What’s New In May – Liquid solution aims to take the heat out of data centres

A supplier of heat transfer liquids for commercial and industrial use has developed an innovative liquid solution that can benefit large-scale data centre cooling.

HT Materials Science (HTMS) says its Maxwell product has been shown in a range of case studies to allow for an expansion of the existing capacity of liquid-based cooling systems by up to 15 percent. This suits the solution to data centre operations looking for additional capacity, says the manufacturer.

In addition, Maxwell has been proven to cut energy demand in chillers, pumps and fan systems, especially for functions where free cooling is not available.  “Maxwell has already established a strong track record with cooling systems that are comparable to those that data centres will need to adopt”, the company states.

Maxwell uses aluminium oxide nanoparticles that HTMS claims offers a significant improvement in performance over other heat transfer fluids.

HTMS, which is based in Ireland and has manufacturing capabilities in Italy, is working with companies in European and other markets to use the technology in a variety of commercial and industrial projects.  It has already worked with leading HVAC companies such as Daikin, Carrier, York and Trane to test their products.

In the UAE, for example, HTMS partnered with district cooling giant Tabreed to use Maxwell in a plant that serviced a multi-building, 600,000 sq. ft. campus in Khalifa City, Abu Dhabi. Maxwell was used in the system’s dual-centrifugal water-cooled chiller with two compressors with a total cooling capacity of 2,500 tonnes.

HTMS says that the Abu Dhabi project was found to have had a notable impact on the energy efficiency of the cooling system.  The company states that this was represented by a 13.6 percent improvement in the coefficient of performance based on more than 2,250 equivalent full load hours used to predict seasonal load from a system.

For more information visit www.htmaterialsscience.com

Pioneering nanofluid technology increased segments of plant’s cooling system capacity by ~ 20%

May 15, 2024 (Dublin, IRELAND) –

HT Materials Science (HTMS) announced today the successful deployment of Maxwell, a ground-breaking heat transfer fluid for commercial and industrial cooling and heating systems, at an industrial plant. The plant, located in Ludwigshafen, Germany, is owned and operated by Almatis GmbH, the world’s leader in the development, manufacture and supply of premium alumina and alumina-based products. Maxwell increased segments of the plant’s cooling system capacity by approximately 20%, through which an increase in production capacity by more than 10% is estimated per year.  The Ludwigshafen plant produces high-quality materials for the refractory, ceramic and polishing industries.

The installation was commissioned to demonstrate that Maxwell could reduce the plant’s maintenance requirements and increase production capacity during certain periods of high ambient temperature. This is the second industrial plant in which Maxwell has been used to achieve similar results.

Maxwell is an engineered suspension of sub-micron particles in a base fluid of water or water/glycol (‘nanofluid’). Maxwell is a drop-in additive for cooling and heating systems, that works by enhancing heat transfer resulting in reduced energy consumption and increased thermal system capacity.

“This project is a testament to our pursuit of energy efficiency at every level of our operations,” said Almatis’ Ruediger Bastian, Global Director Process Technology. “We are always looking for ways to accelerate the energy transition and provide more efficient services that benefit our customers, our stakeholders and the communities in which we operate. This successful project proves the power of international partnership and technological collaboration, and we look forward to working with HTMS to further the application of their technology to advance sustainable cooling solutions.”

Almatis GmbH, founded in 1910, produces high-quality materials for the refractory, ceramic and polishing industries. Almatis is the world’s leader in the development, manufacture and supply of premium alumina and alumina-based products. Almatis is both a global and fully integrated producer, serving its customers from 8 production facilities.

How Maxwell Works in a Chilled Water System
When added to a chilled water loop at a 2% concentration, Maxwell increases the system’s cooling capacity by up to 20%. This increased cooling capacity allows chillers, fan units, pumps, heat exchangers and other process equipment to operate more efficiently, reducing electrical energy consumption and carbon emissions. Maxwell is a non-toxic, non-corrosive material and fully recoverable and recyclable.

Thomas Grizzetti, CEO of HTMS, said that “thanks to the ease of installation, and use in both new and existing cooling and heating systems, Maxwell can have a material impact on energy usage and the carbon footprint of a broad range of industries and sectors globally. Maxwell is a significant step forward for businesses wishing to drive down energy use, increase system capacity and meet regulated energy efficiency targets increasingly promulgated by governments globally.”

For more information visit www.htmaterialsscience.com