LA Startup Uses Rocket Science to Cool Data Centers Sustainably
Karman Industries Develops Rocket-Inspired Cooling System for Data Centers
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Karman Industries, a startup based in Signal Hill, California, is developing a cooling system for data centers that utilizes technology derived from SpaceX rocket engines to reduce energy consumption and environmental impact.
How Karman’s System Works
Data centers require meaningful cooling to prevent overheating of high-end chips, which can slow down or shut off at temperatures exceeding 150 degrees Fahrenheit (65.5 degrees Celsius). Karman’s system employs liquid carbon dioxide as a refrigerant, circulated using compressor technology adapted from SpaceX rocket engines, rather than customary fans.
Efficiency and Environmental Benefits
The company claims its efficient pumps can reduce the space required for data center cooling equipment by 80%. Traditional data center cooling methods,including air conditioning and liquid cooling,often require substantial water usage. Karman’s system operates without water consumption.
Funding and Production
Karman Industries recently secured $20 million in funding and plans to begin manufacturing its first compressors in Long Beach, California, later in 2024. The company aims to reduce the electrical consumption associated with data center cooling.
The problem of Data Center Cooling
Cooling warehouses filled with tens of thousands of chips can necessitate extensive equipment and large volumes of water. A typical data center can use as much water as a city of 75,000 people, according to the Environmental and Energy Study Institute (https://www.eesi.org/articles/view/data-center-energy-consumption-and-water-use).
Company Leadership
David Tearse serves as the Chief Executive Officer of Karman Industries. He stated the company’s goal is to “reduce that electrical consumption of cooling so that you have the most efficient way to cool these chips.”