International. Modern data centers must contend with increasing heat densities caused by the proliferation of compute-intensive applications.
According to Belimo, applications such as artificial intelligence, high-performance computing (HPC), and cryptocurrency mining drive the need for advanced cooling solutions that can adapt to rapidly changing requirements.
"While traditional air-based cooling systems struggle to keep pace with these technological advances, the data center industry is increasingly shifting toward liquid cooling to manage high thermal loads more effectively. This change highlights the growing demand for innovative solutions that provide both flexibility and efficiency in cooling systems," the manufacturer noted.
Belimo, has highlighted that its Electronic Pressure Independent Valve (EPIV) has the right capacity to meet these challenges, highlighting that the solution is specifically designed to manage and regulate the flow of fluids with unmatched precision, making it particularly suitable for the dynamic environments of modern data centers.
"Belimo's EPIV is an advanced flow control solution that combines a high-precision characterized ball valve, an ultrasonic flow meter and a durable, high-performance actuator (...) The uncertainty surrounding future heat loads poses significant challenges to the design and operation of data centers. This unpredictability demands a cooling solution that not only meets today's requirements, but is also able to adapt to future demands. Belimo's EPIV stands out in this regard, offering unmatched flexibility thanks to its ability to reprogram the maximum flow rate (Vmax) as needed," the company added.
Similarly, Belimo emphasized that, unlike traditional mechanical valves, the electronic characterization of the EPIV allows the flow curve to be recalculated each time Vmax is adjusted.
This ensures that the valve operates within its optimal range, providing precise control even when cooling demands change. For data centers, this means that a single EPIV can accommodate a wide range of flow requirements over time, making it a suitable solution for liquid-cooled server racks that may need to scale from 10 GPM today to 25 GPM in the future. As new equipment, such as GPUs, are introduced and thermal loads increase, the EPIV can be adapted to meet these new demands, ensuring consistent and efficient cooling.
Other features
The EPIV's built-in flow meter provides real-time flow feedback, providing a level of system transparency that mechanical devices do not have. This transparency allows for accurate monitoring and verification that each rack is receiving the exact flow it needs. In addition, the EPIV's networking capability via BACnet and Modbus protocols allows for remote reprogramming, significantly reducing the time and labor required to adjust flow rates across multiple racks.
In contrast, traditional flow regulators require manual adjustment on each valve, a labor-intensive process that becomes increasingly impractical as data centers scale.
