As the demands on data centres continue to rise, driven by advancements in artificial intelligence (AI) and high-performance computing (HPC), cooling solutions must evolve to keep pace. Traditional air cooling methods often fall short in high-density environments, where heat loads are immense and efficiency is paramount. Rittal’s Direct Liquid Cooling (DLC) portfolio delivers cutting-edge solutions tailored to meet these modern challenges.

What is Direct Liquid Cooling?

Direct Liquid Cooling circulates a specialised coolant directly across the hottest components in IT systems, such as CPUs and GPUs. This method ensures precise and efficient heat dissipation, far outperforming air-based solutions. By tackling heat directly at its source, DLC enables data centres to handle extreme workloads while reducing energy consumption.

Rittal’s Direct Liquid Cooling Portfolio

Rittal’s DLC solutions cater to diverse infrastructure needs, ensuring optimal performance across all scales of operation:

• Liquid-to-Air Solutions:
  • Rear Door Heat Exchanger (HEx): Designed for individual IT racks, this solution supports cooling capacities of up to 38 kW using a water/glycol mixture. Mounted on the rear of the rack, it efficiently transfers heat to the surrounding air.
  • Side Coolers: Compact systems delivering up to 50 kW of cooling, perfect for scenarios where space is limited. These systems also utilise water/glycol mixtures, cooled via side-mounted units.
• Liquid-to-Liquid Solutions:
  • CDU In-Rack: Offers up to 150 kW of cooling per rack, leveraging facility water supplies to efficiently manage heat. Ideal for medium-density environments.
  • CDU In-Row: Scales up to 1 MW, making it an excellent choice for hyperscale data centres. It integrates seamlessly into existing infrastructures, providing reliable and high-capacity cooling.

Key Benefits of Rittal’s DLC Solutions

1. Scalability and Integration:
   • Modular designs enable seamless integration into existing infrastructures, allowing for incremental upgrades as demands grow.
   • Standardised components align with Open Compute Project (OCP) guidelines for streamlined data centre operations.
2. Enhanced Reliability:
   • Redundant systems and hot-swappable components ensure uninterrupted performance.
   • Maintenance tasks can be completed without downtime, preserving operational efficiency.
3. Energy Efficiency:
   • By eliminating reliance on energy-intensive air cooling, DLC systems significantly reduce power usage.
   • Facility water utilisation optimises heat removal while minimising overall energy expenditure.
4. Customisation for Specific Needs:
   • Bespoke designs tailored to unique operational requirements maximise system compatibility and efficiency.

Meeting the Challenges of AI and HPC

The exponential growth of AI and HPC technologies has redefined the thermal demands on data centres. Rittal’s Direct Liquid Cooling systems are purpose-built to meet these challenges head-on, enabling organisations to:

• Maintain peak performance in high-density IT environments.
• Reduce operational costs through energy savings and efficiency gains.
• Ensure environmental sustainability by lowering CO₂ emissions.

Future-Proof Your Data Centre with Rittal

As the industry evolves, Rittal remains at the forefront of innovation, offering scalable, reliable, and sustainable cooling solutions that adapt to the needs of modern data centres. With Direct Liquid Cooling, businesses can confidently embrace the future of computing, knowing their infrastructure is equipped to handle the most demanding workloads efficiently and sustainably.