Iceotope unveils industry's first liquid cooling lab in Sheffield

Iceotope has announced the launch of Iceotope Labs, marking the data centre industry's first state-of-the-art liquid cooling lab. Situated in Sheffield, UK, the new facility aims to revolutionise high-density data centre research and testing for liquid cooling technologies.

Leveraging advanced monitoring tools, data analysis, and a specialist team of engineers, Iceotope Labs is designed to provide customers with quantitative data crucial for making informed deployment decisions. This facility is particularly geared towards high-performance computing (HPC) and artificial intelligence (AI) research. Recent research at Iceotope Labs includes testing next-generation chip-level cooling at both 1000W and 1500W, demonstrating that the precision liquid cooling technology can meet the thermal demands of future AI computing architectures.

David Craig, CEO of Iceotope, stated, "We are investing in our research and innovation capabilities to offer customers an unparalleled opportunity. Iceotope Labs not only serves as a blueprint for what a liquid-cooled data centre should be but is also a collaborative hub for clients to explore liquid cooling solutions without the need for their own lab space. It's a transformative offering within the data centre industry."

The facility, developed in collaboration with Efficiency IT, is equipped with everything needed to test the latest CPUs, GPUs, racks, and manifolds. The lab includes two temperature-controlled test rooms, spaces dedicated to thermal, mechanical, and electronic testing, and features a facility water system (FWS) loop and a technology cooling system (TCS) loop with heat exchangers. An exterior dry cooler is also part of the set-up, designed to demonstrate key technologies for a fully liquid-cooled facility.

Nick Ewing, Managing Director of Efficiency IT, commented, "With new advancements in GPU, CPU, and AI workloads having a transformative impact on both data centre design and cooling architectures, it's clear to see that liquid cooling will play a significant role in improving the resiliency, energy, and environmental impact of data centres. We're delighted to have supported Iceotope throughout the design, development, and installation of its industry-first Iceotope Lab, and look forward to building on our collaboration as we develop a new customer roadmap for high-density, liquid-cooled data centre solutions."

The test environment includes two flexible, secondary loops that operate independently of each other and have a large temperature range to stress-test a customer's IT equipment. This configuration allows for enhanced control and monitoring while maximising efficiency and safety, considering all ASHRAE guidelines and best practices.

Iceotope Labs is located at the company's global headquarters in Sheffield, further cementing the location as a centre for technological innovation. The new lab is expected to advance Iceotope's ability to deliver the highest level of customer experience by providing a space where clients can validate their liquid cooling solutions before large-scale deployment.

The establishment of this state-of-the-art facility underscores the growing significance of liquid cooling as a critical technology for future-proofing data centre infrastructure, particularly as demand for high-performance computing and AI capabilities continues to rise. Iceotope Labs aims to support customers in navigating these technological advancements efficiently and effectively.