July 6, 2010
IBM supercomputer with Aquasar cooling system is online, the Swiss get warm while the computer stays cool
by Shayne Rana
The Swiss Federal Institute of Technology Zurich (ETH Zurich) is has just received a supercomputer with the Aquasar cooling system. This is a system that’s cooled by hot water (????) and has been developed by IBM. IBM says this is the beginning of “a new era in energy-aware computing”. This system is designed to consume almost 40 percent less energy than an air-cooled machine. This green system also uses waste heat to provide warmth to university buildings. It’s a closed circuit system that’s designed to eliminate the need for energy-hungry chillers. A passive heat exchanger cools the water to the required temperature as it tends to get heated constantly by the chips. The heat that’s collected is directed toward the heating system of the university.
