We have over a century of experience locating industries that hog water, power, and makes noise. The only reason this seems new is because of folks telling half-truths like “closed loop.”
Either or both. That’s why “closed loop” doesn’t really tell us about overall water consumption. As LT clarified well, it tells us only about water consumption for the fluid that touches the chips. It’s a hollow buzzword they use to sound smart, innovative and responsible. And Im also in the...
The Richland Parish Meta data center will use closed loop cooling. See end of page 2 here. https://datacenters.atmeta.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/12/Metas-Richland-Parish-Data-Center.pdf
Also, per...
“Closed loop cooling” and “evaporative cooling” are not mutually exclusive terms. I’m beginning to think the impasse is because you DC engrs just have your own lingo. Do data centers using closed loop cooling ALWAYS use fans to reject heat from the loop? If so, I will acquiesce and go forward...
It does NOT eliminate continuous water withdrawal. It might. It might not. But many closed loop cooling systems still use incredible amounts of water. That’s the point I’m trying to make.
Data centers touting closed loop cooling is analogous to them claiming “it won’t be very loud.” Literally...
You have to reject the heat somewhere. As they “get better,” where are they getting better at rejecting it to? I’m a process engineer. These vagaries don’t impress me. Industries have needed to cool hot stuff for well over a century — your data centers are not new to that thermodynamic problem...
I’d argue “localized” is what matters most. I’m local, and so are you. To somewhere.
If it’s happened in some locales, is it not proof that others are next. I don’t know what the future holds, but logic tells me that we are allowing only a small fraction of the rainwater to infiltrate and...
You don’t think so? I think it’s a real thing in some areas. I also believe it will eventually become a problem in more areas. I don’t believe there is much data on it yet, but our land use practices across most of the continent that actually receives rainfall have changed drastically over the...
Are we no longer concerned with climate change from greenhouse gas emissions? That’s their biggest impact. The incremental power they require is coming from fossil fuels nearly exclusively. If there was an expansion in the petrochemical industry demanding this much more power generation over...