Insights on Liquid Cooling Solutions, Implementation, & Challenges
from the Data Center Leadership Team
As data centers face ever-increasing power densities and cooling demands, liquid cooling has moved from future tech to current necessity. In 2018, we explored this emerging technology in our blog called, "Is Liquid Cooling the Future?"
Now, as that future becomes our present reality, we've compiled key insights from Align's Data Center Design and Build leadership team:
Tom Weber (Principal), Simon Eventov (Managing Director), and Rodney Willis (VP of Sales and Sourcing).
Q1: What's the current state of liquid cooling adoption? Are there established best practices?
Tom Weber: "As technology leaders in the field embrace liquid cooling, what they are really doing is embarking on a journey of exploration and experimentation. Although best practices have yet to be defined, deployments of various liquid cooling solutions are on the rise."
Q2: What cooling options do I actually have right now?
Rodney Willis: "The benefit of DTC (Direct-to-Chip) cooling is that it enables chips to operate at their most efficient processing rate, which is of course, important for keeping up with the increased demand from AI. It also allows for the potential of overclocking the chips. And in legacy facilities, depending on existing infrastructure, you can tap into chilled water loop or internal heat rejection systems as well."
Q3: What if my facility wasn't built for liquid cooling?
Simon Eventov: "Many existing facilities were not built with liquid cooling in mind, and certainly not with bringing liquid into the IT white space. There are always solutions – the key is understanding a facility’s limitations"
Q4:What about timing? What role do manufacturing and deployment timelines play in choosing data center cooling systems?
Simon Eventov: "Considering the time to deployment versus lead times to build ideal infrastructure– what if rear door heat exchangers take 28 weeks to manufacture, but you need to deploy in 14 weeks? If you opt for chilled water cooling, can you build one in your timeframe? If not, selections must be based on availability."
Q5: What are the biggest challenges I should prepare for?
“It is virtually impossible to discuss liquid cooling without talking about the challenges it poses. With all the benefits and excitement, we know where there is a will there is a way, but we shouldn’t pretend that there is a simple one-size-fits-all standard that exists today,” said Weber.
“Existing building infrastructures lack the necessary framework for seamless integration, forcing decision-makers to weigh the efficiency gains against the costs of implementing liquid cooling solutions,” said Rodney.
Q6: How do I start planning for this transition?
Simon Eventov: "Once a solution has been selected and materials have been ordered, we feel it is critical not to skip important planning steps prior to deployment. The Align team immediately begins to work on BIM coordination models, structural engineering reviews, and careful coordination with other overhead or underfloor components to reduce surprises and change orders in the field."
Q7: What's your best advice for ensuring a successful implementation?
Rodney Willis: "From what we've seen, collaborating with partners like Align early in the process ensures that budgetary, timing, and infrastructure considerations work together seamlessly, paving the way for a successful implementation."
“It’s daunting, but there’s yet to be a circumstance the Align team hasn’t been able to work through,” said Eventov.
Ready to Start Your Liquid Cooling Journey?
Liquid cooling is no longer a question of "if" but "how." While the challenges are real, they're not insurmountable with the right expertise and planning.
Contact Align's Data Center team to discuss your specific needs and constraints. Our experts can help you navigate the complexity of liquid cooling implementation
