Gyron Blog » air conditioning

Centro Cooling efficiency

Robin Balen - Gyron — Fri, 28 Aug 2009 15:25:59 +0000

Early on in the design stage for our new Centro datacentre, we recognised the importance of in depth monitoring, reporting and trending capabilities across the entire facility, both for troubleshooting and early warning purposes, and for analysing efficiency data.

As such, the facility is equipped with an extensive Building Management System (BMS), which tracks around 2,000 variables in real time, including the status of the fire protection equipment (zoned detectors, VESDA, and FM200), leak detection system, cooling plant (CRACs, chillers, pumps/inverters), and power infrastructure (branch circuit metering, as well as meters on every outgoing way on main and distribution electrical switchgear, UPS plant and generators).

This level of monitoring has recently had even greater importance attached to it given the upcoming requirements for cap and trade carbon taxes, allowing us to collect data on energy usage (kWh, kW, power factor, voltage, and current) on a per-rack basis, and report this to our customers.

Our Centro datacentre facility has been up and running for nearly 3 months now, so we thought it would be worthwhile doing some analysis on the efficiency of our cooling equipment. We have installed highly efficient Computer Room Air Conditioning (CRAC) units, with electrically commutated (EC) fans, and have also used high efficiency over-sized inverter driven pumps, and high efficiency external packaged chillers with a higher than usual return water temperature, so we were hoping for promising figures.

We’re pleased to announce that our initial analysis shows a PuE figure of 1.63! We are especially happy with this as our current situation with a large number of customers still populating their racks presents several big issues with part-load efficiencies on key plant equipment, particularly UPSs and Chillers.

The Green Grid specify:

Some preliminary work indicates that many datacenters may have a PUE of 3.0 or greater, but with proper design a PUE value of 1.6 should be achievable

We are continuing to improve the systems and processes in place at the Centro facility and hope to make even greater efficiency savings with additional investment in plant in the coming months.

Mini tour of Centro datacentre

Robin Balen - Gyron — Thu, 23 Jul 2009 07:42:41 +0000

Now that our Centro datacentre has been successfully up and running for nearly 2 months, we’ve finally had chance to take some photos showing the completed facility.

With over 70% of the capacity of our first phase of fit-out already sold to customers, we’re already planning the roll out of additional capacity at the site. For more details and pricing, contact sales@gyron.net!

Datacentre lobby area. All lighting is motion activated to save energy.

Secure areas with fire panels, separate VESDA systems, and access control

Suite 1 with first two pods live, and plenty of expansion room

2x 20 rack pods in Suite 1 with hot aisle containment

Suite 1 Plant Room showing DFUs, FM200 bottles and distribution boards

Centro update – Final air conditioning works

Robin Balen - Gyron — Wed, 27 May 2009 11:07:40 +0000

Finalising lagging for the chilled water pipework

Setting flow rates for the chilled water valves

Commissioning the air conditioning chillers

Centro update – HV transformer installation and chiller pipework connections

Robin Balen - Gyron — Fri, 08 May 2009 08:34:31 +0000

3MVA HV transformer installed within secure compound

HV feed from our dedicated substation being terminated

First of 24 LV cables connecting the transformer and switchgear panels

Final connections being made on chilled water pipework

Centro update – Chillers

Robin Balen - Gyron — Tue, 28 Apr 2009 19:29:16 +0000

Chillers arrive on-site with a Rig Lift

Offloading first chiller on to the pre-prepared plinths

Preparing to position the second chiller

Both chillers in place and ready for pipework connections

Centro update – CRAC units

Robin Balen - Gyron — Mon, 27 Apr 2009 11:41:06 +0000

Computer Room Air Conditioning units (CRACs) arrive on-site

Unloading delivery of CRACs

Interior view of CRAC unit

CRAC bases positioned in the Suite 1 Plant Room

First CRAC unit installed on to base

First three CRAC units installed

Centro update – FM200, power tray work and air conditioning ducting

Robin Balen - Gyron — Fri, 17 Apr 2009 16:42:48 +0000

FM200 gas installation in to Switchgear Room

Heavy duty tray work for LV cabling to Suite 1

Forming ducting for air conditioning in the comms rooms

Centro update – Air conditioning pump installation

Robin Balen - Gyron — Mon, 30 Mar 2009 17:37:47 +0000

Inverter pumps arrive on-site

Preparing stands for pumps

Redundant inverter driven pumps ready for piperwork connections

Starting work on pipework connections

Gyron Blog » air conditioning

Centro Cooling efficiency

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