As artificial intelligence (AI) and high-performance computing (HPC) push chip temperatures toward 40-45°C/104-113°F, a recurring theme has emerged: higher chip temperatures automatically enable compressor-less cooling. The reality is far more complex.
This white paper reexamines conventional thinking by demonstrating that effective thermal management depends on three critical factors working together:
- Chip operating temperature
- Local climate conditions, and
- Water availability.
Through our comprehensive Air Cooling and Chilled Water Heat Rejection Maps, we reveal why a data center in Phoenix, in Dubai or Perth operating at 40°C/104°F still requires compressors as external ambient temperatures exceed the thermal differential needed for passive cooling, while a facility in Scandinavia or in Canada at the same working temperature can leverage compressor-less technology.
Key insights covered in this white paper include:
- The climate reality: Over 90% of North American data centers are built in regions with design temperatures ≥40°C/104°F, severely limiting compressor-less adoption regardless of chip temperature increases.
- Operational zones: A framework identifying which cooling technologies work best based on server temperature, ambient conditions, and water use.
- The water trade-off: How adiabatic systems and other solutions that rely on evaporative processes, such as cooling towers and hybrid coolers, can extend compressor-less viability, but introducing water consumption, cost, and regulatory challenges.
- Air cooling considerations: How optimal temperature differential (ΔT) of 10-12°C/50-54°F between return and supply air make a difference, the three operational zones for indoor water units when air cooling alone becomes less efficient, and how dedicated secondary water loops may be required in the long run.
- Location-specific strategies: Detailed climate zone mapping across North America, Europe, and Asia-Pacific showing where different cooling approaches make practical and economic sense.
The strategic implications are clear: Operators need to re-evaluate their infrastructure and the geographic applicability of compressor-less technologies. Whether designing new facilities or retrofitting existing infrastructure, this paper provides the strategic rationale to match the right cooling technology to the data center’s operational environment.
Learn why the path to efficiency is not one-size-fits-all and discover which solutions align with your specific temperature, climate, and water constraints.
