Safety certification of IT equipment cooling in data centers

As data centers grow in scale and energy consumption, a systematic approach to efficient cooling is critical to maximize efficiencies, maintain performance and address safety and sustainability requirements.

“Safety Certification of IT Equipment Cooling in Data Centers,” a white paper from UL Solutions, explores the evolving landscape of data center cooling technologies. It also details risk mitigation strategies and applicable safety standards including UL, IEC and CSA standards.

Information included in this white paper:

Air cooling

Air source cooling of computer equipment is the traditional way to cool data centers. It simplifies equipment installation and provides greater flexibility for future modifications. Remote cooling and direct expansion (DX) systems are discussed in this section.

Liquid cooling

Liquid cooling technologies are the fastest growing segment in the data center cooling space, due to increased efficiency, support for high-density server setups and reduction of energy consumption. Three key liquid cooling methods are described:

• Liquid-to-air – Coolant distribution units (CDUs) use liquid in technology cooling system (TCS) loop to transfer heat from IT equipment to air.
• Direct-to-chip – Pipes transport coolant directly to a low-temperature plate inside a processor. This method is among the most efficient cooling approaches for minimizing data center energy consumption.
• Immersion cooling – Uses dielectric coolant baths in which components are completely submerged. The principle behind this method is that the coolant has better thermal exchange properties than air and could lead to more efficient and precise board temperatures.

Standards

An overview and history of applicable safety standards, including IEC 62368-1 and UL 60335-2-40. Includes a breakdown of the differences between IEC 62368-1 and IEC 60335-2-40 requirements.

System hazards

Information on risks such as pressure-related failures, material degradation, and fluid flammability.