Data center rack density has doubled, but it’s still not enough

Are liquid cooling and rear door heat exchangers the answer?

In terms of density, some changes had to be made. We are now asking data center operators to move from supporting 6-12 kilowatts per rack to supporting 40, 50, 60 or even higher kilowatts per rack. While airflow and airflow containment are excellent ways to increase efficiency and density, we quickly reach the limits of airflow physics.

Therefore, the next logical step was to move to liquid cooling. Unlike air cooling, which requires constant hard work, the cooling mechanism of a rear door heat exchanger or direct chip liquid cooling solution can produce better cooling with less work, thus reducing energy consumption and carbon emissions. These technologies can also be used together to drive 100% of the heat load into the liquid.

Looking to the future

It’s important to note that our industry is experiencing more than just technological shifts. What we are seeing is a shift in the way humans interact with data. For the first time, we can ask questions of data and get “conscious” answers. Original content is generated at our request, behind the scenes are massive amounts of computing used to create large language models and perform inference training, and our facilities will be at the heart of this revolution. Your mission is to find creative, innovative and sustainable ways to support this new era of digital infrastructure.