LG Uplus has partnered with Ecolab Korea, a global water treatment solutions company, to jointly develop operational standards for liquid cooling in next-generation AI data centers (AIDC).
The memorandum of understanding (MOU) was signed on October 27 at LG Uplus's headquarters in Yongsan, Seoul. Key representatives from both companies, including Jeong Suk-kyung, Executive Director of LG Uplus's AIDC division, and Ryu Yang-kwon, CEO of Ecolab Korea, attended the ceremony.
As AI services expand, the adoption of graphics processing unit (GPU) servers has increased, leading to higher server density and significantly greater heat generation in data centers. Consequently, liquid cooling technology, which offers higher cooling efficiency than traditional air cooling methods, is gaining attention as a critical infrastructure for AIDC. However, without proper equipment management, cooling performance can decline, potentially leading to equipment failures, highlighting the need for systematic management standards.
LG Uplus plans to combine its AIDC construction and operational capabilities with Ecolab's expertise in global water treatment and cooling fluid management to develop these liquid cooling operational standards. The two companies will particularly focus on jointly validating technology for the stable operation of the 'TCS loop,' which circulates cooling fluid between AI server racks and cooling water distribution units.
To validate next-generation AI infrastructure based on GPU architecture, LG Uplus will provide a large-scale liquid cooling demonstration environment being established at its Pyeongchon 2 Center. Ecolab will implement a digital water quality management monitoring system to establish a cooling fluid quality management framework.
Additionally, both companies plan to analyze data from the cooling fluid state and key cooling equipment to verify optimal operational standards and management strategies. They aim to create a management system that ensures stable cooling for high-density, high-heat AI servers and enables early detection of anomalies in the liquid cooling system.
Jeong Suk-kyung, Executive Director of LG Uplus's AIDC division, stated, "As the density and heat generation of AIDC accelerate, the capability for liquid cooling operations has emerged as a key factor in the competitiveness of AI infrastructure. Through this collaboration, we will secure operational standards and quality management systems for liquid cooling, providing customers with a more stable and reliable AIDC operating environment."
* This article has been translated by AI.
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