TECHNICAL
Choose a turnkey solution: Immersion cooling solutions are designed for simple integration and minimal disruption. The modular systems allow users to introduce immersion cooling without major changes to existing infrastructure. Datacentre managers may question how quickly they will see a return on investment. Clear KPIs related to energy savings and performance improvements will need to be tracked during the pilot. It’s important to prepare well when setting up pilot programmes, including defining operational metrics to measure the effectiveness of the immersion cooling deployment. Fluid management and monitoring services should be included to ensure long-term efficiency. Implementation in an Existing Datacentre: Replacing a Cluster For datacentres facing the need to replace aging clusters or increase rack density, retrofitting with immersion cooling provides a highly efficient solution. Immersion cooling deployments already co-exist with traditional air-cooled systems now, allowing datacentres to gradually transition as needed. How to Proceed Assess compatibility: Analyse which clusters in your current facility would benefit the most from immersion cooling, such as high-performance applications or energy-intensive systems. Design integration plans: Immersion cooling solutions allow for modular deployment. Consider starting with a section of the datacentre that is easy to isolate and retrofit.
the liquid pump and various trays for accessories.
PNC and DFC datacentre cooling solutions not only allow for higher server density and better performance (aligning with the increasing computational demands of applications such as HPC and AI), but they reduce the energy consumption of cooling systems. This is particularly valuable for datacentres needing to comply with regulatory reporting requirements like the Corporate Sustainability Reporting Directive (CSRD) and Energy Efficiency Directive (EED). Lastly, the embedded autonomous control system of the PNC and DFC continuously monitors the temperature state of the tank. It reports on any exceptions to the optimal cooling environment, providing alerts and escalations and ultimately isolates tank flow and power systems to safeguard the IT and datacentre integrity. Ultimately, adopting immersion cooling is the logical choice for today as it prepares companies for what is coming from compute in the next few years. Servicing and maintenance An essential element for datacentre thermal management tooling and maintenance is the Asperitas Service Trolley, which is made of a stainless- steel body on caster wheels with an integrated electrically driven server lift. Transport capability for 12 cassettes and 8 switches, the hoisting system enables automatic lifting of the cassettes for placement and removal without interaction with the dielectric fluid. The body contains a large storage compartment that can be loaded with server and/or switch cassettes from the top with the lifting system. Furthermore, the body is equipped with a cabinet for
The ESD protected Service Trolley has been developed and optimised for immersion cooling to be used with the PNC and DFC platforms. It addresses all maintenance: hoisting servers, servicing and transporting IT and cleaning up any spills. The lifting interface slides forward and backward on a guide rail. The rail is mounted on an extendible boom on top of an electric driven vertical lift system, creating the lift and trolley combination. Immersion cooling adoption scenarios Companies need to consider how to adopt immersion cooling with specific scenarios in mind. Setting sustainability objectives is one thing, but it is important to also identify the performance requirements for the next few years. Planning and road mapping is required. The below shows different implementation strategies paired with practical guidance on the challenges and uncertainties the planning may face. Small-Scale Pilot ProgramME A small-scale pilot is the ideal entry point for those considering immersion cooling but hesitant about the investment. This approach allows datacentres to test the performance, compatibility, and management of immersion cooling without overhauling an entire facility. How to Proceed Select suitable hardware: Identify workloads that can benefit from higher densities and thermal management, such as AI training or scientific simulations.
Service Trolley in Use
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Volume 46 No.4 DECEMBER 2024
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