Reducing downtime with advanced plate heat exchangers in data cente

Why cooling reliability matters more than ever

Data centers today handle massive amounts of information. This creates higher heat loads and nonstop operations, putting traditional HVAC systems under pressure. Cooling is no longer just a utility; it is a core part of operational stability. A reliable cooling system maintains safe temperatures, uses energy efficiently, and provides backup when needed.

Liquid-based systems, including liquid cooling and PHEs, are now helping data centers stay online with greater reliability.

Liquid cooling: A smarter path to energy efficiency

As the industry moves toward green IT and sustainability, more operators are adopting liquid cooling because it removes heat more effectively than air cooling. When combined with efficient low-speed ventilation, it creates a stable environment while reducing energy use.

Plate heat exchangers play a key role here. Their compact size, strong thermal performance, and low-fouling design make them ideal for busy data centers with limited space and high cooling demands.

How plate heat exchangers reduce downtime

Advanced PHEs offer several benefits that directly support reliability and uptime:

1. High thermal performance

PHEs transfer heat quickly and efficiently, keeping servers within safe temperature limits even during peak loads or extreme weather.

2. Perfect for edge and modular data centers As edge data centers become more common, operators need cooling systems that are compact and scalable. Plate heat exchangers fit easily within these smaller environments without reducing performance.

3. Built-In Redundancy

PHEs can work alongside backup systems, such as dry coolers, to create a cooling loop that continues running even if one component has an issue.

4. Supports free cooling

Improving PUE (Power Usage Effectiveness) is a major goal for data centers. PHEs make it easy to use free cooling sources like cold outdoor air or water, which reduces chiller usage and cuts energy consumption.

5. Enables heat recovery

Instead of letting waste heat escape, PHEs can help transfer it for reuse in district heating, preheating, or internal energy recovery. This boosts sustainability and reduces operating costs.

Hybrid cooling with dry coolers: A strong defense against outages

Pairing PHEs with modern dry coolers creates a highly reliable hybrid cooling system.

· In cold weather, dry coolers can handle the full load using free cooling.

· In warm weather, they support the main cooling system to maintain stable temperatures.

This approach provides two major advantages:

· Lower energy use by reducing dependence on chillers

· Higher uptime even during maintenance or unexpected heat spikes

Moving toward sustainable, reliable data centers

As the demand for data continues to grow, operators must reduce cooling risks, improve efficiency, and work toward net-zero goals. Plate heat exchangers support all these priorities by making cooling systems smarter, more stable, and more energy efficient.

Their ability to stabilize temperatures, save energy, enable heat reuse, and integrate with modern liquid-cooling solutions makes them a valuable asset in today’s digital world.

Cooling solutions designed for reliability, free cooling, and heat recovery are redefining how data centers operate—keeping them running smoothly even under the toughest conditions.