In-row, on-rack, aisle to aisle… here are some of the more popular cooling technologies at data cent

The growth of data centers has been explosive, to say the least, and with it has come an exponential rise in energy consumption. In 2020, during the pandemic, global internet traffic surged by more than 40%. The International Energy Agency estimates that 1% of all global electricity is used by data centers and that by 2025, data centers will consume 1/5 of the world’s power supply.

Data centers across the globe are designing their facilities to support more than 20kW per cabinet. This puts the spotlight – and the pressure – on reducing energy consumption. And one of the ways to do that is by optimizing cooling technologies within a data center.

Data center cooling systems are important in maintaining the temperature for technical equipment to function effectively. Cooling can consume up to 40% of a data center’s energy consumption, so just by using the right temperature control tech, one can increase energy efficiency.

Water cooling is currently one of the most advocated ways to process intensive computing applications such as AI, ML, or blockchain technologies as well as reduce carbon emissions and be sustainable. It is popular as it leverages the higher thermal transfer properties of water to support efficient and cost-effective cooling of high-density racks. Some experts say it can be up to 3,000 times more effective than using air.

Data center cooling is usually tackled through aisle containment, where air conditioning units are placed around the outside wall of the room and aligned with the hot aisle. They pump cold air beneath a raised floor which is then distributed in the cold aisle.

Some centers make use of in-row cooling, which replaces a rack in the row with an air-handling unit to create a shorter air flow path and eliminate the need for raised floors. Here, hot air leaving the equipment is captured by the air-handling units, cooled, and returned to the cold aisle.

Another method used is on-rack cooling, which involves replacing the rear doors of an enclosure with a heat exchanger. This way, hot air does not leave the enclosure before it’s cooled.

Self-Contained rack enclosures are another cooling option. These have built-in air conditioning units, fire suppression, and integration with DCIM and building management systems.

Hardy Racks offers a number of innovative cooling solutions for data centers. The SMART Cooling Unit for instance can help with effective rack mount cooling and facilitate air flow within the rack by adding ventilation. We are a leading server rack manufacturer and a trusted name in the industry for the installation, customization, and optimization of data center enclosures and accessories. Give us a call to explore more.