LG Uplus will work with Korea Ecolab, a global water treatment solutions company, to develop operating standards for liquid cooling at AI data centres.

LG Uplus said on Oct. 28 it signed a memorandum of understanding with Korea Ecolab on Oct. 27 at its Yongsan office building in Seoul to optimise operation of AI data centre cooling systems.

The spread of AI services has boosted adoption of high-performance graphics processing unit (GPU) servers, increasing heat output at data centres. Liquid-cooling technology, which is more efficient than air cooling, is drawing attention. Still, if coolant quality deteriorates or facility management is inadequate, cooling performance can decline and equipment can fail.

The companies will pursue technical verification for stable operation of a Technology Cooling System Loop (TCS loop) that circulates coolant by connecting AI server racks with coolant distribution units. LG Uplus will provide a large-scale liquid-cooling testbed being built at its Pyeongchon 2 centre to verify next-generation GPU-based AI infrastructure. Korea Ecolab will use its digital water quality monitoring system to establish a coolant quality management framework.

The companies will jointly analyse data generated from coolant conditions and key cooling facilities to verify optimal operating standards. They aim to improve cooling stability for high-density, high-heat AI servers and build a management framework to detect early signs of facility abnormalities. They also plan to expand cooperation to a predictive maintenance system that uses AI to identify and address abnormal signs in liquid-cooling facilities.

Jeong Suk-kyung (정숙경), an executive director in charge of LG Uplus' AIDC business, said, "Through this cooperation, we will secure liquid-cooling operating standards and a quality management system and provide customers with a more stable and reliable AI data centre operating environment."

Ryu Yang-kwon (류양권), CEO of Korea Ecolab, said, "For stable operation of AI data centres, systematic management of coolant is essential as well as cooling facilities," adding, "Together with LG Uplus, we will contribute to improving the reliability of liquid-cooling operations and establishing operating standards."