How Legrand Combines High-Density Racks and Rear-Door Cooling for HPC

As High-Performance Computing (HPC), artificial intelligence and other demanding workloads continue to increase data center power and thermal requirements, traditional infrastructure must evolve to support higher rack densities. While conventional data centers have historically operated at approximately 1 kW to 5 kW per rack, modern high-density environments can exceed 10 kW per cabinet, with some applications reaching up to 90 kW. At Legrand Data Center Solutions, we bring together complementary technologies from our specialist brands to help customers address these changing infrastructure requirements. Discover how our integrated HPC solution combines high-density racks, precision cooling, intelligent power distribution and advanced networking. Structural Foundation for High-Density IT At the core of the solution is the Minkels Nexpand cabinet, providing a secure and mechanically robust platform for mission-critical HPC applications. Its reinforced structure and secure locking system help protect high-value IT equipment while maintaining accessibility for servicing and maintenance. Advanced Rear-Door Cooling for High Thermal Loads As rack heat densities increase, conventional CRAC cooling may no longer provide the precision required. The solution integrates USystems ColdLogik Rear Door Heat Exchangers (RDHx), with cooling capacity of up to 100 kW. Operating as an air-to-water heat exchanger, the system manages heat directly at the cabinet: • Cold air enters through the front of the rack and is heated by IT equipment. • Heated air passes through the rear-door heat exchanger. • Cold water absorbs the heat before the air exits the cabinet. • Cooled air is returned to the data center environment. This approach helps contain and manage heat at rack level, with the system described as thermally neutral to the wider data center. Rear-door fans consume less than 1 kW, supporting energy-conscious cooling operation. Intelligent Power Distribution and Monitoring Power distribution is managed through Raritan or Server Technology intelligent rack PDUs, providing advanced visibility and control at equipment level. Key capabilities include: • Per-outlet power metering and switching. • Granular power monitoring for connected devices. • Integrated temperature and humidity monitoring. • Operational data export to DCIM and Building Management Systems (BMS). A Smart Rack Controller can further extend environmental monitoring and access control within the cabinet. High-Performance Networking Integration To support HPC data throughput requirements, the solution incorporates Infinium pre-terminated network technology, enabling rapid deployment and flexible configuration according to workload requirements. An Integrated HPC Infrastructure Ecosystem By combining Minkels Nexpand cabinets, USystems ColdLogik rear-door cooling, Raritan or Server Technology intelligent power distribution and Infinium networking, Legrand brings together the infrastructure components needed for high-density computing environments. Discover how Legrand Data Center Solutions can help support the thermal, power and connectivity requirements of modern HPC applications. 🌐 Explore Legrand Cooling Solutions: https://www.legrand.com/datacenter/gb... 🌐 Learn more about Legrand Data Center Solutions: https://www.legrand.com/datacenter 🔗 Follow us on LinkedIn:   / legrand-data-center   We Go Further. #LegrandImprovingLives #HPC #HighPerformanceComputing #DataCenterCooling #RearDoorCooling #RDHx #Minkels #USystems #Raritan #ServerTechnology #Infinium #HighDensityDataCenter #DataCenterInfrastructure #LegrandDataCenterSolutions