Data centres that earn more revenue and use less energy for cooling
An approach to cooling data centres developed by EcoCooling which uses the building as an air handler with cooling provided by evaporative cooling can accommodate more revenue-earning racks and substantially reduce the energy used for cooling. A data centre with a conventional capacity of 1000 racks can now accommodate 1200. The power required for cooling can be reduced from 1700 kW to 160 kW. The comparisons are based on CRACs (computer room air conditioners).
Figures from Alan Beresford, managing director and technical director with EcoCooling, suggest that the 200 extra racks could generate over £2 million a year in additional revenue. At the same time, the cost of cooling could be reduced by around £1 million a year. Capital costs are also said to be substantially lower.
EcoCooling has experience with over 150 data centres.
Alan Beresford acknowledges that evaporative cooling is not suitable for every data centre, but that it can be used by a great many throughout temperate regions of the world.
