30572_Kao Data Critical Careers_Pages - Flipbook - Page 82
How did you get your start into digital
infrastructure?
O
riginally, I was deeply involved in academia and research within mechanical
engineering, speci昀椀cally focusing on thermo昀氀uid engineering and
computational 昀氀uid dynamics (CFD) modeling. After completing my PhD,
I transitioned from academics, where I had lectured and conducted research, into
the industry.
My 昀椀rst role in the data centre industry was with Katrick Technologies in Glasgow, a
startup dedicated to developing green technologies including an innovative cooling
solution for data centres. I joined the thermal engineering team as an analyst where
I was responsible for carrying out thermal analysis, CFD simulations, developing
thermal system tests and using results to inform system improvements. Overtime, I
progressed from the analyst role to a Thermo昀氀uid and Analysis Engineer role where I
took on more responsibilities in a passive cooling project. The project was pioneering
a two-phase 昀氀ow system which used low GWP refrigerants to ef昀椀ciently convert liquid
to gas at near-ambient conditions, optimizing heat extraction from data centres.
Nkemjika Asiegbu
Senior Thermo昀氀uids Engineer,
Iceotope
82
As a Thermo昀氀uid and Analysis Engineer, my responsibility involved not only
simulations and theoretical modelling; but real, hands-on testing of the technology
in a live data centre. We faced daily challenges in integrating our cutting-edge
technology with conventional cooling systems, pushing the boundaries of what was
technically feasible. Every day brought new problems to be solved, from adjusting
system parameters to enhance ef昀椀ciency and troubleshooting on-site at data centres.
The hands-on experience was useful as I got to apply rigorous scienti昀椀c analysis into
practical problems. It was a leap from the research-based work in academia to the
dynamic, problem-solving environment of digital infrastructure, where innovative
solutions are tested and implemented in real-time. The role set the foundation for
my continuous development in the data centre industry, blending my background in
thermo昀氀uid engineering with the pressing needs of modern data infrastructure.
