Flex Enhances Cooling Solutions at Equinix Co-Innovation Facility in Virginia

Flex Expands Liquid Cooling Solutions at Equinix Co-Innovation Facility

Flex, a prominent name in data center infrastructure, recently announced an advanced deployment of its liquid cooling systems at the prestigious Equinix Co-Innovation Facility (CIF) located in Ashburn, Virginia. This unveiling comes at a crucial time as the demand for efficient cooling solutions in AI and high-performance computing environments continues to escalate.

The new rack-level demonstration integrates innovative single-phase direct liquid cooling (DLC) technologies, developed by JetCool—a subsidiary of Flex that specializes in liquid cooling applications. This approach significantly enhances the scalability and sustainability of cooling infrastructure in modern data centers.

Key Features of the New Deployment

The setup features the following improvements and capabilities:

1. Single-Phase Direct Liquid Cooling (DLC): Located within a consolidated Open Compute Project (OCP) ORv3 rack, the system presents both standalone and facility-integrated DLC options. Its design seeks to optimize the cooling systems deployed across various data center configurations.
2. JetCool’s SmartPlate System: Specifically engineered for Dell PowerEdge R760 servers, this closed-loop cooling solution operates independently while eliminating the need for external coolants or plumbing, thus streamlining the transition from air cooling to liquid cooling.
3. Efficiency Gains: The SmartPlate Systems reportedly reduce total IT power consumption by approximately 15%, enhancing performance in power-constrained settings.
4. High Temperature Tolerance: The DLC capabilities boast the ability to function effectively with inlet coolant temperatures close to 70°C. This design drastically reduces water usage by as much as 90% and cooling power consumption by about 50% compared to traditional liquid cooling technologies.
5. SmartSense CDU: The 6U Liquid-to-Liquid Cooling Device is ready for integration with the Equinix TCS secondary loop, allowing efficient cooling in high-density environments of up to 300kW.

Significance of the Deployment

Rob Campbell, president of the Communications, Enterprise, and Cloud Business at Flex, emphasized the importance of this deployment, stating, “We are proud to bring Flex's high-performance, energy-efficient liquid cooling solutions into data center facilities such as the Equinix CIF. This milestone builds on our longstanding collaboration with Equinix across power and cooling infrastructure.” The efficient cooling solution is tailored to address the rising demand for AI and HPC workloads, supporting data center operators to deploy infrastructures more rapidly.

Flex has been an active participant in the CIF for over a year, expanding on its relationship with Equinix to deploy products across its global infrastructure. As one of the industry’s foremost manufacturers, Flex produces millions of servers annually, providing remarkable scale and integration expertise infused with supply chain efficiency.

Innovations in Thermal Management

The deployment also demonstrates JetCool's unique and effective single-phase cooling approach, capable of cooling up to 4kW from a single processor socket with potential for higher thermal loads. Notably, customers can expect substantial energy savings, aiding the industry's transition towards sustainable, high-performance computing solutions.

Pawel Wlodarczak, Innovation Director at Equinix, added, “The Equinix Co-Innovation Facility provides a collaborative environment where emerging infrastructure technologies can be tested and refined for real-world, high-density compute environments. Demonstrations like this help our partners explore new approaches to meeting our customers' performance and sustainability needs.”

For partners and customers eager to experience these new solutions, they will be showcased live at the Equinix CIF, complete with performance metrics and technical insights. Additionally, JetCool's innovations are available at Telehouse, Flex’s facility in Milpitas, California, and at other Dell Customer Solutions Centers. Future demonstrations are slated to occur in various locations throughout Europe and Asia.

This cutting-edge initiative underlines Flex's commitment to pushing the boundaries of energy-efficient cooling technologies while positioning itself as a leader in innovative data center solutions. As AI and high-performance computing needs grow, such partnerships and technological advancements are crucial for fostering a sustainable future in data management.