Role of Dehumidification, AI in Climate Control for Data Center Sustainability

In an exclusive conversation with DataQuest, Dr. Vijay Chaudhry, CEO of Bry Air provided deep insights into the company’s dehumidification technology and its impact on data center reliability, innovations in climate control solutions, and the adoption of AI-driven technologies.

The discussion covered a broad spectrum, from emerging technology needs and sustainability challenges to the future of high-performance cooling solutions tailored for hyperscale data centers and edge computing.

Excerpts:

DQ: What was the vision behind Bry Air? What was the perspective that led to its inception?

The applications of dehumidification are as vast as the air itself. I often use an analogy where I compare dehumidification with how Mother Nature has created a particular atmosphere for every living and non-living being. Every entity, whether human, metal, wood, or electronic equipment, functions optimally under specific climatic conditions, which include temperature, pressure, humidity, and the composition of gases in the surrounding atmosphere. Any deviation from these conditions leads to alterations in behavior and efficiency.

For instance, when temperatures are high, people tend to become irritable. Similarly, if metals like iron are exposed to an atmosphere rich in gases and humidity, they undergo corrosion. Wood, if subjected to extreme temperatures, is at risk of catching fire. Each entity—whether human or non-human—has its own set of ideal atmospheric conditions to maintain stability and longevity.

Bry Air was founded with the vision of creating controlled climatic conditions to serve these varied purposes. If we take the example of data centers, maintaining the right humidity levels and controlling the presence of certain gases is crucial. If these parameters are not kept in check, electronic circuits may deteriorate due to corrosion, leading to malfunction and failure. Similarly, in the food industry, many materials are hygroscopic, meaning they absorb moisture from the air. This can lead to the formation of fungus, ultimately compromising the quality of raw materials. To prevent such issues, humidity control is essential.

We see ourselves as a catalyst for industries, helping them improve the quality of their products and enhance operational efficiency through precise atmospheric control.

DQ: How does Bry Air’s dehumidification technology support the reliability of data centers?

Data centers operate with different reliability grades as they are mission-critical infrastructures where failures are not an option. One of the most common threats to data centers is electronic corrosion, which occurs if humidity and gas traces exceed the acceptable range.

With the increasing miniaturization of electronic circuits, even a slight amount of corrosion can result in short circuits, leading to unpredictable failures. If a data center’s electronic systems begin behaving erratically due to corroded circuits, the consequences can be catastrophic, affecting entire organizations and industries dependent on those systems.

To prevent this, dehumidification and gas-phase filtration play a critical role. Our technology ensures that the atmospheric conditions in data centers remain within optimal limits, preserving the integrity of electronic circuits and extending their operational lifespan. This is how Bry Air contributes to enhancing reliability and performance in data centers.

DQ: Data center cooling is another major challenge. What kind of innovation does Bry Air bring to the table in tackling this issue?

Cooling is an essential component of data center operations, especially in tropical climates like India, where ambient temperatures can be significantly high. We have developed an indirect evaporative cooling system, which consumes far less energy than traditional cooling methods. This is a crucial innovation considering that data centers are among the most energy-intensive facilities.

We also offer an absorption chiller technology, which leverages waste heat from data centers. If the system receives water heated to around 60-70 degrees Celsius, it can generate a chilling effect without any additional energy cost. With the increasing adoption of water-immersed cooling technology, data centers can provide a consistent flow of 60-70 degree Celsius water, which can be repurposed to cool data center rooms. This approach effectively converts waste heat into useful cooling, making it an energy-efficient and cost-effective solution.

Currently, Bry Air is the only company in the world offering this technology, making it a revolutionary step in sustainable cooling.

DQ: Can you discuss the role of advanced analytics, IoT, and AI in enhancing climate control solutions?

The world today is moving towards artificial intelligence-driven automation, and Bry Air has been ahead of the curve in this regard. In 2012, we launched BriSmart, a patented IoT-enabled intelligent dehumidification system.

Traditionally, dehumidifiers are designed based on extreme climatic conditions, which may only occur for a short duration in a year. This results in unnecessary energy consumption as equipment continues to operate under worst-case scenarios.

With BriSmart, our dehumidifiers dynamically adjust their operations based on real-time external climate variations. For instance, during monsoons, when humidity levels are high, the system operates at full capacity. However, during dry summer months, when humidity is naturally lower, the system scales down its operation, preventing excessive energy use. This self-adjusting mechanism makes our technology significantly more energy-efficient and adaptive to fluctuating climatic conditions.

DQ: How does Bry Air support companies in achieving their sustainability goals?

Sustainability is a central focus of all our innovations. The BriSmart series helps industries reduce energy consumption by dynamically adjusting to humidity levels, leading to significant energy savings.

In the pharmaceutical industry, traditional dehumidifiers require regeneration at 140-160 degrees Celsius. We introduced a dehumidification solution that operates at just 95 degrees Celsius, cutting energy consumption by 40-50%. By 2025, we aim to reduce this further to 80 degrees Celsius, effectively halving energy requirements in comparison to current industry standards.

We are also working on a heat pump design, where waste heat from condensers can be used to regenerate dehumidification systems. This eliminates the need for additional heating, making the entire system self-sustaining and highly energy-efficient.

DQ: How does Bry Air cater to the needs of hyperscale data centers versus edge computing?

Hyperscale data centers require high-capacity dehumidifiers and gas-phase filtration systems to maintain optimal environmental conditions on a large scale. In contrast, edge computing facilities, which are usually containerized and modular, need compact and efficient solutions.

For edge data centers, we offer standalone dehumidifiers that can be installed within the container itself. We also provide Mission Critical Units (MCUs), which are compact gas-phase filtration systems that can be placed in false ceilings, optimizing space without compromising efficiency.

DQ: High-Performance Computing (HPC) requires massive cooling solutions. How does Bry Air adapt its solutions to HPC environments?

HPC environments demand highly efficient cooling solutions due to their intensive power consumption. Our absorption chiller technology is ideal for these setups, as it converts waste heat into cooling energy.

Another solution we offer is indirect evaporative cooling, which minimizes the energy required for cooling while ensuring stable thermal conditions for high-density computing. As HPC workloads continue to expand, our technology is evolving to provide even more scalable and sustainable cooling solutions.

DQ: How sustainable are Indian data centers today, and how far are we from achieving net-zero targets?

While India has made great strides in data center reliability, energy efficiency remains a challenge. The industry is increasingly aware of issues such as humidity control, energy conservation, and gas-phase filtration, making Indian data centers highly reliable. However, achieving net-zero emissions will take at least another 5-10 years.