Data Center
Data Center
Role of Advanced Cooling Technologies In Modern Data Centers

As data centers continue to scale to meet the demand for storage, processing power, and connectivity, one of the most pressing challenges they face is effectively managing heat. The increased density of servers, along with the rise of AI, ML, and big data analytics, has made efficient cooling technologies more critical than ever. Without proper cooling, the performance of IT equipment can degrade, resulting in costly failures, reduced lifespan of hardware, and downtime.
To address these challenges, data centers are adopting advanced cooling technologies designed to enhance energy efficiency and maintain operational reliability. The India Data Center Cooling Market, according to Mordor Intelligence, is expected to experience significant growth, with the market size projected to reach $8.32 billion by 2031, from $2.38 billion in 2025, growing at 23.21% CAGR.
Why Effective Cooling is Non-Negotiable for Data Centers
Modern data centers house thousands of servers and networking equipment, each running high workloads that generate significant heat. As data processing tasks grow more complex—especially with AI and machine learning applications that consume vast amounts of power—the heat generated becomes overwhelming.
The consequences of inadequate cooling can be catastrophic. For example, in October 2023, a major overheating incident in data centers led to several hours of service outages for prominent financial institutions in Singapore. The disruptions impacted online banking, credit card transactions, digital payments, and some ATMs.
Heat negatively impacts data centers in multiple ways. Servers operating at higher temperatures often throttle their performance to prevent overheating, resulting in slower processing times. In severe cases, system failures can lead to extended downtime, disrupting business continuity, compromising critical data, and incurring costly recovery efforts. Efficient cooling is particularly essential for colocation data centers, where multiple organisations share infrastructure, ensuring consistent performance across diverse workloads.
Innovative Cooling Solutions Shaping Data Centers
As the need for more powerful and efficient data centers continues to rise, so does the demand for innovative cooling technologies that can deliver better performance with less energy. Several advanced cooling methods have emerged in response to these challenges, transforming how data centers are designed and operated.
Liquid Cooling
Liquid cooling is gaining prominence for its superior heat transfer capabilities, especially in high-density server environments. Unlike traditional air cooling, which relies on air circulation, liquid cooling uses water or specialised coolants to transfer heat more efficiently.
1. Direct Liquid-to-Chip (DLC) Cooling: Coolant is pumped directly to processors and other critical components, removing heat at its source. DLC is ideal for AI and ML workloads, where traditional cooling methods struggle to meet thermal demands.
2. Immersion Cooling: Servers are submerged in non-conductive coolant, enabling exceptional thermal efficiency. Immersion cooling is particularly beneficial for AI model training, where processing power and heat generation are substantial.
Evaporative Cooling
Evaporative cooling relies on the natural process of water evaporation to lower air temperatures in data centers. Warm air is passed through water-saturated pads, and the evaporation of water cools the air, which is then circulated throughout the facility. This method offers an energy-efficient and sustainable solution for maintaining optimal temperatures in data centers.
Free Cooling
Free cooling capitalises on external environmental factors to minimise reliance on mechanical refrigeration. For instance, cold outside air or natural water sources like lakes can cool data centers effectively. This approach is cost-efficient and sustainable, making it a popular choice for green data centers.
Yotta Data Centers: Cooling Solutions for Modern IT Demands
Yotta, which operates hyperscale data centers, is adopting cutting-edge cooling technologies to meet the demands of modern IT environments. The facilities are designed to accommodate a wide range of cooling solutions, ensuring optimal performance, energy efficiency, and sustainability:
1. Air-Cooled Chillers with Adiabatic Systems: These systems achieve superior energy efficiency while maintaining consistent performance.
2. CRAH and Fan Wall Units: Located at the perimeter of data halls, these units provide N+1 or N+2 redundancy, ensuring continuous cooling even during maintenance or failure.
3. Inrow Units: Positioned near IT cabinets, these units offer precise cooling tailored to the needs of specific equipment.
4. Rear Door Heat Exchangers (RDHx): Ideal for high-density racks, these systems manage cooling for racks up to 50-60 kW, ensuring hot air is contained and effectively cooled.
5. Direct Liquid-to-Chip (DLC) Cooling: Designed in collaboration with hardware manufacturers, DLC systems can handle racks requiring up to 80 kW of cooling. Options include centralised or rack-specific Cooling Distribution Units (CDUs).
6. Liquid Immersion Cooling (LIC): Capable of providing up to 100% cooling for high-density racks, LIC systems are designed with hardware modifications for maximum efficiency.
With these advanced cooling technologies, Yotta ensures that its data centers in India remain robust, efficient, and future-ready, catering to the demands of AI, machine learning, and high-performance computing.