Data centers have always required specialized cooling solutions, and the growing complexity of modern workloads is pushing the boundaries of thermal management even further.
Direct Expansion (DX) cooling continues to be a cornerstone, delivering reliable performance for traditional low- and medium-density environments while also scaling to meet the demands of high-density workloads.
Its flexibility and proven reliability make DX cooling a trusted solution for operators striving to balance efficiency with performance across diverse critical digital infrastructures.
At the same time, the rise of AI, high performance computing, and edge applications is accelerating the move toward hybrid data center environments that blend established air-cooled systems with emerging liquid-cooling technologies.
In this context, the DX cooling technology built in Vertiv™ CoolPhase solutions, part of Vertiv's complete end-to-end ecosystem, from power and cooling to monitoring and services, stand as a reliable foundation, delivering scalability to grow, flexibility to integrate, adaptability and efficiency needed to cool the next generation of data centers.
Today’s challenges, Vertiv™ CoolPhase Perimeter solutions with PAM model range
As modern data centers evolve, operators face mounting pressure on several fronts.
- Rapid deployment to meet strict timelines and scalability requirements
The pace of digital transformation demands rapid infrastructure expansion. Whether building new facilities or scaling existing ones, operators need cooling systems that deploy quickly and efficiently.
Without sacrificing performance or reliability, Vertiv CoolPhase technology delivers:
- Modular and repeatable designs that streamline planning and execution
- Faster deployment through fewer components and simplified installation
- Agile scalability that allows critical digital infrastructure to grow in step with demand
- Complex site conditions with mixed workloads and varying thermal zones
Modern data centers host a wide mix of applications, each with specific cooling needs. Managing multiple temperature zones, integrating air and liquid systems, and adapting to varied site architectures create significant design and operational challenges.
With DX cooling floor-mount PAM models, Vertiv CoolPhase Perimeter delivers smarter cooling:
- Compact footprint and modular design, indoor and outdoor, making it easy to deploy
- Optimized control of multiple temperature zones, thanks to 1:1 configuration
- Flexible architecture (packaged and split systems) to suit diverse layouts
As a DX-based solution, Vertiv CoolPhase Perimeter enables full independence between air and liquid cooling avoiding the inefficiencies of a single shared loop and the complexity of managing two separate ones. This flexibility allows operators to optimize each system on its own terms, supporting consistent performance across diverse deployment scenarios.
- Reducing total cost of ownership (TCO)
Operators must cut energy use and carbon emissions while controlling overall costs, without compromising uptime or performance.
For those investing in critical digital infrastructure, the PAM range delivers both immediate benefits and long-term return on investment.
Operational savings: the PAM range leverages inverter scroll compressor technology to dynamically match cooling output to real-time load, reducing energy waste. When combined with Vertiv’s EconoPhase patented technology, which provides free cooling whenever ambient conditions allow, the system can deliver up to 35% higher annual efficiency with respect to a traditional air cooled configuration, taking advantage of the refrigerant’s superior heat-transfer performance through phase-change technology.
Installation savings: Vertiv CoolPhase Perimeter enables lower deployment costs, thanks to fewer components, smaller piping, and simplified integration, making it ideal for both new builds and retrofits. Its modular approach and 1:1 design allows thermal management to scale in step with hybrid data center growth, keeping upfront costs under control.
- Environmental responsibility compliance
Environmental responsibility is no longer optional, it’s a business imperative.
The Vertiv CoolPhase Perimeter PAM range supports this shift with the use of low-GWP, non-flammable R513A refrigerant, helping modern data centers reduce their carbon footprint while maintaining compliance with evolving environmental regulations. This refrigerant choice balances performance, safety, and environmental impact, making it ideal for operators committed to long-term climate goals.
- Cooling Continuity
In today’s always-on digital world, downtime is not an option.
The Vertiv CoolPhase Perimeter delivers stable, reliable hybrid cooling even at partial load, thanks to continuous performance modulation. Designed for durability and low maintenance, it reduces total cost of ownership over its lifecycle, minimizing service needs while allowing consistent thermal conditions to protect critical equipment and support dynamic IT environments.
- Planning for the future with hybrid-ready infrastructure
The data center of tomorrow is uncertain, but flexibility is essential. Most facilities start with air cooling for low- and mid-density racks, yet AI and high-density computing will drive a shift toward liquid cooling. This creates mixed workloads where air and liquid cooling coexist.
The Vertiv™ CoolPhase™ Perimeter remains a cornerstone in this evolution. It delivers scalable, efficient, and resilient cooling, supporting liquid cooling where needed and unmatched performance where air still leads.
By planning hybrid from day zero, operators can get their data centers future-ready, adapt to densification, and maintain efficiency as chip temperatures rise. In a world of rapid change, hybrid-ready cooling isn’t just an option, it’s a strategy for resilience.
