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A safe, effective cooling system to remove waste heat from computer servers is vital when creating a data center infrastructure. While many data centers rely on large air conditioning systems to remove heat, it is no longer the most efficient or cost-friendly solution. The highest operating expense for data centers is often electricity. As servers are pushed to their limits and running faster than ever, it is becoming increasingly impractical to rely on moving air to offer effective cooling.
Because of this, IT managers are turning to liquid cooling systems to efficiently perform thermal management. Since today’s microprocessors are smaller and more powerful than ever, they are producing even more heat. While this evolving solution is being scaled for complex data center operations, the most important aspect is quickly changing out servers without drips, leaks, or spills.
Parker works with cooling system manufacturers by providing component parts for those systems – non-spill couplings, tubing and hoses. Having worked in this space for several years, we understand what’s needed to implement a successful server rack cooling system.
The following are several factors to consider when implementing a new system.
Ensure scaling capabilities
While you might be confident that your current system can handle today’s thermal management standards, what about tomorrow? It’s important to think beyond the present and prepare for the future to accommodate the increasing densities. Ensuring your ability to scale is pivotal before starting with a new server rack cooling strategy.
The simplest and quickest solution is to add more enclosures or cabinets, which gives you the ability to save floor space and store equipment with different cooling needs within the same rack. By eliminating the need for a separate system for each, you can significantly reduce cooling costs.
However, before adding more enclosures, make sure you have the correct couplings and connections to handle the increased thermal load. With an increase of powerful devices, you must ensure that any additional heat can be accounted for and removed within the existing infrastructure.
Control the environment with non-spill couplings
As technology continues to advance in the form of IoT capabilities and Edge deployments, server racks are being placed in areas that aren’t intended to protect IT equipment. Frequently, spaces are not well-equipped for climate control and exposed to dust, debris and moisture.
IT managers often make the mistake of thinking that additional server usage and thermal load can be countered by the building’s existing air conditioning system.
However, the air conditioning systems are not designed to keep sensitive equipment cool and offer the proper humidity and airflow requirements.
Liquid cooling strategies paired with reliable, dry-disconnect products are an effective way to control the environment while efficiently performing thermal management. Using quick non-spill couplings, IT managers can quickly change out servers without worrying about drips, leaks or spills. This compact solution for smaller and more powerful servers gives the necessary cooling attention to each server rather than depending on a less effective air conditioning system that can bump up your electric bill.
Account for increased thermal loads
Before thinking about the bigger picture of a liquid cooling system, you should first determine the existing thermal output of each of your current enclosures. If the heat buildup in those current enclosures is extremely high, it means that you should consider a closed-loop cooling strategy, which is designed for high heat areas and uncontrolled environments.
Liquid cooling is the prime example of a closed-loop system, where heat is removed from inside each individual enclosure as opposed to the overall row or room. Closed-loop cooling will maintain the proper internal climate conditions despite the outside conditions. Due to its ability to remove a higher volume of heat, liquid cooling and other closed-loop cooling strategies allow for higher installation densities. This cuts down on the number of necessary server enclosures.
Reviewing all your options
Your existing infrastructure affects the requirements of the rack server cooling system you choose. For example, if your data center has hot aisle and cold aisle containment, you have many more options as to what server cooling system you can implement.
Optimizing the organization and placement of your data center equipment is cost-effective and possible through hot/cold aisle arrangements, containment strategies and rack placement. Still, it may not be the most efficient strategy for large increases in the volume of heat.
Currently seen as the most effective method of thermal management, liquid cooling ensures that heat is removed from the highest installation destinations. By placing the cooling mechanism closer and more directly to the sources of heat, whether it be by rows or individual racks, liquid cooling provides a more potent and efficient solution. The most successful liquid cooling systems have dry disconnect, non-spill couplings to ensure that liquid does not spill into the server during changes.
Purchasing the right parts
There are many factors to consider when deploying a server rack liquid cooling system. If done correctly, you could be installing a more efficient, cost-effective solution to account for high-density installations and increased thermal output. Parker has years of experience in designing products that maximize flow and decrease pressure drop. Its experts’ technical knowledge in leak prevention designs makes them a prime candidate to provide components in the workspace.
With liquid cooling strategies becoming the most effective form of thermal management for data centers, Parker offers support by providing expertise in the most cutting-edge non-spill couplings, tubing and hoses. As a leader in the space, find out how Parker can help you take thermal management to the next level.
Learn more about liquid cooling connections and other products offered by Parker.
Article contributed by Todd Lambert, market sales manager, Parker Hannifin’s Quick Coupling Division.
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