MUMBAI – The Indian Institute of Technology Bombay (IIT Bombay) has partnered with technology firm Vertiv to develop advanced cooling solutions for data centers driven by Artificial Intelligence (AI). The collaboration addresses the increasing thermal demands caused by powerful AI hardware, critical for India’s growing digital infrastructure.
The partnership, announced Wednesday, focuses on creating efficient cooling systems. These systems are crucial as AI adoption rapidly expands across Indian businesses. Graphics Processing Units (GPUs), central to high-performance AI operations, show rapidly increasing power consumption, generating significant heat.
AI Growth Fuels Cooling Challenge
AI adoption is a key trend in India’s business landscape. Currently, 54% of Indian businesses utilize AI in some form. This widespread integration necessitates robust and energy-efficient data center operations. The need for specialized cooling solutions becomes more pressing as AI applications demand greater computational power.
The escalating power demands of AI hardware directly impact data center thermal management. In 2022 , average GPU power consumption stood at 700W per chip. Projections indicate this will rise sharply to 1,200W by 2025 . This nearly 70% increase in power consumption generates significantly more heat. It pushes existing air-cooling methods in server racks to their operational limits.
Challenges for Data Center Cooling
- Increased Heat Load: Higher power GPUs generate significantly more heat within confined data center spaces.
- Energy Efficiency: Traditional cooling methods struggle to keep pace, leading to higher energy consumption and operational costs.
- Infrastructure Upgrade: Existing data center infrastructure may require substantial upgrades to handle new thermal demands.
- Sustainability: Developing energy-efficient cooling is vital for sustainable digital growth.
Project Scope and Technical Details
The joint project aims to develop specific cooling technologies. Vertiv will design a specialized dry cooler. This component is crucial for managing a 40 kW liquid cooling load. Liquid cooling solutions are becoming essential for high-density computing environments where air cooling is insufficient.
The research and development phase includes rigorous testing. The RCD (Rack Cooling Distribution) module, once designed, will undergo initial integration and testing at IIT Bombay’s specialized Heat Pump Laboratory . This facility allows for precise environmental control and performance monitoring. Following lab trials, a comprehensive, full-scale evaluation will take place at Vertiv’s advanced testing facility in Pune. This ensures the solution performs effectively in real-world operational scenarios.
Leadership Insights on Collaboration
Shireesh Kedare, Director of IIT Bombay, highlighted the partnership’s role in applied research. “Our collaboration with Vertiv enables us to take research from labs to solutions with direct industrial relevance,” Kedare stated. He emphasized the urgent requirement for technically robust and future-ready approaches as AI and high-performance computing systems continue to evolve rapidly.
AS Prasad, Vice President – Product Management and Engineering at Vertiv, addressed the combined expertise and future talent development. “By combining IIT Bombay’s scientific insights with Vertiv’s global engineering expertise, this collaboration will help prepare the next generation to be better equipped with industry-relevant knowledge,” Prasad said. The partnership leverages Vertiv’s extensive experience from operating thousands of data centers globally.
Training Future Engineers
A key objective extends beyond technology development. It aims to foster a pipeline of skilled engineering talent. Students and researchers will gain hands-on experience with cutting-edge thermal management technologies. This practical exposure prepares them for future roles in the expanding data center and AI infrastructure sectors.
The initiative ensures India’s future engineering workforce is equipped with specialized knowledge. They will possess skills required to design, implement, and maintain advanced cooling strategies. This applies to next-generation AI-driven data centers. This alignment of academic research with industry needs is crucial for innovation and workforce readiness.
Collaboration Benefits
- Enhanced R&D: Combines IIT Bombay’s research capabilities with Vertiv’s industrial expertise.
- Talent Development: Provides practical experience for engineering students in a high-demand field.
- Innovative Solutions: Aims to produce robust and scalable cooling technologies.
- Industry Readiness: Prepares the Indian technology sector for future AI infrastructure challenges.