Optimising data centre cooling with sustainable HXV hybrid solutions

BAC provided a sustainable cooling solution with the HXV Hybrid Cooler, reducing water and energy use while improving efficiency for a 160 MW data centre, achieving cost and resource savings.

In many data centres, water-cooled chillers are paired with an open or closed-circuit cooling tower for heat rejection. Other options include dry coolers, hybrid fluid coolers, and adiabatic fluid coolers. Evaluating all heat rejection options provides a significant advantage to optimise energy and water consumption.

Project

BAC was approached by a high-performance computing customer with 160 MW operating power, to provide a more sustainable cooling solution. They had previously used open cooling towers with water-cooled chillers. BAC worked with the customer to understand their Major challenges and needs. Here are the identified critical priorities:

• Minimise water usage while balancing energy consumption to support customer sustainability efforts
• Provide cooling for an increasing heat load in a smaller footprint
• Meet system water temperature requirements without chillers at high loads and varying outside conditions.

Solution

BAC analysed the IT capacity, space requirements, operating power, and location weather data, and then evaluated fully evaporative, hybrid, and adiabatic solutions. Based on the analysis, BAC recommended a chillerless system utilizing the HXVTM hybrid cooler. The HXV’s packaged evaporative and dry cooling features offered the water-saving and energy-efficient solution the customer desired.

The factory-assembled unit also allowed for easier maintenance and serviceability for the operations team. They were able to access the cold-water basin, prime surface coil and drive system due to the crossflow design, large doors, and internal access platforms. Additionally, the customer could perform faster inspections of the spray distribution system while the unit was in operation.

The HXV Hybrid Cooler addressed all the customer’s challenges and needs, reduced annual energy costs, and improved system efficiency. It helped achieve an estimated power usage effectiveness (PUE) of 1.136.

HXV hybrid cooler

The HXV incorporates three modes of operation. It has the benefits of evaporative, adiabatic, and dry cooling in a water-saving and energy-efficient solution. It maintains peak system performance for various applications where water is scarce, water costs are high, uptime is critical, or plume is a concern. Further, it is an ideal solution where space is limited. The HXV hybrid cooler offers the following benefits:

• Up to 70 percent water savings compared to an open cooling tower due to a high dry switch point and more dry operating hours
• Year-round sensible cooling with the dry coil to maximise water savings
• On average, 25 percent water savings on a design day through sensible cooling
• Up to 60 percent lower energy costs compared to air-cooled systems due to evaporative cooling and BAC’s innovative combined flow design.
• Increased operational and layout flexibility with balanced water and energy savings
• The highest reliability and water-saving mode eliminates plume abatement.
• Up to 25 percent less maintenance than traditional fluid coolers due to dry operation and crossflow design
• Up to 70 percent chemical savings due to dry operation

Result

In this installation, the HXV Hybrid Cooler met the customer’s need for a reasonable first cost while significantly reducing water consumption and operating costs. The HXV heat rejection benefits compared to open cooling towers with water-cooled chillers are:

• 71 percent reduction in annual WUE
• 86 percent reduction in installed peak power
• 52 percent reduction in yearly operating costs (energy and water)

BAC creates cutting-edge cooling equipment for the HVAC, Industrial, and Refrigeration marketplaces. It leverages the power of evaporative cooling by optimising the balance of water and energy.

For more information visit www.BaltimoreAircoil.com.