Air Conditioning World The talking tool of cooling
Advanced controls technology and the ability to get different systems talking to one another through an appropriate building management system (BMS) is a valuable tool when it comes to managing a cooling plant effectively and meeting energy efficiency objectives. This can quickly deliver a significant return on the initial investment, according to Alberto Zennaro of Airedale
and commer- cial sites to data centres and computer rooms, the ability to seamlessly integrate and manage multiple building services can bring significant energy saving and operational benefits. A true BMS will bring together a building’s entire heating and cooling estate, from rack-based hot spot cooling and precision air conditioning systems which deliver cooling to business-critical data centres and computer rooms, to comfort cooling in offices and external dry coolers, chillers and air handling units (AHUs), in addition to wider site utilities such as UPS, genera- tors, fresh air supply and fire suppression systems for example. A BMS developed by a special- ist like Airedale with the knowl- edge and expertise to balance the often complex interrelationship of the divergent elements in a cool- ing plant, particularly in critical installations such as data centres, will ensure components are inte- grated and sequenced to maximise energy-saving opportunities and reduce system downtime. By optimising system performance, availability and power draw, a BMS will make managing a cool- ing plant more straightforward and provide ‘clever’ and genuine- ly useful tools to aid proactive management and decision-mak- ing, not least of which are: • Improved system performance through advanced controls logic that simplifies the management of complex cooling plant • Increased operational efficiency • Proactive management through remote diagnostics and alarm monitoring
• Extensive historical and live data capture for improved decision- making
• Reduced risk of downtime and lower maintenance costs • Valuable ‘extras’ such as the abil- ity to bill tenants for their share of power, gas and water consump- tion, in addition to improved site safety and security through integrating site access and CCTV The wealth of data captured by a BMS is at the heart of its ability to deliver a rapid return on invest- ment. ACIS for example provides a
comprehensive view of a cooling installation from overall building level down to server level, across multiple sites. The ability to view, in real-time, how component sys- tems are performing and adjust them as business needs dictate means that system uptime can be maximised and potential problems anticipated. By interrogating histor- ical data, informed decisions can be made on how to best manage existing plant and plan for growth, ensuring waste is reduced and energy consumption optimised. So, what are the latest innova- tions, and how can they optimise operational and energy efficiency? The ‘cloud’: For many users, particularly across large sites, service-based systems represent the most appropriate solution, offering secure, remote log-in and the ability to manage multiple sites across different locations, to a global scale.
Intuitive user interface: As with any software system, managing the most complex data can be simplified with an intuitive graph- ical user interface; add touch- screen operation and it’s even eas- ier. The example (above left) shows how psychrometric charts can be used to monitor system performance against bespoke or predefined service level agree- ments (SLAs) and standards such as the various ASHRAE classes which are applicable to data cen- tre environments. The graphical approach simplifies complex data capture and takes the headache out of monitoring system perform- ance as the software can be set to trigger alarms where a measure- ment falls outside a determined envelope.
Advanced energy management through dedicated BEMS modules: The value of any BMS can be fur- ther extended by incorporating an advanced building energy man- agement (BEMS) module to allow monitoring and management of HVAC, lighting and other power units across large sites. Live and historical capture of power quali- ty, energy consumption, CO2 emissions and PUE calculations, allows for informed decision-mak- ing to eliminate energy wastage
28 | March 2014 | ACW supplement to HVR
Psychrometric charts take the headache out of monitoring system performance as the software can be set to trigger alarms where a measurement falls outside a determined envelope
and identify energy saving oppor- tunities across all building services; systems can be further optimised by tailoring parameters to different zones and to meet peak and off-peak conditions. The ability to integrate building controls systems over multiple platforms and protocols and to tailor software to meet client- specific needs makes the potential
for benefits even greater. Controls software is usually available as new or as a retrofit option and, if modular, means the degree of sophistication can be enhanced relatively cost-effectively as busi- ness needs fluctuate and grow.
//The author is the controls project manager for Airedale International Air Conditioning //
Custodian Data Centre
Airedale has recently worked with Custodian Data Centre, winner of the Data Centre Leaders Awards ‘Green’ category, to design and build an intelligent, energy-efficient,
resilient data centre cooling system that significantly reduces the need for mechanical cooling.
The data centre, based in the broadcast hub Maidstone Studios in Kent, provides fresh air free cooling up to 80 per cent of the year and regularly achieves PUE figures below 1.15 (ratio of total facility power usage divided by IT equipment power usage). The benefits:
• This award-winning ‘green’ data centre, effectively integrates the external AHUs, legacy BMS and Airedale free-cooling chillers. • Free-cooling for up to 80 per cent of the year even when the outside temperature is above the supply air set point to regularly achieve PUE (power usage effectiveness ) below 1.15
• Constant temperature, humidity and leak detection monitoring, generating real-time SMS/email/pager updates
• Scalable system with all infrastructure and pipework pre-installed, reducing disruption and minimising cost as data centre demand grows
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