In this episode of the HVAC On Air podcast, Host Tony Mormino sits down with Kevin Gray, Senior Account Manager at Ambient Data Centers, part of Ambient Enterprises, to discuss data center cooling and how these facilities are designed and operated. Kevin explains what data centers are, why they require constant uptime, and how increasing AI demand is driving rapid growth. They cover key cooling methods such as air cooling, liquid cooling, and the role of chillers and CDUs in managing heat. Kevin also shares insights on equipment challenges, system efficiency, and the importance of redundancy and strong industry relationships. Key Topics:Data center basics and why they require constant uptime.How air cooling and liquid cooling systems remove heat from servers.The role of chillers, CDUs, and heat rejection methods in system design.Challenges with power, equipment availability, and growing AI demand.The importance of redundancy and strong relationships in data center projects. Episode Highlights and Timestamps:[00:00] - Teaser[01:18] - Kevin jokes about the podcast being a lifelong dream[02:54] - Kevin's background: Ohio State mechanical engineering, Copeland intern[06:53] - What is a data centre? Facility designed to host servers 24/7[10:05] - Major players: Meta, Microsoft, Amazon, Oracle, CoreWeave, colo providers[14:32] - Nearly all electricity converted into a chip converts to heat[18:14] - Air-cooled chillers are most common today; 500-ton limit due to truck shipping[22:48] - Dry coolers use no water but are less efficient than cooling towers[28:12] - Direct-to-chip liquid cooling uses a cold plate mounted on the GPU/CPU[31:04] - CDU (Coolant Distribution Unit): heat exchanger, pumps, and valve for precise temperature control[35:50] - Redundancy is critical; generators + batteries keep servers running during outages[39:39] - Lead times now drive purchases; POs issued before designs are finished[43:27] - Mag bearing chillers: oil-free, extremely efficient; some owners skip economizers[49:06] - Relationships with owners are #1; many deals are not bid out, just given to trusted partners 📢Disclaimer: The information in this video is provided for general informational purposes only. It is not intended to be, and should not be relied upon as, professional HVAC training or instruction. All HVAC work should be performed by qualified technicians in accordance with local codes, manufacturer specifications, and applicable safety standards. Ambient Enterprises LLC, its affiliates, and their respective employees are not responsible for any injuries, damages, or losses that may result from the use or misuse of the information or techniques demonstrated in this video. 🔗 Follow the Guest: 👉 Kevin Gray: https://www.linkedin.com/in/kevin-gray-mba-13547356/ 🔗 Follow His Company: 👉 Ambient Enterprises: https://www.linkedin.com/company/ambient-enterprises 👉 Ambient Data Centers: https://www.linkedin.com/showcase/ambientdatacenters 👉 Ambient Enterprises - Website: https://ambient-enterprises.com/data-centers/ 🔗 Follow our Host: 👉 LinkedIn Profile - Tony Mormino: https://www.linkedin.com/in/tony-mormino/ 👉 Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/tony_mormino 👉 Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/profile.php 👉 TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@tonymormino 🔗Follow The Podcast: 👉 LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/hvac-on-air/ 👉 YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@HVACOnAir 👉 Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/0wcUGyeMOKA7hnkGOy3gbz?si=e0878d4ca08a4693 👉 Apple Podcast: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/hvac-on-air/id1866894292 🎙️ Hosted by Tony Mormino, tune in to HVAC On Air for the technical insights, engineering breakdowns, and professional development tools that drive our industry forward.