Vertiv and Compass Unveil Hybrid Cooling System for AI Data Centers

As AI adoption accelerates, data centers are faced with the challenge of supporting high-density computing alongside traditional IT applications. In response, Vertiv (NYSE: VRT), a global provider of critical digital infrastructure, and Compass Datacenters, a data center campus development firm for major tech companies, have collaborated on a cutting-edge cooling solution.

The newly developed Vertiv™ CoolPhase Flex combines liquid and air cooling technologies in a single, packaged system, enabling data centers to flexibly transition between cooling methods as required by workload demands. The solution will initially be deployed at a Compass facility in Q1 2025 as part of a multi-year, multi-billion-dollar partnership.

The Vertiv CoolPhase Flex integrates liquid cooling capabilities with refrigerant-based air cooling and heat rejection, offering unparalleled flexibility. Initially, it can operate as a direct expansion (DX) air cooling system with integrated economization. As data centers scale to support high-density workloads, the liquid cooling feature can be seamlessly activated.

Chris Crosby, CEO of Compass Datacenters, highlighted the importance of flexibility:
“Our customers demand fast, efficient ways to adopt liquid cooling for AI and other high-density applications while still supporting mixed IT loads. The Vertiv CoolPhase Flex delivers unmatched adaptability, enabling us to meet evolving requirements with minimal impact on operations.”

Giordano (Gio) Albertazzi, CEO of Vertiv, emphasized the collaboration’s significance:
“AI is transforming data centers and the industry at large. Vertiv and Compass worked together to design this innovative solution, empowering operators to transition quickly to support future AI demands while maintaining efficiency and reliability.”

Key Features and Benefits of the Vertiv CoolPhase Flex

• Faster Deployment: The packaged hybrid design simplifies liquid cooling adoption, reducing deployment time, costs, and operational disruptions.
• Energy Efficiency: Leveraging pumped refrigerant economization (PRE) technology, the system automatically switches to free cooling when external conditions allow. It is also compatible with liquid cooling solutions, such as the Vertiv™ XDU 1350, to optimize high-density workloads.
• Cost and Space Savings: Installed outside the data center, the self-contained system saves valuable indoor space. Modular designs from Compass further minimize operational impacts during upgrades.

In addition to this hybrid cooling innovation, Compass has deployed the Vertiv™ Next Predict service platform. This predictive maintenance tool analyzes operational data, enabling proactive equipment management to improve reliability.

“Knowing when equipment needs maintenance in advance is a game changer for data center cooling,” added Crosby. “Vertiv’s leadership in innovation continues to set new benchmarks for operational efficiency and customer value.”

This collaboration between Vertiv and Compass Datacenters underscores a shared commitment to advancing AI-ready infrastructure with cutting-edge solutions that meet the industry’s rapidly evolving demands.