The index is in development

Post Labor Economics

Figure 4

Inside an AI data center.

Illustrative. The drawing is shown at its authored width when the window is wide enough.

Figure 4. Inside an AI data center FIG. 4 / CUTAWAY ISOMETRICILLUSTRATIVEDETAIL A: COMPUTE TRAY, EXPLODED (GB200 NVL72 TYPE)Cold plates, lifted64 Blackwell GPUs2 Grace CPUsTray frontRear liquidquick disconnectsENLARGED, NOT TO SCALE1234578VIA TRANSFER SWITCHKEY1Utility substationHIGH TO MEDIUM VOLTAGE2Switchgear, transformersSTEP DOWN TO LOW VOLTAGE3UPS and batteriesCARRY THE LOAD UNTIL GENERATORS START4Backup generatorsFEED SWITCHGEAR VIA TRANSFER SWITCH5Compute hallRACKS FED BY OVERHEAD BUSWAY6Compute trayLIQUID-COOLED; SEE DETAIL A7Coolant distribution unitFACILITY WATER TO RACK LOOP8Dry coolersREJECT HEAT TO OUTSIDE AIRPower pathGenerator feedFacility water loopRack liquid loopCut sectionFigure 4. Inside an AI data center.Power comes from the utility substation (1) to switchgear and transformers that step it down to low voltage (2). The UPS (3) carries the load throughan outage until the backup generators (4), tied in through transfer switches, take over. Overhead busways feed the racks (5), and each compute tray(6) turns power into computation and heat. A coolant distribution unit (7) passes heat from the rack liquid loop to the facility water loop, and drycoolers (8) reject it to outside air. Counts are simplified: a real hall holds hundreds to thousands of racks, and a GB200 NVL72 rack holds 18 computetrays and draws about 120 kW. Not to scale.

Figure 4. Inside an AI data center. Power comes from the utility substation (1) to switchgear and transformers that step it down to low voltage (2). The UPS (3) carries the load through an outage until the backup generators (4), tied in through transfer switches, take over. Overhead busways feed the racks (5), and each compute tray (6) turns power into computation and heat. A coolant distribution unit (7) passes heat from the rack liquid loop to the facility water loop, and dry coolers (8) reject it to outside air. Counts are simplified: a real hall holds hundreds to thousands of racks, and a GB200 NVL72 rack holds 18 compute trays and draws about 120 kW. Not to scale.