Wednesday, March 6, 2013

News: Testing time for Iceotope

By

Iceotope is working with the University of Leeds to test its revolutionary liquid-cooled computer server that could slash the carbon footprint of the internet.

The hi-tech firm, based on the Advanced Manufacturing Park in Rotherham, is developing a new system that reduces the power consumed in data centres by using liquid rather than air to provide cooling, eliminating the need for power-hungry fans.

Data centres contain servers and storage equipment that run application software and process and store data and content. They are relied upon by businesses and internet users.

A 2011 report by Datacenter Dynamics estimated that the world's data centres currently use 31 gigawatts of power, the equivalent of about half of the UK's total peak electricity demand. Data centre carbon emissions could quadruple between 2008 and 2020.

Iceotope's patented approach sees components encapsulated in 3M Novec, an inert and environmentally sound coolant. Iceotope designed and built its new server working with team of researchers from the University of Leeds’ School of Mechanical Engineering. The first production system has now been installed at the University after two years of testing prototypes.

The system uses just 80 watts of power to harvest the heat from up to 20 kilowatts of ICT use where it can also be reused for heating. The server also does away with the need for ancillary data centre facilities such as computer room air conditioning (CRAC) units, humidity control systems and air purification, cuting energy consumption for cooling by between 80 percent and 97 percent.

Neil Bennett, CEO of Iceotope, said: "Information technology has been the poster child of the new economy but its environmental impact has frequently been unaddressed. Given the increasing scarcity of resources such as energy and clean water, Iceotope delivers computing with a conscience. We are proud to have the University of Leeds as partners on this disruptive and exciting journey."

Peter Hopton, Iceotope's chief technology officer and originator of the Iceotope concept, added: "More than five years of research, innovation and collaboration have gone into Iceotope's technology. The basic principle of the design has many applications and, while a few years away, there is no reason why every home shouldn't make better use of the surplus heat from consumer electronics, imagine having your PC or TV plumbed into the central heating system."

Iceotope website

Images: Iceotope

1 comments:

Unknown March 6, 2013 at 7:36 PM  

I just learned of this liquid cooling, I am so in shock by it. I can't believe you can put your phone in it and it will work fine, crazy how far server room cooling has come as of recent. Thanks very much for sharing!

Members:
Supported by:
More news...

  © Blogger template Newspaper III by Ourblogtemplates.com 2008

Back to TOP