OVHcloud recently unveiled its open-sourcing of key water cooling system components during the 2024 Open Compute Project (OCP) EMEA Regional Summit in Lisbon. This strategic move by the French cloud computing leader involves sharing the designs of the Manual Control Valve (MVC) and what they called a 3 Balls Flow Meter, targeting an enhancement in the sustainability and efficiency of data centers worldwide.

Ali Chehade, OVHcloud’s head of R&D-Cooling, elaborated on the functionality and design of these components in two detailed whitepapers. The MVC is praised for its straightforward, reliable analog design, which enhances operational efficiency by reducing the complexity usually associated with automated valves. These valves often require extensive maintenance and are both costly and bulky. The MVC’s manual mechanism allows straightforward flow management, significantly simplifying the maintenance process while maintaining high functionality.

The 3 Balls Flow Meter introduces an innovative way to measure flow, utilizing three balls of varying sizes to resist water flow within a tube. This method reduces the usual complexities and high maintenance associated with more traditional flow meters, while offering precise measurements and ease of integration within existing systems.

These innovations align with OVHcloud’s aim to reduce the costs associated with liquid-cooled data centers, which are increasingly necessary to support the heavy computational demands of modern AI technologies, all while adhering to strict environmental, social, and governance (ESG) standards. By making these technologies available to the public, OVHcloud hopes to foster a more efficient, less environmentally impactful global data center infrastructure.

Furthermore, OVHcloud is advancing its commitment to sustainability through its participation in the OpenBMC project, enhancing open-source firmware to ensure better security and update support for servers, whether they are in active use or decommissioned.