F E A T U R E

Steve Dawson , Closed Systems Manager , Guardian Water Treatment

For closed systems , monitoring is used primarily to track the parameters that can be indicators of corrosive conditions , such as dissolved oxygen , galvanic currents , temperature , pressure and pH .

recycled , making this approach a very effective method of improving the sustainability of operations .

There are also significant cost-saving benefits to water recovery and recycling , particularly in the very largest of data centres . For every cubic metre of water recovered , £ 2 is saved . If we look at the stats from NPR , 300,000 gallons equates to just 1,135 cubic metres , a saving of £ 2,270 a day . Commonly , we see the initial outlay of a water recycling system paying for itself in less than six months .

The benefits don ’ t end there . Clean , debris-free water will enhance cooling system efficiency and prevent legionella risk . Using a combination of media filtration , ion exchange and membrane filtration , data centre water recycling systems often leave water cleaner than when it came out of the mains , removing solids , bacteria , algae and viruses .

Real-time monitoring

There is still a place for air-cooled data centres , and many of the smaller facilities rely on this method of temperature control . Water is also used in this process , usually within a closed-circuit system .

Both air and water can be monitored , providing real-time data on conditions that can impact operational certainty .

If left unchecked , corrosion can lead to system fouling , which compromises efficiency , causes pipe pitting and leads to eventual leaks . Without monitoring , problems often remain unseen until it is too late , leaving data centres at risk of catastrophic failure . Real-time monitoring is good for preventing downtime , reducing expensive repairs and conserving energy , and it also has a part to play in water conservation .

In the past , closed-system HVAC was checked using sampling , which only represented a snapshot in time – a sample of water is sent to a laboratory and analysed , with results taking days if not weeks to return . This approach often leads to knee-jerk flushing , where huge volumes of water are forced down pipes to clean out the system .

Sampling is carried out after routine maintenance , for example , which will undoubtedly disrupt conditions . Real-time monitoring can show you if and when conditions return to inspecification levels , meaning that on many occasions , flushing is avoided . HVAC systems that aren ’ t monitored in this way are more likely to be flushed as a precautionary measure .

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