FACILITIES design
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http://www.dcseurope.info/n/vzzp
Types of prefabricated modular data centres
Data centre systems or subsystems that are pre-assembled in a factory are often described using terms like prefabricated, containerized, modular, skid- based, pod-based, mobile, portable, self-contained, all-in-one, and more. These terms create confusion and lead to dysfunctional discussions because they overlap and are ambiguous in meaning. By Matthew Baynes, Enterprise Sales Director, IT Business, Schneider Electric.
IN THE RESEARCH document “Assessing the cost: Modular versus Traditional Build” (DCD Intelligence 2013), analyst Chris Drake states “a distinction has emerged between containerized and modular data centres”; further suggesting “a modular data centre to be a data centre design based upon prefabricated pretested modules which are assembled in a custom configured manner to form a complete solution, ideally defined by software”. However, for the purposes of this article, I propose we define a prefabricated
modular data centre as one that is firstly made up of at least one pre-engineered, factory-integrated, and pre-tested assembly of subsystems that have traditionally been installed separately onsite; and secondly, mounted on a skid or in an enclosure.
There are, however, important distinctions between the various types of factory-built building blocks on the market. To bring some order and clarity, this article proposes a basic and standard terminology for categorizing
the types of prefabricated modular data centres. Figure 1 illustrates the principal attributes that define a prefabricated data centre.
Functional block
One reason to segment modular data centres by functional block is because some facilities may only require a specific resource (say, power or cooling) to add capacity or resource to an existing facility. Another may be the physical constraint of the module’s foot print. Form factor is the second key attribute that distinguishes prefabricated solutions, which could be chosen based on the application; or it may be constrained by capacity (i.e., a power system in an ISO enclosure is generally limited to around 500 kW, where skid-mounted designs can support greater capacity).
The prefabricated functional blocks are deployed in various configurations. Some include a mix of prefabricated modules and traditional or “stick built” systems (such as modular power and cooling with traditional IT space). Others are fully prefabricated, meaning all three functional blocks – power, cooling, and IT – are prefabricated. Lastly, a specific configuration is an “all-in-one”, where the power, cooling, and IT are all engineered into a single enclosure.
Functions of a data centre may also be be broken down into three major categories – the power plant, the cooling plant, and the IT space. Prefabricated data center modules sometimes provide multiple functions (all-in- one configurations), but often they provide one function of the data centre.
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www.dcseurope.info I November 2013
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