Below are frequently asked questions about Asetek liquid cooling. If you have a question not answered here, email us at Questions@asetek.com
Why Water?
Vertical-Rack is delivered in a 26.7cm (10.5”) deep rack extension with the RackCDU on one side and room for 3 additional PDUs on the other. The extension width matches the mating rack and the height adds 11.5cm (4.5”) to the height of the rack resulting in a professional and integrated look.
Each Vertical RackCDU typically consumes 26.7cm (10.5”) of aisle width. In a data center with hot aisle / cold aisle arrangement (back-to-back rows) using RackCDU extensions reduces aisle width by 53.4cm (21”). With the use of shallower racks, this can be reduced.
Tubes can exit through an unused PCI shield or through a custom opening, typically at the back of the server.
Any rack can be supported and the number of already supported racks is growing constantly. RackCDU extensions mount in place of the rear or front doors, and the doors mount on the outside of the RackCDU extension.
Yes, RackCDU comes with a full monitoring system. This system monitors temperatures, facilities flow, pressures, liquid level, and detects leaks. It is capable of sending alarms and alerts when user definable points for these parameters are crossed. Each RackCDU monitor is addressable via its own IP address and communicates all these values via SNMP or via the included web browser interface.
Vertical-RackCDU can operate with or without cable management arms. Operating without cable management arms allows shorter connecting tubes.
Any cable management system that supports these tube characteristics is supported
The choice and sizing of adiabatic fluid coolers, dry coolers or cooling towers is site specific. Contact Asetek with site details and Asetek can provide guidance on choice and sizing.
Yes, in-fact the study of RackCDU conducted by Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory found that significant energy savings are possible with just this approach.
RackCDU is designed and built to prevent leaks. The stator and pump rotor are magnetically coupled, eliminating a shaft seal that could leak. Every joint is double sealed and every cooler is helium leak tested at the factory. Lastly, the server coolers operate at very low pressure (less than 0.5 PSI) so in the unlikely event that a leak does occur, it will drip, not spray. Server liquid and facilities liquid are separated at the RackCDU. As a result, the amount of liquid that could ever leak in the rack is limited to about 8.5 liters.
Leak detection is provided at the bottom of the RackCDU extension. The monitoring system is capable of notifying staff via e-mail or SNMP alerts.
The liquid is mainly deionized water mixed with environmentally friendly additives providing antifreeze, anti-corrosion and bio inhibitor protection. The additives are commonly used for airplane deicing and are approved for use in food processing equipment.
Asetek has developed its own purpose built dripless quick connectors that are double sealed in every position. They are rated for over 1,000 connect / disconnect cycles, although in normal use they will see less than 1 dozen connects in a lifetime.
Asetek server coolers use the same Asetek manufactured pump /cold plates as our line of desktop PC liquid coolers.