Data Centre Cooling

Evaporative cooling solutions for data centres

Air conditioning is an expensive way to keep IT equipment within its optimal operating temperature of between 10 - 35°C. Evaporative cooling is an ideal way of keeping server rooms cool without spending so much on air conditioning.

The ECPREC (Eco Cooler Computer Room Evaporative Cooler) solution is a modular system based on our standard cooling solution with our patented supply-air temperature control system. Using the diagram, you can see the components at work:

1. Fresh air enters the system through primary filtration and wetted filter pads;
2. Evaporative Cooler;
3. Low energy axial fan to distribute air;
4. Patented Control system controls supply-air temperature;
5. Air flow is matched to density of cooling required;
6. A hot and cold aisle arrangement of racks is established;
7. The room is kept at a positive pressure;
8. The ceiling void acts as an ideal exhaust path;
9. No exhaust fans are necessary - reducing complexity & energy use;
10. Hot air vents to atmosphere.

Server & IT operating conditions

The follwing needs to be considered when planning for a server-room cooling solution.

Temperature:

In Europe, an Eco-Cooler is 100% compliant against ASHRAE standards and meet all manufacturer environment requirements. Early mainframe systems require close control and Evaporative Cooling is not suitable in such applications. (ASHRAE = 2008 Environmental Guidelines for Datacom Equipment).

Relative Humidity:

In Europe, an Eco Cooler is 99% compliant against ASHRAE conditions. Old equipment such as punch tape and magnetic tape systems are less tolerant and Evaporative Cooling is not suitable.

Dust:

Eco Cooling filter pads provide adeqaute dust filtration for modern IT equipment which has sealed bearings and closed drives.

Operational recovery:

Redundancy requirements can be met because this is a modular system. No one piece need become a single point of failure.

Key benefits of Evaporative Cooling over conventional refrigeration-based air-conditioning.

Cost

• Over 90% reduction in electricity usage
• Lower capital cost and depreciation
• Lower maintenance costs
• Evaporative coolers qualify for Interest-free loans from the Carbon Trust and Salix schemes.

Engineering

• Low energy ventilation
• Low cost of spare-parts inventory
• No F gas compliance costs
• Simple technology
• Ability ot cope on very hot days
• Frees up available power for other use.

Operation

• Ease of access for maintenance
• Minimal use of server room space for cooling systems (Cooler can be outside and induction and vents can use floor and ceiling space respectively)
• Modular system
• Easy to scale

Environmental benefits

• No refrigerants
• Less than 10% of the carbon fotprint of conventional air-conditioning
• Can fit the Carbon Reduction energy reduction scheme.