NEWS
Will rising summer temperatures disrupt indirect free cooling processes ?
NEWS he popularity of indirect free cooling of data centres
T in the Nordics region could place facilities at risk of corrosion if conditions are not correctly controlled this
summer , according to temporary solutions specialists , Aggreko .
According to a recent market report by Arizton , the Nordic region can facilitate up to 8,400 hours of data centre free cooling annually due to its colder climate . Though incoming ambient air is filtered before entering the controlled data centre environment , this process can result in temperature rises of two to four degrees .
When combined with rising summer temperatures , data centre sites may experience higher moisture levels that could lead to condensation forming and rising water temperatures .
Keeping key data centre components like electrical distribution systems dry and within a certain temperature band phase is crucial to ensuring its continued running .
According to Aggreko , not taking steps to account for changing temperatures during the construction phase could lead to longterm damage that could impair functionality and void warranties .
“ The ability to use the climate as a resource to help free-cool facilities is one of many reasons the Nordics region appeals to organisations looking to construct data centres ,” said Greger Ruud , Sector Development Manager – Nordic Datacentres at Aggreko . “ However , it must be noted that like any other region , there are fluctuations in temperature depending on geography and the seasons , so conditions will occur that make free cooling more challenging .”
Kao Data uses Future Facilities ’ CFD for the UK ’ s new home for HPC and AI
ao Data is partnering with Future Facilities to use CFD
K analysis via its 6SigmaDCX product suite . This has helped make informed decisions around the design ,
implementation and operations of KDL1 – the UK ’ s first 100 % free-cooling wholesale colocation facility – as well as the rollout of the rest of the Harlow-based campus . The Future Facilities solution allows Kao Data to create a Digital Twin – a virtual replica – of its cutting-edge data centre to use as a decision-making platform . accurate , CFD modeling reinforced our technical capabilities and gave us the confidence that both our facilities ’ design and choice of power and HVAC infrastructure were operating as optimally as possible . This helped to manage risk prior to the commitment of a multimillion-pound capital project and was ultimately pivotal in enabling us to design and build one of the most sustainable and energy efficient facilities in the UK .”
The new Kao Data facility is located within the iconic London- Stansted-Cambridge ‘ UK Innovation Corridor ’ and was required to support High Performance Computing ( HPC ) and intensive Artificial Intelligence ( AI ), without any mechanical refrigeration . Future Facilities worked with JCA Engineering to help Kao Data meet these ambitious specifications .
This focused on assessing the viability of an Indirect Evaporative Cooling ( IEC ) system ; a greener , more efficient and cost-effective approach where water evaporation is used in place of mechanical systems to cool the air .
Paul Finch , Chief Operating Officer , Kao Data , said : “ We chose to work with Future Facilities due to its industry-leading reputation . Being able to rely on its next-generation , highly
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