Secure I.T. Environments, a design and build specialist for modular, containerised, and micro data centres, has completed an air-conditioning upgrade on the main ‘mission-critical’ data centre at London’s Royal Free Hospital.
The project was commissioned to replace ‘end-of-life’ cooling infrastructure and improve the data centre’s energy efficiency. Originally built in 2010 by Secure I.T. Environments, the centre serves the hospital’s thousands of patients receiving acute and specialist services, as well as supporting the training of hundreds of medical students annually.
The existing cooling infrastructure was removed and replaced with four GEA 18D Multi-Denco downflow close control direct expansion air-handling systems and four Denco ambient air-cooled condensers. The new installation achieves PUE (Power Usage Effectiveness) values of 1.15 or less, and a sensible heat ratio (SHR) of 1.0, meaning air is cooled without dehumidifying it. Secure I.T. Environments says this combined optimised use of the inverter compressor, electronic expansion valve (EEV), and fans, as part of the climate control system, reduces energy costs, improves energy efficiency, and extends the life of the humidifier cylinder.
The data centre’s changing cooling requirements meant re-locating the external condensing units – requiring considerable effort to ensure compliance with building and planning regulations, including acoustic surveys and aesthetic considerations. Condensers are now outside on a balcony away from existing services, which meant installing and weatherproofing new pipework, and ensuring it would be accessible and safe for maintenance.
With the project successfully completed in just nine weeks, Secure I.T. Environments is now implementing cold aisle containment in the data centre, and providing UPS and AC upgrades at another.
