Neil Edmunds , Director of Innovation , Iceotope , explores why cooling solutions are critical in achieving ESG standards and running more efficient operations propelled by data demand .

ith constant streams of data emerging from IoT , video ,

exceed 200 zettabytes with half of that stored in the cloud .

This presents a unique challenge for hyperscale data centres and their storage infrastructure . According to Seagate , cloud data centres choose mass-capacity hard disk drives ( HDDs ) to store 90 % of their exabytes . HDDs are tried and tested technology typically found in a 3.5-inch form factor . They continue to offer data centre operators cost-effective storage at scale . The current top-of-the-range HDD features 20TB capacity . By the end of the decade that is expected to reach 120 + TB all within the existing 3.5-inch form factor .

The practical implications of this show a need for improved thermal cooling solutions . More data storage means more spinning of the disks , higher-speed motors and more actuators – all of which translates to more power being used . As disks go up in power , so does the amount of heat produced by them . Next , with the introduction of helium into the hard drives in the last decade , performance has not only improved thanks to less drag on the disks but the units are now sealed .

There is also ESG compliance to consider . With data centres consuming 1 % of global electricity demand , and cooling power accounting for more than 35 % of a data centre ’ s total energy consumption , pressure is on data centre owners to reduce this consumption .

Comparison of cooling technologies

Traditionally , data centre environments use air-cooling technology . The primary way of removing heat with air-cooling methods is by pulling increasing volumes of airflow through the chassis of the equipment . Typically , there is a hot aisle behind the racks and a cold aisle configuration in front of the racks which dissipates the heat by exchanging warm air with cooler air . Air cooling is widely deployed and well understood . It is also well-engrained in nearly every data centre around the world . However , as the volume of data evolves , it is becoming increasingly likely air cooling will no longer be able to ensure an appropriate operating environment for energy-dense IT equipment .

Technologies like liquid cooling are proving to be a much more efficient way to remove heat from IT equipment . Precision Liquid Cooling , for example , circulates small volumes of dielectric fluid across the surface of the server removing almost 100 % of the heat generated by the electronic components . There are no performance-throttling hotspots and no

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