Case Study: MULTI-SWELL® Ensures Reliable Sealing in Hyperscale Data Center Cooling System
Industry
Data Centers
Operating Conditions
Size: 2” through 16” raised-face flanges, 150# rating, 1/8” thick ring gaskets
Temperature: Ambient
Application: Industrial chiller and coolant distribution piping system
Media: Water and glycol coolant blend
Pressure: 100 psi (7 bar)
Background
A global technology leader was constructing a hyperscale data center requiring uninterrupted, high-efficiency cooling to protect mission-critical computer infrastructure. The facility relied on a closed-loop chilled water and glycol system circulating continuously through industrial chillers and extensive piping networks. Flanged joints throughout the system represented potential leak points that could compromise cooling integrity. Given the scale of the installation and the operational risks associated with leakage, the EPC and trade partners required a gasketing solution capable of delivering long-term reliability without ongoing maintenance intervention.
Challenges Faced
The customer needed to seal raised-face flanges in a mission-critical cooling network operating continuously. Any leakage within the chiller loop could lead to cooling loss, unsceduled downtime, safety risks in mechanical spaces, and potential damage to IT equipment due to overheating. Traditional gasket solutions often require bolt retorquing after installation due to relaxation, adding maintenance and labor costs. For a data center environment, where uptime is paramount, the customer needed a gasket that could maintain sealing stress with less periodic adjustment.
Solution and Benefits
Garlock recommended MULTI-SWELL Style 3760 Pipe Flange Gaskets to deliver reliable, low-maintenance sealing in the data center’s cooling system. When exposed to water and glycol, the gasket’s controlled swell generates additional compressive load, allowing it to maintain sealing stress and compensate for flange relaxation without retorquing the bolts.
The material’s high compressibility enabled effective sealing on raised-face cast iron flanges, even where minor surface irregularities existed. Unlike traditional fiber gaskets that can wick fluid and weep over time, MULTISWELL resists crushing and leakage under continuous circulation.
MULTI-SWELL Style 3760 achieved leak-free performance from startup, reducing maintenance demands, minimizing housekeeping issues, and protecting uninterrupted cooling required for mission-critical data center operation.
