The Open Compute Project (OCP) is opening a new chapter in data centre design, attempting to reconcile two technological elements: classical large-scale computing (HPC) and highly sensitive quantum mechanics. The organisation has begun work on formulating precise guidelines to enable these systems to coexist within a single server room. Although the vision of hybrid computing promises a leap in performance, the engineering reality presents facility operators with challenges that standard procedures do not anticipate.
The integration of quantum systems is primarily a struggle with mass and thermodynamics. Although quantum processors themselves may impress with their energy efficiency, their associated infrastructure is demanding. A key element here is the cryostat – a device weighing up to 750 kilograms – which forces designers to ensure that the floor load capacity is at least 1,000 kg/m².
Managing the temperature of the cooling fluid is proving to be even more challenging. While modern HPC cabinets can run on water temperatures as high as 45°C, quantum systems require a fluid supply in the 15-25°C range. This necessitates maintaining two separate cooling loops or using advanced heat exchangers. Added to this is the rigorous control of humidity, which must oscillate between 25 and 60 per cent to avoid condensation on refrigeration components, which would be disastrous in a precision electronics environment.
However, it is environmental factors, often ignored in classical IT, that can determine the success of a deployment. Quantum hardware exhibits extreme sensitivity to electromagnetic interference. Even such mundane items as fluorescent lighting must be at least two metres away from the computing unit. Magnetic fields must be strictly limited, and the location of the data centre itself requires a new urban planning analysis. The presence of a tramline, railway traction or mobile phone masts within 100 metres can generate noise that prevents stable operation of the cubits.
OCP rightly points out that installing a quantum computer is no longer a standard ‘plug-and-play’ operation. It is an engineering process that takes a minimum of four weeks and requires the involvement of specialist electricians and refrigeration technicians, not just IT staff. The OCP initiative to create checklists and best practices is therefore not so much a facilitator as a necessity for hybrid HPC environments to move out of the experimental phase and become a market standard.
