Rack Densities Are Rising Fast—And They’re Not Slowing Down
Welcome to Keep Your Cool - a blog about simple cooling optimization strategies for the busy data center operators.
Earlier this month, the Purkay Labs Team went to the Data Center World Conference and five key trends stood out—and all point to one thing: the data center of the future is going to be hotter, denser, and harder to cool. In this blog series, we’re diving deeper into each trend to offer practical insights and field-tested solutions.
First up: rising rack densities.
As AI workloads surge, the power—and heat—inside every rack is growing fast. Here’s what that means for your facility, and how to get ahead of the cooling curve.
Why airflow matters more than ever as high-density racks become the new normal
The data center landscape is shifting—fast. AI and machine learning workloads are pushing the average rack density from 5kW to 16kW, with hyperscalers planning for 60kW to 100kW+ per rack. These aren’t just projections—they’re active design targets. Operators who want to remain competitive need to prepare now for this new reality. High-density racks are no longer an outlier; they’re the future.
But with that shift comes a critical challenge: cooling. As power density climbs, so does the heat load. Traditional cooling setups—designed for lower wattage racks—aren’t equipped to handle these demands. It’s not just about adding more cooling units. It’s about making sure airflow reaches where it matters: at the rack level. Without a clear understanding of how air moves through your white space, high-density racks can quickly become high-risk.
The good news? You don’t need a total infrastructure overhaul to get started. Improving airflow and rack-level uniformity can extend your existing cooling capacity. By identifying and addressing hot spots early, operators can safely add density without compromising uptime. That starts with visibility—real, rack-level data that tells you what your environment is doing under load.
That’s where Purkay Labs’ AUDIT-BUDDY comes in. Our portable system provides accurate, real-time airflow and temperature measurements at the rack level. No shutdowns. No permanent installation. Just fast insight into what’s working—and what’s not. Facilities across the country use AUDIT-BUDDY during upgrades, capacity planning, and commissioning to validate airflow before issues arise.
The future of data centers will be dense. Operators who plan ahead will be the ones who scale without disruption. Don’t wait for your first failure to find out where your cooling gaps are. Contact Purkay Labs to learn how we can help you validate airflow and prepare for the rack densities ahead.
About the Author:
Aheli Purkayastha is the Chief Product Officer at Purkay Labs, a Massachusetts-based company that develops portable environmental monitoring tools for mission-critical spaces like data centers and labs. She leads product strategy and innovation, focusing on practical, cost-effective airflow management solutions. in 2012, Aheli transitioned from a career in international development—including work with the UN Security Council and Oxfam—to the data center industry to help improve energy efficiency through better monitoring.
She holds degrees from Bryn Mawr College and the University of Edinburgh and is a founding member of WiMCO, bringing more women in mission-critical operations. She is the President of the 7x24 New England Chapter. Outside of work, Aheli is a member of the Bryn Mawr College’s President’s Advisory Council, volunteers with the IRS VITA program, and enjoys renovating homes and sailing in Narragansett Bay. You can connect with her on LinkedIn.