Data Center Cooling

Artificial intelligence (AI) is rapidly transforming the entire technological landscape, and although the current transition phase makes it difficult to make accurate predictions about the future of technologies, it is certain that power density per rack will increase significantly. Indeed, the increase in computing power required for AI applications is pushing existing infrastructures beyond their limits: while data center racks currently operate with powers ranging from 6 to 10 kW, as more and more powerful processors are adopted to support AI applications, it is expected that this figure could even reach values between 100 and 200 kW.

This sudden growth poses significant challenges for temperature management, calling for the adoption of new industrial air conditioning technologies for heat dissipation and data center cooling.

Liquid cooling: a key player in data center air conditioning
Liquid cooling represents one of the emerging solutions for data center thermal management, which could partially address the increased power output of modern processors. Indeed, the use of a cooling fluid to absorb, transfer and dissipate the heat generated by high-power electronic components has a number of advantages, compared with traditional air cooling systems:

- greater thermal efficiency, with more efficient heat transfer;
- reduced energy consumption, as the greater efficiency of liquids in transporting heat requires less energy, to maintain the optimal temperature;
- reduced environmental impact, against a smaller thermal and energy footprint.

Liquid cooling, however, cannot be the only solution. As engineer Matteo Faccio, CTO of HiRef SpA, reminds us, some of the heat generated by data centers (about 10-20%) is still released into the air. Conventional cooling systems will therefore still have to find use, calling for rethinking the design of data center rooms.

Hybrid rooms: the future of data center design
To meet the cooling needs of data centers of the future, solutions will therefore need to be hybrid, providing for both liquid-cooled and air-cooled racks. To address these challenges, HiRef is currently working on a number of cooling systems, technologies, and equipment that can provide an efficient combined solution.

These include Coolant Distribution Units (CDUs), the units to efficiently distribute coolant, keeping it within optimal temperature ranges so as to ensure the durability of the cooling system over time. In parallel, HiRef is providing for the development of Rear Door solutions, an active or passive air conditioning system, to be applied to the rear of the rack. In addition to these, in a hybrid room of the future another key element will be the HiNode, the device that allows interfacing and supervision of all components and devices in the air conditioning system.

So for the current and future cooling needs of your data centers, ask HiRef. Since 2001, we have been an established technology company in the information technology infrastructure cooling sector, distinguished by practicality, flexibility and continuous innovation of solutions tailored to our customers' needs.