7 Types of Data Center Cooling Systems That Keep Your Servers Running
Data centers store computer servers and networking equipment. Because servers work all day and night, they produce heat. When there is too much heat, it can damage the equipment. As a result, damaged servers stop working. This can cost businesses money and important data. Data center cooling helps prevent these problems. This industry is growing fast. In fact, the market reached USD 26.31 billion in 2025, according to Grand View Research. Many companies now use data centers, which are shared facilities for multiple businesses. All of these centers need good cooling systems. In this article, we will explain the main types of data center cooling systems. What is a data center cooling system? A Data Center Cooling System is a setup that keeps a data center’s servers and equipment at the right temperature. It works by removing the heat made by servers and other equipment. This way, servers run safely and last longer. Cooling systems have many parts. Some systems blow cold air into the room. Others remove hot air. Then, the cold air flows around the servers to keep them at a safe temperature. This process happens continuously while servers are running. How much cooling does a data center need? The cooling needs depend on how many servers are in the data center. For example, more servers make more heat. A small room with 10 servers needs less cooling than a large data center with thousands of servers. Cooling also uses a lot of electricity. Research from Data Center Knowledge shows that cooling can use 30-40% of a data center’s total power. In addition, powerful computers, like AI servers or graphics processors, produce even more heat. Therefore, the data center cooling system must handle this heat safely. Types of data center cooling systems Data center cooling systems use either air or liquid to remove heat. Air systems are older but still common. Liquid systems are newer and can remove more heat. Some data centers use both types together. To understand it more, below is the explanation of these types. 1. Air cooling systems Air cooling moves air around the room to control temperature. This method is common in most data centers. It includes several types: 2. Liquid cooling systems Liquid cooling uses water or special fluids. It removes more heat than air systems. According to BIS Research, the liquid cooling market reached $5,654.8 million in 2024. This method includes: Choosing the right cooling system Choosing a cooling system for a data center requires planning. You should consider your equipment, budget, and local weather. Many centers use more than one type of cooling. This helps save energy and provides backup options. Also, regular maintenance keeps the system working and prevents costly problems. Good cooling system also needs fast and reliable networks. For example, ARNet provides dark fiber networks in Southeast Asia. Dark fiber is a private fiber optic network you control. In fact, ARNet covers over 10,000 km and connects 60 colocation data centers in Malaysia, Indonesia, Singapore, and Thailand. ARNet owns and manages the network equipment. This means we can fix problems quickly and add new connections fast. Our dark fiber allows upgrades to speed anytime. As a result, we provide 99.99% uptime. This network helps data centers run cooling systems smoothly and reliably. About the Author Nabila Choirunnisa, Digital Marketing Executive at ARNet