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Business
DC Studio | Freepik . com
Modern data centre providing cloud services enabling businesses access computing resources storage .
operations or freshwater generation . The technology , coupled with sustainability goals , emerges as a significant driver in the industry ' s transition towards more environmentally friendly practices .
Davis raises the issue of trade-offs associated with choosing higher or lower water temperatures for facility cooling . The decision to adopt higher temperatures can unlock possibilities for passive heat rejection and heat re-use . However , it also presents challenges such as interoperability and potential trade-offs with IT performance and economics . “ The industry faces the dilemma of choosing between sustainability goals and outright performance , navigating the complexities of shared infrastructure .”
Diaz expresses concerns about operators facing challenges in serving mixed loads within data centres . “ As the industry grapples with uncertainty about the types of loads , there is a reluctance to take significant risks in adopting higher temperatures that may impact air-cooled loads . The industry may witness the addition of redundant systems and increased energy consumption to address this uncertainty .”
THE COMING YEAR The panel shifts focus to the potential developments in immersionbased systems , particularly addressing the heat they generate or do not generate . Reeves predicts that the coming year will likely see advancements in managing temperatures in spaces where immersionbased systems are deployed .
Schmidt brings attention to the transition costs associated with moving to immersion , specifically the higher capital expenditure and the overall impact on the data centre ecosystem . She emphasises the significance of reliability and warranty concerns raised by customers and partners in deploying immersion systems .
She reveals initiatives undertaken by Intel . The company has scaled validations around fluids for immersion , offering warranty options for power-based fluids and polyolefins [ a family of thermoplastics that include polyethylene and polypropylene ]. Collaborations with partners such as Shell and Exxon further extend the warranty coverage .
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RACA Journal I February 2025 www . refrigerationandaircon . co . za