Data center operators are challenged to support rapidly evolving environments where legacy IT applications increasingly coexist with high-density computing deployed to support artificial intelligence.
Vertiv, a global provider of critical digital infrastructure and continuity solutions, and Compass Datacenters, which designs, builds and operates data center campuses for some of the world’s largest technology companies, today announced that they have collaborated to develop a unique solution that enables future AI deployments to choose between air and liquid cooling to support high-density computing. Vertiv and Compass engineers collaborated on this vision for a future-proof cooling solution, with Vertiv developing and manufacturing the technology solution. Initial units will be deployed at a Compass facility in the first quarter of 2025 as part of a multi-year, multi-billion dollar supply agreement.
Vertiv CoolPhase Flex, the next generation of the highly efficient Vertiv Liebert DSE Packaged System, integrates liquid cooling capabilities with refrigerant-based air cooling and heat rejection technologies into a single packaged system. As data center customers plan their growth strategies, Vertiv CoolPhase Flex can be deployed initially as a direct expansion (DX) cooling system with integrated economizer to support reliable and efficient air cooling, and then, as more high-density processing systems are deployed, the liquid cooling capabilities can be simply and quickly deployed to support liquid cooling applications.
“Our customers are looking for fast, practical and energy-efficient ways to introduce liquid cooling to support AI and other high-density applications, but they want the flexibility to leverage air cooling and support mixed workloads in the same facilities,” said Chris Crosby, CEO of Compass.
“We had a vision for a future where we could be ready to rapidly deploy air or liquid cooling to meet changing customer requirements, and Vertiv has brought that vision to life in a very innovative way. Vertiv CoolPhase Flex offers a level of flexibility unmatched in the market, which is extremely valuable to both us and our customers.”
“AI is not only changing the data center, it is also changing the way key industry players work together to enable growth. Data center operators, customers, chip manufacturers, infrastructure providers, utilities and others must work together to innovate and reduce barriers to AI adoption,” said Giordano (Gio) Albertazzi, CEO of Vertiv. “Compass Datacenters and Vertiv engineers worked together to make this important project a reality. Vertiv CoolPhase Flex makes it possible to support today’s IT and rapidly enable the data center of tomorrow. With our deep expertise and understanding of the complexity of AI applications, Vertiv was uniquely able to bring this solution to market.”
Key benefits of Vertiv CoolPhase Flex include:
Faster and simpler deployment of high-density processing: With the hybrid design of Vertiv CoolPhase Flex, the complexity associated with adopting liquid cooling is minimized, reducing deployment time as well as associated costs and downtime.
Uncompromising efficiency: For air cooling, the solution uses pumped refrigerant economizer (PRE) technology that automatically switches to free cooling whenever external conditions are suitable. When IT workloads are better served by liquid cooling, the same system is designed to easily convert to liquid fluid distribution and heat removal and is compatible with liquid cooling solutions including the Vertiv XDU 1350.
Cost and space savings: The self-contained packaged system is installed outside the data center, freeing up valuable space in the data center. Compass modular data centers and equipment locations are designed for flexibility and scalability so they can adapt to evolving requirements and new technologies. This means customers will be able to upgrade to Vertiv CoolPhase Flex with minimal impact to operations and without the high costs associated with extensive rebuilds or upgrades.
Compass also implemented the Vertiv Next Predict service platform, leveraging predictive analytics to enable the company to move from reactive to proactive maintenance for select cooling units. The platform provides visibility into equipment performance and uses historical and operational data to pinpoint when maintenance is needed.
“A predictive tool that lets us know ahead of time when equipment needs maintenance, as opposed to waiting until there is a potential availability issue, is a massive game changer for cooling equipment,” said Crosby. “It’s been great to have Vertiv on board, leading the way together.”