Lately, everyone is talking about artificial intelligence. However, few are aware of how much energy the massive data centers powering AI consume. Chanwoo Park from the University of Missouri is working on a solution to tame these energy monsters: a next-generation cooling system. So, how does this system work?
Energy-Saving Solution for Data Centers: New Generation Cooling System
Data centers are massive computer clusters that operate behind the scenes of the internet. They ensure the smooth functioning of websites, mobile apps, and cloud data. However, these enormous computers consume a lot of energy. In 2022, data centers in the US used more than 4% of the country’s total electricity consumption, with 40% of that energy spent solely on cooling the equipment. Essentially, a substantial amount of energy is used just to keep the devices cool.
Park and his team have developed a two-phase cooling system that uses phase change to efficiently dissipate heat from server chips. It might sound complex, but this system converts liquid into vapor in a thin layer. The liquid evaporates on this thin metal surface, carrying away heat during evaporation. This system can operate without consuming energy when less cooling is needed and can switch to active mode using a low-energy pump when necessary. This means it saves energy and makes the cooling process much more efficient.
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Traditional data centers are cooled either by fans that circulate air or by liquid cooling systems. However, Park’s two-phase cooling system uses much less energy and is far more effective than these methods. Initial tests have shown that this new method significantly reduces the amount of energy required to cool the equipment. Park and his team are designing this system to be easily attached and detached from server racks, making it adaptable for use in existing data centers.
As AI technology rapidly advances, the supporting infrastructure must also be sustainable. This new cooling system developed by Park and his team could play a crucial role in meeting future energy demands by enhancing the energy efficiency of data centers. Innovations like this are essential for creating more energy-efficient and eco-friendly data centers. You can find more details about the study here.
What do you think? Share your thoughts on how this new cooling technology might impact the energy consumption of data centers.
