In the fast-evolving world of data centers, where uptime and efficiency are the number one priority, the criticality of effective cooling systems cannot be overstated. As computing power escalates, so too does the heat generated, requiring innovative solutions that not only manage temperatures but also align with sustainability goals.

Exploring the root of this challenge stands nVent, a global leader in electrical connection and protection, offering cutting-edge solutions that ensure the seamless operation of critical IT infrastructure.

Fluid management for the future

Liquid cooling is becoming increasingly important in the data center industry, with adoption accelerating faster than many anticipated. As Jason Matteson, director of product management at nVent, attests:

“The industry is moving very rapidly, and the fears and challenges of introducing liquid cooling can actually be turned into opportunities.”

A key part of this transition is fluid management – selecting and controlling the right cooling fluids while understanding the impact those decisions have on total cost of ownership (TCO). Michael Morrison, director of new ventures at Valvoline, a leading provider of industrial lubricants, observes:

“A lot of people are hesitant to make the change to liquid cooling due to the upfront investment, but we’re also seeing others forced to change plans mid-project to accommodate it – by then, it’s often too late. Shift temperatures are already pushing liquid cooling from suitable to necessary.”

This growing urgency highlights the importance of investment in appropriate fluid management, which will in turn help to mitigate costly issues such as leaks or poor lifecycle management. This becomes even more prevalent as developing industry standards – such as those from ASHRAE – emerge, reinforcing the criticality of safe and efficient liquid cooling.

Adopting innovation at the nth degree

nVent has been making direct-to-chip liquid-cooled systems and indirect liquid cooling systems for over 15 years, many of which have been bespoke or application-specific designs. However, the narrative today is different.

“Now the number of phone calls we get on ‘Hey, I need a CDU’ or ‘Hey, I need rear doors,’ and ‘How fast can you get them to me?’ – you sit there and go, whoa – it’s not that simple,” notes Matthew Archibald, director of technical architecture at nVent.

Unlike air-cooled systems, which are much more likely to work plug-and-play – presuming you have enough cold air – liquid cooling demands much more planning, factoring in fluid selection and management:

“Much of that capital filters back into the overall cost of ownership of deploying a liquid-cooled system,” explains Archibald.

The specificity of liquid cooling includes considerations like component selection and preventative maintenance. If liquid isn’t flowing to the chips, they don’t get cooled, and they stop running – in seconds, not minutes.

“This goes beyond just selecting the right fluids; it’s about developing new procedures for servicing liquid-cooled servers,” Archibald emphasizes, adding: “It’s not necessarily more difficult than maintaining air-cooled servers – it’s just a completely different set of processes.”

As Matteson adds:

“nVent is committed to working with end users, providing holistic solutions, and working with them to understand these challenges, as well as taking into account all of the costs, and doing a proper TCO calculation, not only from cooling infrastructure, but right down to fluid management.”

The silver lining

Taking a step back to the operational level, Archibald acknowledges that liquid cooling is much more efficient than air cooling, and over the long term, the TCO is lower. However, capital expenditure (CapEx) for liquid cooling is typically higher, as it requires new investments in infrastructure and procedures.

“The average power usage effectiveness (PUE) for data centers is about 1.45, which reflects mostly air cooling with a small amount of liquid cooling. With a heavier focus on liquid cooling, you can bring that down to sub-1.15 or even sub-1.1,” he says.

Matteson, drawing on his decades of experience using liquid cooling in the IT industry, adds: “The silver lining in this whole shift to liquid cooling is that it’s not actually new. The difference is, back then, the focus was on squeezing out more performance, or in some cases, improving energy efficiency. Today, liquid cooling is no longer optional – it’s essential for cooling the high-performance GPUs and CPUs that are coming out.”

Liquid cooling is estimated to deliver 30 percent energy savings, and the benefits extend beyond the servers to the entire data center. The shift represents a significant opportunity to drive efficiency and resilience across operations.

nTuition in practice: Smarter fluid management

So it seems, fluid management is central to the success of liquid cooling. As Matteson explains, liquid cooling systems in data centers are typically divided into two parts under industry standards, like those from ASHRAE. The primary system, known as the facility water system (FWS), distributes chilled water throughout the data center, while the secondary system (the technology cooling system, TCS) delivers cooling fluid directly to or around the IT equipment.

“The fluid in the TCS is like blood in our bodies. Just as we monitor blood for health, we need to monitor the cooling fluid to ensure it doesn’t damage critical systems,” says Matteson.

Unlike in air-cooled systems, liquid cooling uses water more efficiently, offering not just energy savings but potential water savings too. Morrison lends his knowledge to the intricacies of fluid types, explaining:

“PG 25 (propylene glycol at 25 percent concentration) is fully formulated for liquid cooling systems like those produced by nVent. It offers benefits such as protection against biological growth, stable pH levels, and a low-maintenance environment.”

He adds that while treated water can be used, it requires more upkeep. PG 25’s stability and lower maintenance demands make it a preferred option for many systems. Archibald expands on how TCO ties into fluid selection and operational impacts:

“Think of a chlorine swimming pool in your backyard. You're checking that pH, you’re checking those chlorine levels weekly, you’re constantly doing chemistry to top them up to keep things at the optimal level. And why do you do that? Well, it prevents growth. It prevents the system from breaking down. It keeps the swimming pool working.”

PG provides an alternative: just top it up from a drum, with fewer manual adjustments, making it easier to maintain and scale over time.

Mitigating risks with nTegrity

As liquid cooling adoption grows, thoughtful system design and risk mitigation have gained traction. While the performance and efficiency gains are significant, so are the potential consequences of missteps – whether through leaks, fluid mismanagement, or inadequate lifecycle planning. Thus, building resilient, reliable infrastructure requires a proactive approach to both the expected and the unforeseen.

“It’s not an if, it’s a when,” Archibald stresses. “Plan and prepare – it gets into the fundamentals of design.”

Matteson adds: “One of our executives once asked, not ‘is it going to leak?’ but ‘where is it going to leak?’”

This reality underscores the importance of platform isolation, leak detection, and proper alerting mechanisms. nVent’s solutions integrate these considerations, helping minimize the risk of unexpected downtime or damage. Morrison notes:

“PG can be safer because it has lower electrical conductivity than water, reducing the risk of catastrophic failures.”

Lifecycle management is equally critical. As Archibald points out:

“You can’t just dump it down a drain. You need partners that can handle the disposal, move fluid across borders, and provide technical support in-region.”

From initial deployment to decommissioning, comprehensive planning is essential. This includes selecting the right fluid, implementing continuous monitoring, and establishing clear maintenance protocols. Together, these practices form the foundation of a safe, efficient, and resilient liquid cooling system.

Collaborative nNovation and the road ahead

nVent collaborates with technology partners, research institutions, and customers to ensure its solutions stay at the forefront of thermal management. The company’s engagement with ASHRAE and the Open Compute Project reflects its commitment to industry-wide innovation and standardization.

“There’s a whole lot of logistics on the commissioning side, the operational side, and for decommissioning,” says Matteson. “It’s really important that the entire industry – from IT equipment manufacturers to cooling infrastructure providers to fluid suppliers – works together.”

With a legacy of excellence and a forward-looking vision, nVent is not just keeping IT cool – it’s redefining industry standards for thermal management. The company’s focus on fluid management, efficient liquid cooling solutions, and collaborative innovation ensures that data centers can meet the increasing demands of modern computing throughout their lifecycle, while achieving greater sustainability and cost efficiency.

In the end, for data center operators, partnering with nVent is an investment in a smarter, cooler future.

Explore nVent's data center solutions here, and contact the team about services at nvent.com/en-us/data-solutions/services.