What is a liquid-cooled load bank and why do AI data centers need one?
A liquid-cooled load bank rejects its heat into a water or coolant loop instead of the air, so it can simulate the very high power densities of AI GPU racks. AI data centers use them to commission and prove direct-to-chip cooling, CDUs and the power train at full density before installing expensive accelerators.
What is direct-to-chip / CDU load testing?
Direct-to-chip cooling pipes liquid to the chip; a coolant distribution unit (CDU) manages that loop. A liquid-cooled load bank applies a controllable thermal load to that loop so teams can verify flow, temperature and the CDU under sustained full load during commissioning.
How much heat per rack can a liquid-cooled load bank simulate?
Ashford liquid-cooled load banks simulate the high-density loads of modern AI racks — from about 40 kW to over 130 kW per rack — at controllable temperatures, scaling to MW-class for full white-space commissioning.