Innovative air solutions ensure data centre efficiency

Dr. Vijay Chaudhry, President of Bry-Air, emphasises the critical role of efficient data management in propelling the nation’s technological progress. Industry leaders are continuously dedicated to effectively managing the heat produced by data centres and enhancing energy efficiency while addressing environmental concerns.

What is your perception of the increasing demand for data centres shortly?
Given the substantial Internet penetration in India, it’s noteworthy that by the end of 2022, there were 700 million active Internet users in the country, according to Nielsen’s India Internet Report 2023. Reports from ICRA Ratings suggest that India is expected to witness the addition of approximately 4900-5000 megawatts (MW) of data centre capacity in the next six years, driven by the increasing demand for data centres. Consequently, industry stakeholders constantly seek innovative solutions to mitigate the risk of unplanned downtime in these facilities.

Unplanned downtime disrupts operations and also incurs unnecessary maintenance costs for data centres. Hence, ensuring the continuous and reliable functioning of these facilities becomes imperative. To achieve this, maintaining precise environmental conditions within the enclosed spaces of data centres is essential. To meet this requirement, the industry is embracing innovative approaches to render a resilient data centre infrastructure to support the industry’s growth.

Companies are mainly focused on innovation in deploying high-quality air solutions within these facilities. Recognising that factors like humidity, reactive compounds, and airborne molecular contamination are key contributors to corrosion in data centres, the installation of Gas Phase Filtration Systems (GPF), including Data Center Air Purifiers (DAP), Compact Dehumidifiers, and Pressurization Units, can collectively eliminate corrosive substances from the facility.

Installing Gas Phase Filtration systems like the DataCentre Air Purifier (DAP) can play a crucial role in the filtration of corrosive gases. In turn, this inhibits contamination of data centres and safeguards the microcircuitry of printed circuit boards (PCBs). This approach contributes to achieving environmental conditions conforming to ISA-71.04-2013 standards.  

Additionally, deploying compact dehumidifiers proves valuable in maintaining humidity levels within the optimal range, preventing any potential condensation on equipment. Simultaneously, implementing customised Pressurization Units helps establish a positive pressure environment within the premises. It resists the entry of hazardous substances into the room.

How are data centres evolving to meet expanding demands while upholding efficiency?
Considering that data centres are a critical part of mission-critical initiatives, preserving the integrity of these facilities is of utmost importance. As mentioned earlier, high-quality air solutions play an imperative role in ensuring the efficiency of data centres. While products like the DataCenter Air Purifier (DAP), Compact Dehumidifier, and Customised Pressurisation Units from the Pahwa Group (the parent company of Bry-Air) offer comprehensive solutions to combat corrosion, industry players are also embracing media testing and proactive measures to identify corrosion within their systems.

This approach includes using corrosion coupons to detect the influx of harmful gases. Moreover, it is well supported by the ACM (Atmospheric Corrosivity Monitor), which is capable of detecting corrosive gases and categorising them into G1, G2, G3, and Gx, providing clear insights into the level of corrosiveness exhibited by these gases.

Considering the country’s escalating demand for data centres, Bry-Air is well-prepared with robust testing and laboratory services. These services offer the additional advantage of predictive maintenance to mitigate electronic corrosion in data centres effectively.

What innovative solutions are industry players employing to manage the heat generated by data centres?
The industry embraces innovative solutions to ensure data centres function at their best. Recognising the significance of effective data management in driving the nation’s technological advancement, industry players are incessantly working towards managing the heat generated by the data centres. To achieve this, high pressure within the room is a key factor in keeping the temperature safe. Here, customised pressurisation units facilitate air movement within the facility. This airflow allows fresh air to enter the space while eliminating the heat and internal gases, ultimately reducing the temperature within the space.

What steps are being taken to improve data centre performance and reduce carbon footprint through energy-efficient practices?
Industry players are incorporating sustainable approaches to the growing concerns about environmental deterioration. Recognising that data centres consume significant amounts of energy, the industry is committed to reducing the carbon footprint of these facilities. Embracing energy-efficient practices, our DataCenter Air Purifier (DAP) excels in energy conservation by utilising low-pressure drops. Additionally, the cooling solutions provided by Customised Pressurization Units also contribute to substantial energy savings by maintaining positive pressure to control room temperatures within safe limits. This is a more efficient alternative to using large energy-consuming systems that use a lot of energy to curb the facilities’ heating.