It’s a match! Weiss Klimatechnik solves heat load problems in older data centers

Climate neutrality by 2030, increased cooling capacity in the same space, and greater energy efficiency: many data centers are facing major challenges. Weiss Klimatechnik offers alternative cooling solutions that are ideal for retrofitting brownfield data centers.

Operators of older data centers are under pressure to modernize. AI applications and new server generations increase power density in the rack. This leads to more heat load per square meter and overloads installed cooling systems.

Extensive retrofitting measures are often necessary to dissipate the rapidly increasing heat load safely, efficiently, and economically, and to comply with legal efficiency requirements.

With its Vindur CoolW@ll cooling wall system, Weiss Klimatechnik offers a proven and highly efficient solution that is particularly advantageous in brownfield projects.

Cooling solutions for data centers for over 40 years

Weiss Klimatechnik is a German plant manufacturer and system partner with experience providing innovative, safe, and highly efficient cooling solutions for data centers.

Weiss Klimatechnik has fundamentally changed heat dissipation in data centers by separating the cooling unit and fan and locating them separately in the raised floor.

With an output of 50kW, the company currently offers the most powerful room-based air cooling system on the market. Christoph Löhner, an international sales engineer at Weiss Klimatechnik, explains that the requirements for data center cooling solutions are evolving due to the current period of change:

“Those who want increased cooling capacity with reduced consumption in the same space need to modernize their cooling system. Not all data centers are able to switch to direct liquid cooling at this time. That’s why we offer CoolW@ll, an intelligent, highly efficient, and future-proof bridge technology.”

Pressure to modernize from all sides

Digitalization, cloud computing, and artificial intelligence require increasingly powerful IT infrastructures. Meanwhile, data centers must reduce their energy costs and increase their energy efficiency.

This is also required by the EU Energy Efficiency Directive (EED) and national laws such as the Energy Efficiency Act (EnEfG) in Germany. Furthermore, by 2030, data centers in Europe must become climate neutral and utilize waste heat more effectively.

The PUE (Power Usage Effectiveness) value is relevant for energy efficiency. Currently, it ranges between 1.8 to two for many older data centers, which is 30 to 50 percent higher than the value for new data centers.

Consider that operating costs account for around 60 percent of a data center’s expenses over a ten-year period, and it quickly becomes clear how great the potential savings are.

Direct liquid cooling is highly efficient but still complex

All signs point to direct liquid cooling as the highly efficient cooling concept of the future for new data centers. A cooling liquid cools the CPUs directly, and the cold acts immediately on the heat source.

However, in refurbishing and brownfield projects, switching to direct liquid cooling is currently still very complex and costly. Pipes and lines for the coolant must be laid in the existing building to each rack and into each server.

Furthermore, direct liquid cooling alone is not sufficient as a cooling solution. Hard drives and transistors continue to account for around 30 percent of the heat load, which is why data centers will require additional cooling in the future, such as fan walls.

Another uncertainty arises from the current technological push. Christoph Löhner points out, “Anyone who switches to liquid cooling at great expense today cannot be sure that this solution will still be adequate in three or five years.”

CoolW@ll offers proven bridge technology

For many retrofit projects, Weiss Klimatechnik relies on proven CoolW@ll technology as a highly efficient and economical bridge technology for large and very large heat loads.

This patented system can save up to 25 percent on energy costs compared to conventional cooling systems. It is also compatible with future generations of servers.

Unlike traditional cooling solutions, CoolW@ll systems do not use an enclosed housing; rather, they use a significantly larger cooling surface. Water-cooled heat exchanger modules are installed in the partition wall between the supply infrastructure and the IT room.

The fans are placed in the raised floor or in the return air ceiling, leaving more space for the heat exchangers. Thanks to the larger heat exchanger surfaces and optimal air flow, very high heat loads can be dissipated extremely efficiently.

Ideally combined with heat recovery

Due to their technical design, CoolW@ll cooling systems can also be ideally combined with heat recovery systems, thereby meeting the requirements of the EED.

This is because the large heat exchanger surfaces allow a higher water flow temperature of around 20°C (68°F) and a return temperature of around 28°C (82.4°F). The temperature difference of just under 10°C (50°F) compared to conventional cooling systems makes heat recovery considerably more efficient.

The higher temperature level also significantly expands the range of applications for indirect free cooling, allowing it to be used even at higher outdoor temperatures. This reduces the overall need for expensive mechanical compressor cooling.

Benefit from low installation and transport costs

In addition to acquisition and energy costs, transportation and installation costs must be considered, particularly for retrofitting.

As each component of the room-based CoolW@ll system is installed individually, the whole system can be transported and moved into rooms much more easily and cost-effectively than a complete, large-scale system.

Existing refrigeration technology can often be used, with only the heat exchangers and fans needing replacement. CoolW@ll systems are also very easy to maintain and service because these tasks can be carried out from the rear.

Unlike with direct liquid cooling, technicians do not need to enter the server rooms. If a component fails, it is replaced or repaired individually without having to remove the entire unit.

A genuine and sustainable alternative

Overall, the CoolW@ll system is a valuable and safe cooling solution for data centers in many retrofit and brownfield applications. It helps reduce energy consumption and improve the PUE value. It also enables more efficient use of existing data center space, allowing more servers to be installed per square meter.

Setup is quick and easy, with very little installation required. CoolW@ll is ideal for use in hybrid cooling solutions and as a supplement to direct liquid cooling solutions.

Find out more about data center cooling solutions from Weiss Klimatechnik here: https://www.weiss-technik.com/klimatechnik/de/thermalmanagement/data-center