Energy-efficient cooling technologies for data centres

As data centres become increasingly vital in the digital landscape, the need for energy-efficient cooling technologies has never been greater. These innovative solutions improve operational efficiency and contribute to sustainability efforts, reducing energy consumption and environmental impact while ensuring optimal performance for critical systems.

Role of energy-efficient cooling technologies in data centres

It is well-known that there has been an immense growth and rise in the demand for companies offering data storage solutions. It has turned the usual day-to-day data storage centres into modern digital infrastructure, storing an array of servers, storage systems, and networking equipment.

With such a vast infrastructure functioning and managing the data, it is clear that these consume a significant amount of energy that can help maintain their temperature and keep them cool. This optimal temperature is maintained with the help of efficient cooling technologies while ensuring that they do not have an environmental impact or lead to high operating costs.

WIKA India manufactures and offers measuring instruments for VAC that are ideally suited for use in various cooling systems and industrial refrigeration technology. While these systems require precise and reliable measurement technology to ensure continuous and efficient cooling, the WIKA range of VAC measuring instruments offers pre-defined and customised solutions that are efficient for serving the needs of every cooling system, from small commercial cooling systems to huge industrial refrigeration plants.

Types of cooling technologies for energy efficiency

With the increasing demand for cooling technologies and solutions, the technology sector is observing growth in different forms of energy-efficient cooling technologies. Some of these include:

Liquid cooling

When a coolant, like water or any other specialised liquid, is used to cool down the systems or space around server racks, it is said to be liquid cooling technology. This technology helps absorb the heat and transport it away from the critical components. Industry estimates state that this method can minimise energy consumption by 40 percent. Immersion cooling and direct-to-chip liquid cooling are two common types of liquid cooling.

Free cooling (Airside Economisation)

Free cooling, also known as airside economisation, is a cooling technology that minimises or eliminates the need for traditional air conditioning gauges. This is enabled by leveraging the cool ambient air outside the facility for use in regions with cooler climates. Airside-free cooling and waterside-free cooling are two common types.

Chilled water systems

It is an advanced cooling technology that uses cold water to cool down the server racks and transfers the used cold water to an external chiller plant. These systems are highly efficient and can scale up the data centre’s capacity.

Hot and cold aisle containment

These systems function by arranging server racks in alternating rows. Cold air is directed in the front of the racks, and hot air is ejected from the back. The barriers created by the containment systems prevent the mixing of hot and cold air. According to the reports, this system can increase energy efficiency by up to 20 percent.

AI-powered cooling systems

Artificial intelligence (AI) is not ignored or not utilised anywhere. It is also becoming a valuable tool in optimising data centre cooling. AI helps analyse massive data in real time, creating automatic adjustments to cooling systems. These systems also enable temperature monitoring, humidity, and air pressure to manage airflow, cooling rates, and server workloads.

Benefits of energy-efficient cooling technologies

Cooling technologies are beneficial in several ways. Some of these include:

Cost savings: By significantly reducing the amount of electricity required to cool down the systems, these high-performance cooling solutions help to attain substantial cost reductions in the long term.

Reduced environmental impact: When data centres are energy-efficient, it becomes easier to reduce their carbon footprint. This helps reduce their overall energy consumption and dependency on traditional power sources. Cooling solutions utilise renewable energy sources for effective functioning, helping to attain more sustainable results for the systems.

Improved reliability and performance: When a server operates within optimal temperature ranges, it reduces the risk of overheating, system failures, and potential downtime. It increases the chances of their reliability and improves their hardware lifespans, increasing the data centre’s overall performance.

Compliance with sustainability standards: In many countries and organisations, stringent rules exist for energy efficiency, conservation, and sustainability in data centres. When companies in such countries adopt energy-efficient cooling technologies, the data centres can meet or exceed these regulations to enhance their reputation for environmental responsibility.

With the growth in demand for data centres and their importance, energy-efficient cooling technologies are undoubtedly equally important. From advanced liquid cooling solutions to AI-driven systems, it has become possible to improve energy consumption at data centres and lead to more sustainable and reliable operations.

For data centres aiming to meet both performance demands and environmental goals like sustainability, deciding to invest in advanced cooling solutions is in no way risky. But if you are planning to invest, WIKA India is ready to help you with its measuring instrumentation solutions. Its products, such as pressure sensors, best pressure gauges for HVAC, pressure transmitters for HVAC applications, pressure transmitters for refrigeration, temperature sensors, and bimetal thermometers for air conditioning, are sure to simplify things for you.

Courtesy:

WIKA Process Solutions India Pvt. Ltd.