Vertiv introduces water-efficient liquid cooling solution for high-density data centres in EMEA

Vertiv launched the Liebert® XDU, a new generation of thermal management systems that support liquid-cooled servers and allow for control of liquid quality, flow, and pressure. Rack densities and temperatures are exceeding the cooling capabilities of traditional air-cooled units as high-density computing applications such as data analytics and machine learning grow in popularity, necessitating more efficient and sustainable solutions. The Liebert XDU coolant distribution system allows liquid-cooled server applications to be deployed in any data center environment, from core to edge computing sites. The system is now accessible throughout Europe, the Middle East, and Africa.

“High-performance computing applications such as artificial intelligence and augmented reality are growing in popularity at the same time that data centres are working to reduce their energy consumption and pushing the industry to find new, more sustainable solutions,” said Roberto Felisi, senior global director and EMEA business leader for thermal management, Vertiv. “Many colocation providers who have traditionally relied on air cooling are now hosting applications with higher power processors that require more efficient heat management solutions like liquid cooling. With the Vertiv Liebert^® XDU, our customers can meet the high-density computing demand whilst improving their operational efficiency.”

The Liebert XDU is an innovative liquid-to-liquid cooling distribution unit that circulates water through liquid-cooled server racks while rejecting heat from the returning warm water. It is available in two capacities, 450kW and up to 1368kW. To avoid waste, the system employs a closed water loop and is capable of capturing heat to warm nearby offices, homes, or farms, thus supporting the circular economy. The Liebert XDU incorporates cutting-edge controls to vary pump speed, optimize supply water temperature, and provide intelligent flow monitoring and alarms. The compact solution can be placed in the row near the cooling rack or around the room’s perimeter.

Vertiv developed the Liebert XDU in close consultation with data centre operators and server manufacturers, who are deploying ultra-high-density, high-performance computing solutions more frequently across many different types of data centres. The company has defined a strategic roadmap to enhance thermal management technologies that enable liquid cooling adoption as part of its increased investments in research and development.

“Liquid cooling is not a new technology but we’re now seeing a real opportunity in the market to drive more innovative thermal management solutions. The Liebert XDU solution offers the possibility for Vertiv’s customers to introduce rack-level liquid cooling and reap the environmental benefits,” said Jon Summers, scientific lead in data centres at RISE – Research Institutes of Sweden. “We look forward to support Vertiv’s R&D roadmap and to combine their engineering excellence with the rigorous analysis and testing capabilities of RISE as part of our ongoing research partnership. This will bring a deeper technical understanding of sustainable and effective approaches for the data centre industry.”

Visit Vertiv.com or contact your local Vertiv representative for more information on the Vertiv Liebert XDU and other Vertiv data center solutions.