THE COOL ZONE


Daikin boosts data centre cooling solutions


Daikin has enhanced its product and services off er for data centre cooling in response to soaring demand from the data centre sector and to keep pace with rapid predicted growth.


T


he consultancy McKinsey & Company forecast that the global data centre market would grow by at least 10% a year throughout the rest of this decade with a total of $49 billion likely to be spent on construction and fi tting out of new facilities. This rapid expansion is being driven by the growth in AI applications and cloud computing which in turn means healthy demand for cooling solutions tailored to the specifi c needs of this energy intensive area.


Daikin has been active in the sector for many years and has


grown its off ering of chillers and air side solutions to keep pace with the speed of development and changes in demand patterns – in both new and existing centres. The company, which was founded in Japan in 1924, is now the


largest cooling company in the world with sales topping $27bn. It employs more than 96,000 people providing sales and service to markets in more than 170 countries. Daikin manufactures many of its core components in- house including fans, compressors, and inverters thanks to its substantial network of 110 manufacturing facilities worldwide. This means that clients benefi t from the support of a robust supply chain with comprehensive local back-up from design to commissioning and on throughout the operational life of their systems.


Minimising energy and water use As well as keeping data centres cool to protect their sensitive


equipment, operators are under increasing pressure to minimise energy and water use – with sustainability a growing preoccupation. Legislators are also homing in on this area along with investors and employees keen to see their companies responding to environmental concerns and meeting their corporate responsibilities. Daikin has committed itself to net zero operations by 2050 and is working closely with its clients so they can also meet their decarbonisation goals. This has been refl ected in increased demand for the company’s free cooling solutions, which take advantage of low ambient air temperatures to reduce the run time of chillers so cutting energy use and extending the operating life of equipment – a key consideration for reducing ‘whole life carbon’. Daikin off ers diff erent types of free cooling, including glycol


free systems, to meet the needs of critical applications like data centres. It also uses sophisticated plant management systems supported by AI to keep chillers operating close to their optimal performance level and balances total capacity with actual load.


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This improves energy savings by as much as 20% compared with traditional chiller sequencing control by BMS.


Precise modulation of chiller loads Its chiller range includes screw compressor


units equipped with variable frequency drives (VFD) which are designed and manufactured in-house and mounted


onto the compressor for better reliability and effi ciency.


This allows precise modulation of cooling loads with capacities up to 2150 kW and scroll compressor chillers with capacities up to 1344 kW which are ideally suited to a range of applications from refurbishment projects to major new developments.


Daikin chillers deliver up to +30°C supply water


temperature, and can operate in a wide band of outside temperature conditions between –35°C and +55°C. This fl exibility is particularly valued by large data centre operators juggling with ever denser concentrations of servers and ancillary equipment. Daikin also off ers the Pro-W; high-effi ciency computer room air handling (CRAH) solutions, manufactured in both the UK and Italy. The Pro-W range off ers cooling capacities from 200kW to 700kW making them ideal for even the very largest data centres. These capacities are achieved using just four core unit sizes, which means the company can use a dedicated range of standardised components, including built-in EC fans and cooling coils, to guarantee manufactured quality and short production lead times.


Despite their large cooling capacities, the Daikin products


are compact which allows them to be fi tted in restricted areas. The company also off ers a range of control options specifi cally tailored for data centres to ensure the chiller plant delivers 24/7 cooling operating in the right mode by adjusting continually to real time conditions. The chillers also come with a choice of refrigerant to further meet environmental concerns. Daikin provides after-sales support including access to


its remote monitoring ‘Daikin On Site’ (DOS) service so any performance or safety risks can be fl agged up to keep the system running as intended. DOS captures live operational data from the data centre and combines it with statistical predictions using trend analysis. This allows the service team to develop a preventative maintenance schedule to ensure the effi ciency and reliability of the critical equipment, avoiding costly downtime and major repairs.


Daikin off ers diff erent types of


free cooling, including glycol free systems, to meet the needs of critical applications like data centres.


www.acr-news.com • April 2024 31


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