Keith Dunnavant , VP Offer Strategy & Portfolio Management , Munters , reviews cooling basics , current trends and peeks into the future of data centre cooling . s AI ’ s rapid evolution fuels the need for

High-Performance Computing , advanced engineering and optimised cooling solutions have become crucial to ensuring data centre efficiency , reliability and adaptability to an uncertain future . By integrating innovative technologies and tailored cooling systems , modern data centres are achieving new standards of performance , driving down energy costs and minimising environmental impact .

Precision vs practicality : Finding the right balance in thermal management

In today ’ s data centres , effective thermal management is vital but the good news is that it doesn ’ t require pinpoint accuracy . Instead , effective thermal management is about maintaining proper coolant flow ( air or liquid ) at temperatures within a suitable range that keeps equipment operating reliably and efficiently .

ASHRAE ( American Society of Heating , Refrigerating and Air-Conditioning Engineers ) provides guidance for engineers designing data centre cooling systems . Their fifth Thermal Guidelines for Data Processing Environments publication provides details on recommended and allowable temperature ranges .

The current recommendations suggest that supply air for servers should ideally fall between 18 – 27 ° C ( 64.4 – 80.6 ° F ). This range helps ensure server reliability while also enabling efficient cooling strategies . The allowable temperature range is much broader and varies with server classification . Class

A1 servers are the most restrictive , having a range between 15 – 32 ° C ( 59 – 89.6 ° F ).

Seasonal ambient temperature variations present opportunities to refine cooling strategies . For instance , during colder winter conditions supply air which can be delivered cooler with little to no HVAC energy penalty while reducing server energy consumption and enhancing server reliability and lifespan . Winter supply air temperatures of 18.3 ° C ( 65 ° F ) are common , but in general , targeting a supply air temperature around 24 ° C ( 75 ° F ) is often seen as the sweet spot , balancing reduced server fan energy use with manageable HVAC costs .

When possible , the data centre should be designed to allow temperatures to drift slightly higher during peak summer ambient conditions , permitting the HVAC equipment capacity and cost to be reduced . Additionally , the peak power usage is reduced with this strategy , favourably impacting the electrical infrastructure and leading to a lower total cost of ownership .

In 2021 , ASHRAE introduced a new environmental class for high-density , air-cooled equipment , class H1 . These high-density products that use high-powered processing components require a tighter control envelope , with supply air temperature recommended between 18 – 22 ° C ( 64.4 – 71.6 ° F ). For this reason and many others , it is more effective , and in many cases essential , to cool high-performance servers with liquid — or more commonly , a combination of liquid and air .

Ultimately , the challenge lies in balancing cost , energy efficiency , reliability and serviceability . New innovations are great , but if they don ’ t check all four boxes , they miss the mark .

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