Vertiv & Compass unveil dual cooling system for AI

Vertiv and Compass Datacenters have partnered to create a dual cooling system aimed at supporting artificial intelligence (AI) applications.

This collaboration introduces the Vertiv CoolPhase Flex, a system integrating liquid cooling with traditional refrigerant-based air cooling technologies. This dual approach addresses the dynamic needs of data centres housing both standard IT and high-density AI computing systems. The CoolPhase Flex system aims to simplify the transition between air and liquid cooling, accommodating the varied load demands within modern data centres.

The system is set to be first deployed at a Compass facility in the first quarter of 2025, as part of a broader multi-year supply agreement between the two companies. This deployment illustrates the evolution of cooling systems in response to the intensified workloads associated with AI technologies.

Vertiv Chief Executive Officer Giordano (Gio) Albertazzi emphasised the collaborative aspect of this innovation. "AI is not only bringing change to data centres, it is also changing how key industry players work together to enable growth. Data centre operators, customers, chip manufacturers, infrastructure providers, utility companies and others must work together to innovate and reduce barriers to AI adoption," he stated. "Compass Datacenters and Vertiv engineers worked together to make this important project a reality."

Compass CEO Chris Crosby highlighted the strategic flexibility offered by the new system, saying, "Our customers are looking for fast, practical and energy-efficient ways to introduce liquid cooling to support AI and other high-density applications, but want the flexibility to leverage air-cooling and support mixed loads in those same facilities. We had a vision for a future in which we could be prepared to quickly deploy air or liquid cooling to meet changing customer requirements and Vertiv brought that vision to life in a very innovative way."

The CoolPhase Flex system brings several benefits, including simplified adoption of hybrid cooling technologies that can be crucial for data centres transitioning to liquid cooling. The system can allow for quicker deployment and significantly reduce associated costs and downtime.

Additionally, the system leverages pumped refrigerant economisation (PRE) technology for improved efficiency, activating free cooling when conditions permit. This efficiency extends to its ability to seamlessly transition to liquid cooling when higher-density computing loads demand it.

The innovation also addresses spatial constraints within data centres. The self-contained system is designed for outdoor installation, freeing up valuable internal space within the facility. Furthermore, Compass platforms are structured for modular adaptations, enabling clients to adopt the new cooling technology without major structural changes or investments.

Beyond the cooling technology, Compass has deployed Vertiv's Next Predict service platform, enhancing predictive maintenance capabilities across selected cooling units. This platform utilises analytics to drive a shift from reactive to proactive equipment maintenance, minimising potential disruptions. As Crosby put it, "A predictive tool that lets us know when equipment needs maintenance ahead of time as opposed to waiting until there is a potential availability issue is just a massive game changer for cooling equipment."