Data Center Cooling Systems: Types, Delivery & Installation

Data centers are the focal point of the current age of AI adoption. These facilities are responsible for the secure storage and access of data across the tech industry, particularly when it comes to AI systems training on and recalling from large sets of data. As such, proper management of data centers is becoming increasingly important, including management of data center cooling.

Data center cooling systems make use of air-based or liquid-based methods to ensure that servers run optimally 24/7 without risk of overheating. Without proper measures in place, data centers are at risk of system failure and data loss. 13% of organizations noted that cooling issues were the causes of their most impactful outages in 2022.

In this post, we'll provide an overview of data center cooling equipment in order to emphasize how important proper utilization and transportation is to the state of this tech across the country.

Why Data Center Cooling Logistics Is the Second Most Complex Phase After Power

After the process of data center power supply, data center cooling logistics are the second most complex phase of managing a data center. This is primarily due to the challenges of controlling an environment affected by variations in air and water flow, fluctuations in demands on systems, and concerns relating to energy costs, water usage, and even carbon footprint. This is why choice of data center cooling equipment is so important.

Types of Data Center Cooling Systems

There are several different types of data center cooling systems that serve different functions. Each system has its pros and cons, and the choice of the "best data center cooling system" will come down to your needs pertaining to energy and environment.

Air-Based Cooling: CRAC/CRAH Units, Hot/Cold Aisle Containment, Raised Floor Systems

Air-based data center cooling systems make use of air tubes and ventilation to keep equipment cool. Air travels between an initial cold corridor, being chilled before it passes through equipment and comes out the other end heated. Then, the cycle repeats with the now-heated air.

Liquid Cooling: Direct-to-Chip, Immersion Cooling, Rear-Door Heat Exchangers

Liquid-based data center cooling systems make use of liquid coolant to absorb and dissipate heat from data center components.

Evaporative Cooling for Dry Climates

Evaporative cooling utilizes water, passing heated air through wet cooling pads, which causes the water to evaporate and create cold air. That air is then circulated through equipment to provide cooling.

Hybrid Approaches for AI Workloads

Additionally, there are several hybrid approaches to cooling data center systems that have emerged, largely due to the demand that AI technology is placing on data centers across the country. Some liquid cooling is actually hybrid, making use of both air-based and liquid-based techniques. In such cases, liquid cools heat-intensive components, while air ventilation is used to cool less critical components. The result is greater energy efficiency with lower overall costs.

According to the Uptime Institute Global Data Center Survey, the top concern for digital infrastructure management is cost, with 44% of respondents saying they were "very concerned" about it. The next closest concern pertained to forecasting future data center capacity requirements at 30%.

The Delivery Logistics Complexity of Cooling Equipment

As data centers embrace new technologies and methods to improve their cooling capacities, business owners are running into the complications presented by the delivery logistics complexities of transporting cooling equipment.

Chiller Delivery Challenges: Weight, Permits, Crane Requirements

Data center chillers are capable of providing 24/7 cooling in tech environments, which makes them critical to infrastructure. Yet their weight can reach several tons, which makes it difficult to account for how to transfer them and how to place them into buildings without proper permits and equipment (such as cranes).

CRAC/CRAH Unit Coordination and Batch Scheduling

Computer Room Air Conditioners (CRACs) and Computer Room Air Handlers (CRAHs) maintain the temperature and humidity in data center environments. This means that delivery and installation of these cooling units needs to be coordinated in order to guarantee accurate readings of your data center environment, which impacts forecasting for other equipment needs.

Liquid Cooling Infrastructure: Precision Handling and Hazmat Requirements

For data centers that are embracing liquid cooling, concerns for the infrastructure have to take into consideration specialized transportation requirements. Some refrigerant gases may be classified as hazardous, requiring particular handling and labeling as hazmat cargo.

Timing in the Construction Sequence and Weather Dependencies

Generally, the construction or expansion of the data center will need to consider the logistics of building and of equipment additions. Timing and sequencing of equipment deliveries, impact on the general environment, and weather and humidity dependencies will all need to be coordinated to limit fluctuations in the facility’s conditions and avoid delays.

Dock and Staging Requirements Across Multiple Vendors

Additionally, requirements for transportation and staging of data center goods and equipment will need to be coordinated across multiple vendors. This will require clear communication and enhanced transparency to avoid mishaps or improper handling of equipment.

How Dock Scheduling Technology Manages Cooling Logistics

Due to the numerous logistical concerns that are native to the heavy-duty data center cooling equipment, it makes sense for business owners to use dock scheduling technology to simplify transportation and coordination.

Opendock is dock scheduling software that warehouse managers can use to simplify the process of transporting data center cooling equipment. Functions like equipment type routing, installation crew sync, and weather contingency rescheduling make the management of cooling logistics equipment a breeze.

Frequently Asked Questions About Data Center Cooling Systems

Whether your focus is on an air or liquid cooling data center, these facilities are at the forefront of all things modern tech. This means that they have to constantly expand and upgrade to keep up with the growing demands that AI-based tools are placing on them.

With this comes the need to be able to transfer cooling equipment reliably and swiftly. While use of dock scheduling technology provides many of the answers in this area, we hope that the below frequently asked questions will also help business owners understand the unique demands of managing a data center in the modern age.

What Types of Cooling Systems Are Used in Modern Data Centers?

The types of cooling systems used in modern data centers include air cooling systems and liquid cooling systems, with some usage of evaporative cooling and hybrid cooling as well.

When in the Construction Sequence Should Cooling Equipment Be Delivered?

Cooling equipment should be delivered in the construction sequence once framing has been completed but drywall installation has not yet occurred.

What Happens If a Chiller Delivery Is Delayed During Construction?

If a chiller delivery is delayed during construction, this will delay the process, which can quickly lead to increased labor and rental costs, more delays, and potential fees for the party that bears the most responsibility.

Keep Your Cool: Coordinate Deliveries the Right Way with Opendock

As tech companies lean on optimal usage of data centers more and more, companies will have to be able to quickly incorporate the best cooling systems and techniques in their data centers to keep up with demand. Thankfully, the use of a tool like Opendock will allow business owners to bypass many of the logistical challenges that come with transporting cooling equipment to data centers. But don't just take our word for it.

Click here to schedule a demo of Opendock!