What Is Air Handling Unit?_
An AHU is a large metal box containing a blower, heating and cooling elements, filter racks, and dampers, typically located outside the data center white space. It regulates temperature, humidity, and air quality by drawing in outside air, filtering it, conditioning it, and distributing it via ductwork. In liquid-cooled GPU clusters, AHUs primarily handle the facility's ambient air rather than directly cooling the IT equipment.
Technical Details
AHUs in data centers are often roof-mounted or placed in mechanical rooms, with capacities sized to the facility's total heat load. They use chilled water or direct expansion (DX) coils for cooling, with variable frequency drives (VFDs) on fans to adjust airflow. For high-density GPU racks, AHUs typically supply air at a set point between 18–27°C, as specified by the OEM, and may be paired with containment systems to manage hot and cold aisles. In liquid-cooled deployments, the AHU's role is reduced to handling only the residual heat not captured by the liquid loop.
How Leviathan Systems Works with Air Handling Unit
During Leviathan Systems field commissioning, we verify AHU airflow and temperature setpoints against the facility's design documents before GPU rack installation. For NVL72 liquid-cooled racks, we ensure the AHU is properly balanced to maintain ambient conditions for the remaining air-cooled components like power supplies and networking gear.
Related service
Liquid Cooling Services →