Introduction
Data centres are the backbone of modern digital infrastructure, housing thousands of servers that process and store vast amounts of information. It is the beating heart of the digital economy and supports critical organisations from hospitals to small businesses and can vary widely in terms of size, power requirements, redundancy, and overall structure. Without data centres, many of our daily digital activities would not be possible.
These high-performance systems generate significant heat, making efficient cooling essential to prevent overheating, maintain performance, and extend equipment lifespan.
Keeping data centres cool presents several challenges, including rising energy consumption, sustainability concerns, and the need for consistent thermal management in increasingly dense server environments. As the demand for efficient and eco-friendly cooling solutions grows, pumps play a vital role in circulating coolant, managing heat transfer, and optimizing system performance. From traditional chilled water systems to advanced liquid cooling technologies, pumps ensure reliable and energy-efficient temperature regulation, helping data centres operate smoothly and sustainably.
This guide explores the critical role of pumps in data centre cooling, the technologies involved, and the innovations shaping the future of thermal management.
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History of data centre cooling
Servers generate a lot of heat and over the years, data centres have relied upon various cooling methods to maintain the optimal temperature for their equipment. In the early days, air conditioning units were the primary cooling method. However, these systems had limitations in terms of energy consumption and scalability, as they struggled to handle the increasing heat loads generated by modern equipment.
As technology advanced, raised floor cooling systems emerged, with cold air delivered through perforated floor tiles. While this improved energy efficiency, it still had challenges in effectively cooling high-density server racks. Hot aisle/cold aisle containment is another commonly used practice, segregating hot and cold air streams to minimise mixing and improve cooling efficiency.
Liquid cooling systems, such as chilled water or refrigerant-based systems, then became popular as these offered better heat dissipation capabilities but were complex and required additional infrastructure. More recently, rear-door heat exchangers and direct-to-chip liquid cooling have been adopted for high-density computing environments, providing efficient cooling solutions for advanced data centres. However, these methods often require specialised equipment and maintenance, making them less accessible for smaller data centres.
Introduction to single phase immersion cooling
In modern data centres, best practices for cooling focus on energy efficiency, temperature control, and humidity management. Single-phase immersion cooling is a revolutionary cooling method that involves immersing the server and components to a fluorinert non-conductive liquid. This dielectric fluid is an insulting liquid that does not conduct electricity but can withstand high voltage. It efficiently absorbs and dissipates heat, providing a highly efficient cooling solution. Compared to traditional methods, single-phase immersion cooling offers superior cooling performance, reduced energy consumption, and improved reliability.
As the servers are fully submerged in the thermally conductive dielectric coolant, this coolant is circulated by a cooling distribution unit (CDU) to a heat exchanger outside the tank, where the heat is transferred to a secondary cooling circuit. The coolant is non-electrically conductive, ensuring it does not disrupt the function of the servers.
By eliminating the need for fans and air conditioning units, this cooling method significantly reduces energy consumption. According to Greenberg (2018) and Patel (2020), immersion cooling can achieve energy savings of up to 95% compared to traditional air-cooling systems with Power Usage Effectiveness (PUE) values as low as 1.03, resulting in substantial energy savings.
As single-phase immersion cooling continues to gain traction for its efficiency and sustainability, optimizing the performance of your cooling system becomes increasingly important. A key factor in ensuring the success of any cooling solution is selecting the right pump and understanding how flow rates and pressure impact system efficiency. For insights into choosing the best pump for your data centre cooling system and best practices to optimize pump performance, check out our article on Understanding Flow Rates and Pressure in Data Centre Cooling Systems.
How data centres are cooled
Data centres generate immense heat due to the high density of servers and networking equipment running continuously. To prevent overheating and ensure optimal performance, effective cooling systems are essential. Most data centres rely on a combination of air and liquid cooling methods to manage heat.
Traditional air-based cooling uses Computer Room Air Conditioning (CRAC) units, which circulate chilled air through raised floors or overhead duct systems. This method has been used for decades but often requires large amounts of energy to maintain air circulation and cool the space.
More advanced cooling systems incorporate liquid cooling, where water or specialized coolants absorb heat directly from servers using cold plates, immersion cooling, or chilled water loops. Liquid cooling is far more efficient than air cooling as liquids have a higher thermal conductivity, allowing them to absorb and transport heat more effectively.
In both air and liquid cooling systems, pumps play a vital role by circulating coolants efficiently through the system, regulating temperature, and maintaining energy-efficient operation. Pumps ensure that the coolant flows through the pipes or immersion tanks, carrying heat away from the servers and releasing it through heat exchangers or external cooling systems.
With rising energy costs and increasing sustainability concerns, modern data centres are increasingly adopting high-efficiency pump systems to reduce power consumption while ensuring reliable thermal management. These pumps help minimize energy usage, making liquid cooling solutions not only more effective but also more environmentally friendly.
For a deeper look at how air cooling compares to liquid cooling in data centres, including the advantages and challenges of each approach, check out our detailed article on Air Cooling vs. Liquid Cooling in Data Centres.
Why pumps are essential for cooling
Pumps are the heart of data centre cooling systems, ensuring the continuous circulation of coolant to dissipate heat effectively. In liquid-based cooling methods, pumps move chilled water or specialized coolants through heat exchangers, cooling towers, or direct-to-chip systems, transferring excess heat away from critical IT equipment. Their role is crucial in maintaining consistent thermal conditions, preventing hotspots, and improving overall energy efficiency. High-performance pumps, such as those exceeding EU rules for efficiency and combined with variable frequency drives (VFDs), allow precise flow control, reducing energy waste and optimizing cooling based on real-time demand. As data centres strive for greater sustainability, the selection of efficient, low-maintenance pump technologies is essential for minimizing energy consumption, reducing operational costs, and supporting greener infrastructure.
Understanding why pumps are essential for cooling is just the first step in optimizing your data centre’s cooling performance. To further reduce energy costs and enhance operational efficiency, focusing on energy-efficient pumping systems is crucial. For expert insights into the importance of energy-efficient pumping in data centres and key strategies to optimize pump efficiency, check out our in-depth guide on How to Reduce Energy Costs in Data Centres with Efficiency Pumping Systems.
Types of pumps in data centre cooling
Different types of pumps are used in data centre cooling systems, each suited to specific cooling methods and efficiency requirements. Centrifugal pumps are the most commonly used, particularly in chilled water systems, where they circulate coolant between heat exchangers, cooling towers, and Computer Room Air Conditioning (CRAC) units. These pumps are efficient in larger-scale systems and provide a steady flow of coolant.
For advanced cooling systems, magnetically driven pumps offer a seal-less, leak-free operation, significantly reducing maintenance needs and enhancing system reliability. These pumps are especially beneficial in immersion cooling systems or closed-loop circuits where minimizing leaks and downtime is critical.
In high-efficiency data centres, variable speed pumps with intelligent controls are increasingly popular. These pumps adjust flow rates dynamically based on the real-time cooling demand, improving overall energy efficiency and reducing unnecessary power consumption.
Selecting the right pump type is essential for optimizing cooling performance, ensuring minimal downtime, and supporting the long-term sustainability of data centre operations. Properly chosen pumps contribute to effective heat management and enhance the reliability of cooling systems.
Maximizing Efficiency with the AVF-C Pump
While magnetic drive pumps are a cornerstone in achieving efficient data centre cooling, the Crest Assoma AVF-C pump takes this efficiency to new heights. Redefining the benchmarks for pump performance, the AVF-C pump has been engineered to maximize efficiency while minimizing emissions—a critical aspect in today’s environmentally-conscious industry. With cutting-edge technology and optimized designs, the AVF-C pump ensures that cooling systems perform at their best while contributing to sustainability efforts. To learn more about how the AVF-C pump is leading the charge in next-gen efficiency and eco-friendly operations, check out our in-depth piece on its advanced features and performance here.
Energy efficiency & sustainability
The data centre market is experiencing significant growth due to the increasing demand for digital technologies and cloud computing. As more businesses and individuals rely on cloud-based services and storage, the need for data centres to store and process this data is skyrocketing. The market size stood at $263 billion in 2022 and is expected to advance at an annual growth of 10.9% during 2022–2030. This growth is driven by the digitalisation of corporate operations and the increasing use of streaming and internet usage.
This substantial growth brings about the challenge of making data centres far more energy efficient. Data centres consume an enormous amount of electricity, often 100 to 200 times more than standard office buildings, due to the high-power requirements of the servers and cooling systems. In the U.S. alone, data centres are projected to consume approximately 73 billion kWh of electricity.
Pumps play a key role in enhancing energy efficiency by optimizing coolant flow, minimizing heat buildup, and reducing the strain on cooling systems. High-efficiency pumps, such as those with IE5 motors, variable frequency drives (VFDs), and Minimum Efficiency Index (MEI > 0.7) ratings, significantly lower power consumption by adjusting output to match cooling demands in real time. Additionally, magnetically driven canned motor pumps, like those in Crest Pumps’ range, eliminate mechanical seals, reducing the risk of leaks, maintenance downtime, and energy losses. As sustainability becomes a priority, selecting low-carbon, high-efficiency pump solutions is essential for data centres looking to meet stringent environmental regulations and achieve carbon reduction goals.
To explore how innovative cooling solutions, like single-phase immersion cooling are driving energy efficiency and sustainability in data centres, check out our article on Unlocking the Power of Single-Phase Immersion Cooling for Data Centres.
Future trends in pump-based cooling for data centres
As data centres continue to play a crucial role in our digital world, implementing effective cooling strategies is paramount. By implementing single-phase immersion cooling and utilising high efficiency pumps to optimise.
As data centres grow in scale and efficiency demands increase, pump-based cooling technologies are evolving to meet stricter sustainability and performance requirements. One key trend is the rise of liquid immersion cooling, where pumps circulate dielectric fluids to directly cool server components, reducing reliance on traditional air cooling. Smart pump systems with AI-driven controls and IoT integration are also gaining traction, enabling real-time monitoring and adaptive flow adjustments to optimize energy use. Additionally, advancements in high-efficiency, magnetically driven pumps are not only reducing power consumption and the PUE but also improving reliability by eliminating mechanical seals, reducing leaks, and cutting maintenance costs. With stricter environmental regulations and the push for carbon neutrality, next-generation pumps will continue to focus on higher efficiency, lower energy consumption, and compatibility with renewable-powered cooling systems, ensuring data centres remain both cost-effective and environmentally responsible.
To dive deeper into how liquid cooling contributes to a more environmentally friendly future for data centres, explore our article on the Environmental Benefits of Liquid Cooling in Data Centres.
How high efficiency pumps reduce data centre power consumption
Power Usage Effectiveness (PUE) is the industry-standard metric for measuring a data centre’s energy efficiency. It is calculated as:
• An ideal PUE is 1.0, meaning all power is used exclusively for IT operations with no excess energy wasted on cooling or other systems.
• Many legacy data centres have PUE values of 1.8 – 2.5, indicating that nearly half of the total energy is spent on cooling and non-IT infrastructure.
• By adopting high-efficiency pumps within liquid cooling, modern data centres can achieve PUE values close to 1.2 or lower, dramatically improving overall efficiency.
How Efficiency Pumps Lower PUE
• ✔ Variable Frequency Drives (VFDs): Pumps with VFD technology, such as Crest Pumps’ AVF-C, dynamically adjust motor speed based on real-time cooling demand, preventing unnecessary energy consumption.
• ✔ High-Efficiency Motors: IE5 equivalent motors, featured in Crest Pumps’ AVF-C, reduce power losses and optimize performance, helping data centres achieve lower PUE values.
• ✔ Optimized Flow Rates & Pressure Management: Correct pump selection and system design minimize energy waste, ensuring pumps operate at their most efficient duty points.
As you plan for the future, ensure that your data centre’s cooling system is equipped with the most effective and sustainable pumping solutions available. By leveraging the insights and strategies outlined here, you’ll be well-positioned to achieve peak performance while minimizing your environmental footprint.
Conclusion
In the ever-evolving world of data centre cooling, pumps remain a cornerstone of efficiency, reliability, and sustainability. From ensuring consistent cooling to optimizing energy use and minimizing environmental impact, the role of pumps in these systems cannot be overstated. As data centres continue to grow in size and complexity, embracing advanced pumping technologies and best practices will be key to meeting future demands for performance and efficiency.