Corrosion in data centre cooling systems
November 2025
IT in Manufacturing
With the unprecedented rise in cloud computing and AI, the need for data centres and supercomputers is booming. The astronomical output of artificial brain activity demands enormous amounts of power, which quickly convert to heat as these mega-computers process billions of ‘thoughts’ per second. The natural consequence is the proliferation of giant chillers kicking in for hot summer months and going idle during cold weather. Whatever the season, Cortec Corporation shares insights into why and how to win the battle.
The problem with corrosion in cooling water systems
Preventing corrosion in data centre cooling water systems isn’t just for looks. Corrosion weakens the metal walls of piping and equipment, creating holes over time, shortening the service life of the cooling system and increasing downtime for repairs, not to mention the potential for water damage from leaks. In addition, corrosion debris threatens to clog the system or poison the water by raising the levels of iron or other metals in the chemistry profile. By avoiding these problems, corrosion prevention can ultimately save significant time and expense, and the headaches that go with them.
Corrosion protection during operation
Although corrosion inhibitors are a standard part of water treatment programmes for active chillers or cooling towers, they are sometimes overlooked due to a lack of communication or awareness. If facilities find that a corrosion inhibitor is missing, they can add M-640 L or a similar additive. This building block for water treatment formulations offers comprehensive protection thanks to the presence of both contact and vapour phase corrosion inhibitors, which protect metals below and above the water level. It is also an excellent replacement for silicates, phosphates and nitrite-based compounds where disposal restrictions apply.
Corrosion protection during seasonal layup
Whereas the use of a corrosion inhibitor during operation is the normal practice, preservation of chillers or cooling tower systems that sit idle during cool weather is less widespread than it should be. With their normal water treatment programme inactive, these components are also at higher risk of corrosion from residual moisture or condensation as temperatures and humidity fluctuate.
Where temperatures stay above freezing, data centres may prefer to keep chillers on standby via wet layup with Cortec’s VpCI-649, a robust corrosion inhibitor package for wet or dry layup. If freezing is a concern, water treatment professionals can drain the water after applying VpCI-649, or they can apply the Cooling Tower Frog to an empty chiller. Both treatments include vapour phase corrosion inhibitors that diffuse throughout the void space and form a protective molecular layer on metal surfaces as long as the system remains closed. When temperatures climb high enough to warrant a return to service, the cooling water systems can easily be restarted without having to remove the product first, all while avoiding complications from corrosion during layup.
Stay cool and fight corrosion
With cloud-computing and AI only promising to get bigger and place more and more cooling towers and chillers on the horizon, now is the time to equip data centre managers and water treatment service providers with the tools and knowledge they need to minimise corrosion headaches and help data centres ‘keep their cool’ when it comes to corrosion.
For more information contact Cortec Corporation, +1 800 426 7832, [email protected]., www.cortecvci.com
Further reading:
Overcoming the bottling industry’s fragmented visibility
Schneider Electric South Africa
IT in Manufacturing Electrical Power & Protection
Beverage bottling facilities are among manufacturing’s most energy-intensive environments, yet many still operate without granular insight into where that energy goes. Rezolia Muller-Potluri of Schneider Electric explains how tiered metering architecture and advanced
Read more...
Advancing intelligent apparel manufacturing with industrial AI and humanoid robotics
IT in Manufacturing
Jack Technology, a global maker of industrial sewing equipment, has chosen Siemens software and engineering tools to bring artificial intelligence and humanoid robots into apparel production, aiming to shorten development cycles and lift manufacturing efficiency.
Read more...
New chiller line for high-density AI data centres
Schneider Electric South Africa
IT in Manufacturing
Schneider Electric has launched the Uniflair XCA, a new series of air-cooled and free-cooling chillers designed for artificial intelligence-driven, high-density liquid-cooled data centres.
Read more...
Turning system integrators into trusted technology partners
Schneider Electric South Africa
IT in Manufacturing System Integration & Control Systems Design
Schneider Electric’s Alliance Partner Programme is repositioning system integrators from hardware suppliers into lifecycle-value partners. Oriel Soupen explains the competency framework, certification model and real-world results that are already helping African system integrators win higher-value, longer-term engagements.
Read more...
Why renewable projects need integrated protection and control
IT in Manufacturing
Fragmented secondary plant integration in renewable energy projects causes costly delays during commissioning. ACTOM Protection and Control’s Secondary Plant Integration solution consolidates all secondary systems under a single engineering framework, reducing risk and accelerating grid
Read more...
When digital twins move from concept to critical tool
IT in Manufacturing System Integration & Control Systems Design Maintenance, Test & Measurement, Calibration
Digital twins are moving out of the lab and onto the mine, the factory floor and the transport network where they predict failures before they happen. Amritesh Anand looks at where they earn their keep, the data and integration work behind them, and the security questions every organisation should ask before switching one on.
Read more...
How a digital foundation can overcome the LNG trilemma
Schneider Electric South Africa
IT in Manufacturing SCADA/HMI
The LNG sector is racing to add capacity, but without a digital backbone, growth creates complexity rather than capability. Christophe Begat of Schneider Electric explains how connecting data, systems and analytics across the LNG value chain can resolve the trilemma of secure supply, lower emissions and tighter costs.
Read more...
Decarbonisation is reshaping mining strategy in Africa
Schneider Electric South Africa
IT in Manufacturing Electrical Power & Protection
Mining companies across Africa are embedding decarbonisation into operational strategy, driven by investor, regulatory and customer pressure to reduce emissions while improving resilience.
Read more...
Siemens and HighByte partner to scale industrial AI
Siemens South Africa
IT in Manufacturing Fieldbus & Industrial Networking
Siemens is expanding its Industrial Edge ecosystem through a partnership with HighByte, enabling customers to connect, contextualise and transform data from operational technology and information technology sources to build AI models and applications at scale.
Read more...
Africa on the edge of a digital future
Schneider Electric South Africa
IT in Manufacturing
Edge computing promises lower latency, stronger reliability and real-time responsiveness across Africa, yet its rollout keeps colliding with one stubborn obstacle, power. Steven Santini explores how renewable microgrids, smart energy management and the right partnerships could turn the continent’s energy gap into its biggest edge opportunity.
Read more...
printer friendly version