Vertiv & Compass Datacenters: Boosting Liquid Cooling for AI

Offering a first-of-its-kind cooling solution, Vertiv and Compass Datacenters are integrating air and liquid cooling technologies. Deploying such a solution is designed to meet the continually evolving and mixed cooling needs of data centres that are supporting AI. 

Currently, data centre operators are facing a range of challenges in line with the digital transformation boom, including supporting environments that are rapidly evolving, where established IT applications are increasingly co-existing alongside the high-density computing being deployed to support AI. 

Both Vertiv and Compass Datacenters are eager to show the solution can enable future deployments of AI with the ability to flex between air and liquid cooling to support high-density computing.

A pioneering liquid cooling solution

Vertiv and Compass engineers have collaborated to create a future-forward cooling solution, with Vertiv overseeing the development and manufacturing of the technology. Initial units will be deployed at a Compass facility in the first quarter of 2025 as part of a planned multi-year, multi-billion dollar supply arrangement. 

The Vertiv CoolPhase Flex, the next generation of the high-efficiency Vertiv Liebert DSE Packaged System, integrates liquid cooling capabilities with refrigerant-based air-cooling technologies and heat rejection in a single packaged system. 

Throughout 2024, Vertiv has been leading in the liquid cooling space, having only introduced two new coolant distribution unit systems in November 2024. The Vertiv CoolChip CDU liquid-to-liquid and liquid-to-air solutions are designed to support hyperscale, colocation and enterprise applications.

As liquid cooling continues to be seen as a ‘saving grace’ solution for data centres to keep systems cool, Vertiv’s developments stand to enable more cost-effective liquid cooling deployments in data centres. This is whilst making it possible to operate high-density computing for AI, alongside traditional air-cooled racks.

As data centre customers continue to plan their growth strategies, Vertiv CoolPhase Flex can be used initially as a direct expansion (DX) cooling system with integrated economisation to support reliable and efficient air cooling. 

Likewise, as more high-density computing is deployed, its liquid cooling capabilities can be simply and quickly engaged to support liquid cooling applications.

“Our customers are looking for fast, practical and energy-efficient ways to introduce liquid cooling to support AI and other high-density applications, but want the flexibility to leverage air-cooling and support mixed loads in those same facilities,” says Chris Crosby, CEO of Compass Datacenters. 

“We had a vision for a future in which we could be prepared to quickly deploy air or liquid cooling to meet changing customer requirements and Vertiv brought that vision to life in a very innovative way. 

“The Vertiv CoolPhase Flex provides a level of flexibility that is unparalleled in the marketplace and that is highly valuable to us and to our customers.”

Helping data centres better harness AI

In order to better support data centre infrastructure, Vertiv’s CoolPhase Flex is designed to reduce the complexity associated with liquid cooling - which includes reducing time to deploy and cost levels.

Likewise, being self-contained frees up valuable space within the data centre. Compass’ modular data centres and equipment yards are designed for flexibility and scale so that it can adapt to evolving requirements and new technologies. 

This means customers can upgrade to the Vertiv CoolPhase Flex with minimal impact to operations, whilst also avoiding rebuilding or extensive retrofitting.

Whilst AI is bringing change to data centres, it is also changing how key industry giants are collaborating to enable greater levels of growth.

“Data centre operators, customers, chip manufacturers, infrastructure providers, utility companies and others must work together to innovate and reduce barriers to AI adoption,” explains Giordano (Gio) Albertazzi, CEO of Vertiv. 

“Compass Datacenters and Vertiv engineers worked together to make this important project a reality. Vertiv CoolPhase Flex makes it possible to support today’s IT and quickly enable the data centre of the future. With our deep expertise and understanding of the complexities of AI applications, Vertiv was uniquely able to bring this solution to market.”

Compass has also deployed the Vertiv Next Predict service platform, which leverages predictive analytics to enable the company to shift from reactive to proactive maintenance on select cooling units. 

The platform also provides visibility into equipment operations and uses historical and operating data to pinpoint when maintenance is required.

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