• About Us
  • Partnership Opportunities
  • Privacy Policy

Data Center Frontier

Charting the future of data centers and cloud computing.

  • Cloud
    • Hyperscale
  • Colo
    • Site Selection
    • Interconnection
  • Energy
    • Sustainability
  • Cooling
  • Technology
    • Internet of Things
    • AI & Machine Learning
    • Edge Computing
    • Virtual Reality
    • Autonomous Cars
    • 5G Wireless
    • Satellites
  • Design
    • Servers
    • Storage
    • Network
  • Voices
  • Podcast
  • White Papers
  • Resources
    • COVID-19
    • Events
    • Newsletter
    • Companies
    • Data Center 101
  • Jobs
You are here: Home / Voices of the Industry / Boost Your Data Center Cooling ROI with Precise Load Matching. Do You Know Which Solution is Right for You?

Boost Your Data Center Cooling ROI with Precise Load Matching. Do You Know Which Solution is Right for You?

By Voices of the Industry - July 19, 2021

Boost Your Data Center Cooling ROI with Precise Load Matching. Do You Know Which Solution is Right for You?

There is a precision cooling system for whatever scenario best fits your current strategy or future goals. (Source: Data Aire)

LinkedinTwitterFacebookSubscribe
Mail

In this edition of Voices of the Industry, Matt Vicker, Product Development Manager at Data Aire explores how data centers can choose an environmental control solution that best fits their ROI goals today and into the future.

precision cooling

Matt Vicker, Data Aire Product Development Manager

One thing is certain, optimal data center design is a complex puzzle to solve.  With all the options available, no one environmental control system can fit all situations. You must consider all the solutions and technology available to best manage assets and adapt your evolving data center.

There is a precision cooling system for whatever scenario best fits your current strategy or future goals. The question only remains, have you considered each of the options with your design engineer and your environmental control manufacturer? The two need to be in synch to help you maximize your return on investment.

In most instances, if you want an environmental control system that scales with your needs, provides the lowest energy costs, and provides the most reliable airflow throughout your data center, a variable-speed system is your best solution. Nevertheless, you may be curious about what other options may suit your current application.

Precise Modulated Cooling | Greatest ROI and Highest Part-Load Efficiency

Companies need to decide on their strategy and design for it.  When you know you have swings in your load – seasonal, day to day or even from one corner of the data center or electrical room to the other, you should consider variable speed technology.  A system with variable speed technology and accurate control design modulates to precisely match the current cooling load.  This precision gives the variable speed the highest efficiency at part-load, which equates to a greater return on investment.  In other words, when your data center is not running at maximum cooling load a variable speed system will use less energy and save money.

If we think of the cooling output of your environmental control system as the accelerator of a car — you can press the pedal to almost infinite positions to exactly match the speed you want to travel.  You are not wasting energy overshooting your desired speed.  With a well-designed control system, you also ensure a smooth response to a change in load.  Further efficiency is gained by accelerating at an efficient rate for the system.

Advanced Staged Cooling | Initial Costs and Great Part-Load Efficiency

If you are looking for something that offers a portion of the benefits of a variable speed system but at a reduced first-cost, a multi-stage cooling system can be a good compromise.  A multi-stage system will manage some applications well and can reduce overcooling your space — as-built today. If you need greater turndown than what a fixed speed system offers, then this is a good choice for you.

If you find this to be the right-now solution for you, you’re in good hands. The system is more advanced than a fixed speed unit; it is developed with a level of design optimization to transition its small steps.  Unlike digital scroll, this accurate solution, with two-stage compressors, has a high part-load efficiency.

Think about the car accelerator example again; there are many positions to move the accelerator to with a multi-speed system.  With two-stage compressors the positions are precise and repeatable, meaning you can smartly change positions to prevent overshoot, and you are more likely to have a position that matches the speed that is desired.

Although the return on investment is better with a multi-stage than a fixed-speed system; the benefits are less than with a variable speed system.

Fixed-Speed Systems | Lowest Initial Cost and Lower Part-Load Efficiency

Some consider this the entry point for precision cooling based on their current budget constraints.  So, if you are on a tight budget and need a lower first-cost, then a fixed-speed, single-stage precision cooling system may get the job done. However, this can be short-sighted as energy consumption and costs are higher when the data center is operating at less than the maximum designed cooling load. In our experience, this seems to happen quite frequently based on what the mechanical engineer has been asked to design vs. the actual heat load of the space.

If a fixed system is applied to the car accelerator example, you see how only applying 100% throttle or 0% throttle would prevent you from getting close to a precise speed.  This is clearly not as efficient as the other examples unless you want to go at the car’s maximum speed all the time.

Ramping Up Your Data Center

The needs and goals of a data center can change over time. While the initial objective may only require getting the space in running order, customers may reassess based on changing scenarios.  If your data center needs to scale, you may be challenged if you haven’t planned ahead with your design engineer for phased build-outs, or perhaps even varying IT load considerations that are seasonal or shift from day to day, or even hour to hour.  Likewise, you may need to consider the difference between design and actual usage – whether it be too little or too much. Perhaps your IT team says they need two megawatts, or you are going to be running at 16 kw per rack. The cooling system designed may underserve your needs or may be overkill for the current state of usage. In addition, pushing your system to do more than it is engineered for can potentially accelerate the aging of your infrastructure.

Again, depending on your application, goals and business strategy, one of these three systems is right for you. The best course of action is to evaluate where you are today and then future-proof your data center with technology that can grow with you if necessary.

Matt Vicker is the product development manager at Data Aire. Contact them to learn more about how the right cooling system can boost your ROI. 

LinkedinTwitterFacebookSubscribe
Mail

Tagged With: Data Aire, Data Center Cooling, Energy Efficiency, precision cooling

Newsletters

Stay informed: Get our weekly updates!

Are you a new reader? Follow Data Center Frontier on Twitter or Facebook.
voices@richmiller.biz'

About Voices of the Industry

Our Voice of the Industry feature showcases guest articles on thought leadership from sponsors of Data Center Frontier. For more information, see our Voices of the Industry description and guidelines..

  • Facebook
  • Instagram
  • LinkedIn
  • Pinterest
  • Twitter

Voices of the Industry

Overcoming Supply Chain Roadblocks: How to Avoid Disruptions in Your Data Center

Overcoming Supply Chain Roadblocks: How to Avoid Disruptions in Your Data Center The data center industry continues to experience significant global supply chain problems. Brett Williams of Service Express, explores the importance of leveraging the secondary hardware market to overcome supply chain roadblocks.

White Papers

data center services

Data Center Services: A Story of Build Versus Buy

Waffle House opted to implement a disaster recovery solution in QTS’ 385,000 square foot facility in Suwanee, Georgia, replicating its financial, inventory management and supply chain management services to the site. Download the new report that explores how choosing a colocation provider helped Waffle House reduce its risk and provide a higher level of performance.

Get this PDF emailed to you.

We always respect your privacy and we never sell or rent our list to third parties. By downloading this White Paper you are agreeing to our terms of service. You can opt out at any time.

DCF Spotlight

Data center modules on display at the recent Edge Congress conference in Austin, Texas. (Photo: Rich Miller)

Edge Computing is Poised to Remake the Data Center Landscape

Data center leaders are investing in edge computing and edge solutions and actively looking at new ways to deploy edge capacity to support evolving business and user requirements.

An aerial view of major facilities in Data Center Alley in Ashburn, Virginia. (Image: Loudoun County)

Northern Virginia Data Center Market: The Focal Point for Cloud Growth

The Northern Virginia data center market is seeing a surge in supply and an even bigger surge in demand. Data Center Frontier explores trends, stats and future expectations for the No. 1 data center market in the country.

See More Spotlight Features

Newsletters

Get the Latest News from Data Center Frontier

Job Listings

RSS Job Openings | Pkaza Critical Facilities Recruiting

  • Critical Power Energy Manager - Data Center Development - Ashburn, VA
  • Site Development Manager - Data Center - Ashburn, VA
  • Data Center Facility Operations Director - Chicago, IL
  • Electrical Engineer - Senior - Dallas, TX
  • Mechanical Commissioning Engineer - Calgary, Alberta

See More Jobs

Data Center 101

Data Center 101: Mastering the Basics of the Data Center Industry

Data Center 101: Mastering the Basics of the Data Center Industry

Data Center Frontier, in partnership with Open Spectrum, brings our readers a series that provides an introductory guidebook to the ins and outs of the data center and colocation industry. Think power systems, cooling, solutions, data center contracts and more. The Data Center 101 Special Report series is directed to those new to the industry, or those of our readers who need to brush up on the basics.

  • Data Center Power
  • Data Center Cooling
  • Strategies for Data Center Location
  • Data Center Pricing Negotiating
  • Cloud Computing

See More Data center 101 Topics

About Us

Charting the future of data centers and cloud computing. We write about what’s next for the Internet, and the innovations that will take us there. We tell the story of the digital economy through the data center facilities that power cloud computing and the people who build them. Read more ...
  • Facebook
  • LinkedIn
  • Pinterest
  • Twitter

About Our Founder

Data Center Frontier is edited by Rich Miller, the data center industry’s most experienced journalist. For more than 20 years, Rich has profiled the key role played by data centers in the Internet revolution. Meet the DCF team.

TOPICS

  • 5G Wireless
  • Cloud
  • Colo
  • Connected Cars
  • Cooling
  • Cornerstone
  • Coronavirus
  • Design
  • Edge Computing
  • Energy
  • Executive Roundtable
  • Featured
  • Finance
  • Hyperscale
  • Interconnection
  • Internet of Things
  • Machine Learning
  • Network
  • Podcast
  • Servers
  • Site Selection
  • Social Business
  • Special Reports
  • Storage
  • Sustainability
  • Videos
  • Virtual Reality
  • Voices of the Industry
  • Webinar
  • White Paper

Copyright Data Center Frontier LLC © 2022