

Iceotope Technologies has announced its recent recognition as one of the 2023 Best Workplaces in the UK by Great Place to Work. This prestigious accolade underscores its resolute commitment to fostering a culture of unwavering excellence and creating an environment that magnetises and retains top-tier talent.  The 'Great Place to Work' certification acknowledges Iceotope's commitment and dedication to providing an extraordinary workplace experience for its team. After a thorough evaluation of its workplace practices, policies, and employee feedback, it has been recognised as a company that values collaboration, growth and employee wellbeing.  "We are absolutely thrilled to receive the ‘Great Place To Work’ certification, a recognition of Iceotope’s commitment to enabling our team to thrive professionally and personally," says, David Craig, CEO of Iceotope. "This recognition echoes our core values and our dedication to cultivating a workplace that celebrates innovation and fosters the growth of every individual. We believe that by nurturing a culture of excellence, we can continue to attract and empower exceptional talent." The journey towards this certification mirrors the company's core principles — a hunger for knowledge, curiosity and a commitment to solving real-world problems with innovative solutions. “Iceotope's emphasis on engineering excellence is at the heart of its achievements. Purpose-driven engineering, aligned with customer needs and global sustainability goals, reflects the company's dedication to creating progress that benefits both its clients and the environment,” says David.  As Iceotope celebrates this remarkable achievement, the company sets its sights on elevating standards of employee engagement and satisfaction even further. The commitment to maintaining and enhancing the 'Great Place to Work' status reflects its determination to cultivate a culture characterised by growth, collaboration and outstanding accomplishments. The complete list of winning companies can be found here.   Click here for more latest news.