Data centers are the vertebral column of our connected world.
These facilities house powerful IT equipment that generates enormous amounts of heat during daily operations
This trapped heat can damage expensive hardware and cause system failures.
For this, data centers rely on modern cooling systems that comply with the equipment standards and increase efficiency.
What is Data Center Cooling?
Data center cooling is the technological process that eliminates heat generated by IT systems to maintain an optimal temperature.
The right cooling approach is designed to focus on IT density, the size of the IT facility, energy consumption, and energy efficiency goals. Here, conventional air conditioners will not be able to meet the expectations. Only special industrial chiller systems can provide precise temperature control.
Check this list of data center cooling methods explained.
Types of Data Center Cooling Methods
Data centers rely on different cooling technologies to eliminate heat. These methods range from conventional approaches to modern modular innovations.
Air Cooling Methods
Liquid Cooling Methods
Air Cooling Methods:
Room Cooling
CRAC/CRAH Systems
Place cooling units around the data center perimeter
Use raised floors with perforated tiles in cold aisles
Arrange racks in hot aisle/cold aisle configuration
CRAC systems use refrigerant (direct expansion)
CRAH systems use chilled water and offer higher capacity
Free Air Cooling
Uses cooler outside air to reduce mechanical cooling needs
Requires filtration systems to maintain air quality
Offers significant energy and cost savings
May involve occasional temperature fluctuations
Close-Coupled Cooling
In-Row Cooling
Positions cooling units between server cabinets
Available in chilled water or direct expansion varieties
Creates horizontal airflow pattern
Compatible with hot aisle containment
Rear-Door Heat Exchangers (RDHx)
Attaches directly to the backs of server racks
Cools hot exhaust air immediately upon exit from servers
Available in two main configurations:
Passive RDHx: Uses server fans to move air, supports 20-30kW per rack
Active RDHx: Includes additional fans, supports up to 50kW per cabinet
offers space-efficient cooling for high-density applications
Minimizes hot air recirculation in the data center
Liquid Cooling Methods
Direct-to-Chip Cooling
This entails:
Routes liquid coolant through cold plates attached to specific components
Targets the highest heat-generating parts of servers
Transfers heat via conduction between electronics and cold plates
Requires supplementary air cooling for remaining components
Immersion Cooling
This entails:
Fully submerged servers in dielectric fluid
Prevents electrical shorts while providing superior heat transfer
Available in two variations:
Single-phase: Pumps fluid through tanks and external heat exchangers
Two-phase: Fluid boils and condenses within a self-contained system
Supports the highest-density deployments
As we are observing a drastic increase in computing demands, data center cooling keeps focusing on more-efficient and energy-saving technologies. But, how will you choose the right cooling system? Here is what you need to consider.
Factors to Consider for Data Center Cooling
These factors determine the data center cooling capacity for better operational efficiency.
IT density:
Higher equipment density requires an advanced industrial cooling system.
Containment measures:
Install doors and walls for air flow direction
Humidity control:
The infrastructure must consider humidity control for air cooling
Size:
The size of the IT facility determines the type of cooling capacity and setup.
Investment
The investment or cost of ownership along with maintenance and operational expenses must be considered.
Sustainability
Consider sustainability factors like carbon footprint, eco-friendly cooling technologies, and energy consumption.
IT facilities can benefit a lot from installing modern data center cooling systems. Choosing one can be daunting due to a lack of experience. This is where industrial cooling experts come into the picture.
Get the Best Data Center Cooling Solutions from Tempcon
Industrial chiller experts like Tempcon have decades of experience in designing data center cooling solutions. With us, your IT facility will benefit in the following ways:
Server reliability improvement
- Scale up IT equipment efficiency
- Increase the lifespan of costly equipment
- Reduce downtime
- Lower maintenance costs
- Reduce carbon footprint
Achieve the perfect balance of data center performance, reliability and sustainability with Tempcon. Contact us for further information.
