LG Showcases Sustainable Cooling Solutions For Data Centres

The digital age is upon us and, no doubt, we’re all grateful for the conveniences that modern technology and innovative advancements have afforded us… but it’s important to remember that digital connectivity does come at a price and, as technology continues to gather pace with the advent of artificial intelligence (AI), increasing amounts of pressure will be placed upon natural resources, particularly global water supplies.

To facilitate the Internet of Things and keep everything connected, data centres are vital, equipped with storage devices, networking equipment and servers, all of which work tirelessly to manage and transmit data across devices and locations around the world.

There are thousands of data centres to be found globally, most of which can be found in China, the UK, Germany and the US, and all of which generate huge amounts of heat through daily operations.

To keep them running successfully in the face of all this heat, they’re also equipped with cooling systems such as industrial air conditioning and ventilation, and liquid cooling processes to prevent devices from overheating.

And therein lies the problem. Figures from non-profit organisation China Water Risk show that billions of cubic metres of water are required to keep data centres fully operational. With AI adoption on the rise, data centre water usage and consumption will also increase, with more than 20 times the current amount required to power these facilities.

This in itself might sound sufficiently concerning, but when you factor in climate change and the pressure already being put on dwindling water resources, with demand expected to outstrip supply by 40 per cent come 2030, it’s clear that urgent action must be taken to reduce water consumption across the board, but particularly where tech is concerned.

Traditionally, cooling towers are used in data centres to keep internal temperatures under control, but this is very water intensive, so it’s interesting to see what the big names in the sector are now doing to tackle this issue head on.

Spotlight on: LG’s sustainable cooling solutions

At this year’s Data Centre World conference in Washington, which took place in April, tech brand LG showcased its latest innovations in sustainable cooling solutions, with the aim being to make the future of the data centre industry greener and more eco-friendly.

Air-cooled chillers

One of the most comprehensive solutions is air-cooled chillers (ACC), which use low global warming potential refrigerants and high-efficiency core components to deliver strong performance with reduced energy consumption and fewer emissions. The free-cooling system features a pumped refrigerant economiser to slash both water and energy use

Direct-to-chip cooling

LG has also introduced the cold plate, a highly efficient direct-to-chip cooling system that works in conjunction with the ACC to implement targeted heat removal and drive down water usage.

This system can be attached directly to server chips, with a liquid coolant used to absorb heat and transmit it through a closed-loop system that’s managed by a coolant distribution unit that features AI virtual sensors.

This way of working allows the cooling system to target parts of the equipment that generate the most amounts of heat, so it’s a more efficient way of preventing overheating, using less energy than more traditional processes, which blow chilled air across all the components instead of targeting more specific sources of heat.

How businesses can conserve water

Business is increasingly being done online these days, so it becomes necessary to find other ways in which you can save water and shore up resources for future generations.

The good news is that there’s a lot that can be achieved and there are many strategies you can employ that will help you improve the water footprint of your organisation and start using water more sustainably.

Focusing on water leak detection and repair, for example, can make significant savings – and you may not even be aware that you have a leak on site. Hundreds or even thousands of litres of water per year may be being wasted in this way, so it’s a good place to focus your efforts initially.

From there, you can look into rainwater harvesting and greywater use to reduce your reliance on mains water supplies, both of which can also help you make significant savings.

Another option is to consider switching business water supplier. This process involves an audit of your company premises, which will reveal weak and vulnerable areas ripe for improvement.

You’ll be able to see how and where you use water, enabling you to identify the most applicable water-saving solutions specific to your needs. If you’d like to find out more, get in touch with the Switch Water Supplier team today.