Mexico. With the rise of artificial intelligence (AI), machine learning (ML), and high-performance computing (HPC), the global technology infrastructure faces a new challenge: dissipating the heat generated by increasingly demanding applications.
In response, liquid cooling emerges as a key alternative for high-density data centers, especially in regions such as Latin America, where the cost of energy is a critical factor.
The launch of new high-performance processors in 2024 has accelerated the need for more efficient thermal solutions. Graphics processing units (GPUs), essential to driving these technologies, raise power density in racks and require cooling systems that reduce energy consumption and ensure operational stability.
"HVAC accounts for up to 40% of total energy consumption in a data center. Therefore, optimizing these systems is not only a technical issue, but also a strategic one," said Juan Carlos Londoño, pre-sales director at Ingenium, a firm specializing in the design and operation of data centers. According to Londoño, liquid cooling not only allows operating at higher temperatures, but also helps reduce operating costs and move towards sustainability goals.
Three Key Liquid Cooling Strategies
According to projections by Dell'Oro Group, the global market for liquid cooling technologies for data centers will exceed $4.8 billion between 2024 and 2028. The three main technologies are being consolidated as viable options depending on the configuration and needs of each installation:
- Direct-to-chip liquid cooling: Transfers heat directly from the CPU and GPU to the liquid cooling system, improving power efficiency. "This approach allows us to take advantage of free cooling, by operating with higher water temperatures," explained Fabio Olivetti, solutions manager at Vertiv LATAM
- Liquid immersion: The servers are immersed in a dielectric fluid that dissipates heat directly. It is ideal for small installations or located in non-traditional spaces, where efficiency and the reduction of physical space are key.
- Tailgate heat exchangers: A quick option to deploy in data centers with existing chilled water infrastructure. They replace the rack door with a system that transfers heat to the circulating water, optimizing resources without the need to redesign the entire system.
Energy savings and sustainability opportunities
Weather conditions also play a role in favor of liquid cooling. In many regions of Latin America, data centers can take advantage of the climate to operate in free cooling mode for up to 75% of the year, which significantly reduces the use of electrical energy for air conditioning.
In addition, in greenfield deployments (new facilities), the adoption of liquid cooling systems allows for a smoother and more scalable integration. In brownfield projects (existing infrastructure), collaboration with experts and manufacturers such as Ingenium and Vertiv becomes essential to find solutions tailored to the operational and environmental objectives of each company.
