Sponsored by FREE COOLING
system, water-glycol direct expansion (DX) free-cooling system, dedicated independent chilled water system, and Liebert PDX with EconoPhase pumped refrigerant economiser system. The study used energy modelling with design conditions specific to Amdocs requirements. It also compared the capital expenditure (CAPEX) cost of equipment, installation and forecasted operational costs for a London location in order to map the predicted life- cycle costs of the respective solutions.
Ronnen commented: “The way Vertiv presented the proposal and its deep technical knowledge allowed us to make an informed risk-benefit analysis to purchase the new technology Vertiv was proposing”.
Up to the challenge: reducing power consumption
The Liebert PDX with EconoPhase benchmarked itself as the perfect solution for the project. It offered supreme levels of efficiency, a lead time which suited the programme and an installation no more complex than a conventional DX install. Above all, it offered a great payback for Amdocs. Once the Chiswick site location was agreed, Vertiv was quick to carry out the surveys, confirm its suitability and the design was finalised. The design included the Liebert PDX with EconoPhase, a conventional DX air-cooled system, but with the incorporation of a refrigerant pumping module on the liquid line. This system configuration facilitates a more economical mode of operation, where the external temperature is lower than the internal temperature of the facility. Subsequently, this means that the unit can shift from compressor mode to economiser mode when needed, utilising refrigerant pumps which are more economical than compressors when operating under certain conditions. As a result, a significant reduction in power consumption is achieved as the EconoPhase module only uses approximately 10% of the power of the compressors. When the external environment is no longer compatible with full EconoPhase operation, the system can operate in mixed-mode, or revert back to full air-cooled DX operation.
Teaming the EconoPhase solution with Vertiv’s intelligent ICOM control platform, made sure the system could respond in real-time to fluctuating loads and room conditions, all without resilience being compromised. The system is being further optimised by deploying aisle containment in the IT environment, enabling the system to achieve 100% free-cooling with external ambient temperatures up to 20°C.
Crunching the numbers
One of the major benefits of the Liebert PDX with EconoPhase system is the operational energy saving. It provides 40-50% savings compared with the most efficient air-cooled DX models. Moreover, it is capable of achieving partial Power Usage Effectiveness (pPUE) levels down to 1.05, which equates to an annual energy cost reduction of up to £170,000 when compared to a typical 1 megawatt (MW) data centre with a pPUE at 1.3. This equates to a carbon dioxide saving of 1,150 tonnes. Ronnen commented: “The Liebert PDX offered free-cooling capability and low TCO (total cost of ownership) which were the main drivers for choosing Vertiv and the project was delivered to satisfaction”.
For Amdocs the payback compared with a standard DX air cooled system was very compelling (under three years considering the load profile) and the fact that the pumped refrigerant module was serviceable without loss of cooling mitigated any perceived risk. The install was no more time-consuming than a conventional DX system, and the use of Liebert Microchannel Condensers meant the heat rejection plant was very compact and only required a small amount of space on the roof. The IT load at the new site would not reach full design capacity for two to three years, so to help monitor and manage the heat load in the
space, Vertiv proposed its SmartAisle control system. This control philosophy is an extension of the ICOM control platform, which utilises temperature sensors located in calibrated openings within the aisle containment. These monitor temperature fluctuations which dictate the amount of cooling and airflow required, further optimising the efficiency and ensuring the cooling system will adapt to match the site requirements without the need for re- commissioning or rebalancing.
In August 2017, just nine months after initially briefing Vertiv, the facility was completed. For Amdocs, the returns of the Liebert PDX with Econophase when compared with a standard DX air cooled system were staggering. The low levels of energy consumed from day one, along with the low partial Power Usage Effectiveness (pPUE) achieved and ease of use with ICOM within the new facility were far beyond initial expectation.
“Vertiv carried out the supply, installation and commissioning of the system. The installation was professional, on time, and has exceeded our performance expectations”, said Ronnen when asked about the service from Vertiv. “As a data centre designer, the Liebert PDX with EconoPhase system allows me more flexibility for implementing free-cooling in our critical server rooms”.
Following the success of the installation at Chiswick Park, Amdocs will be considering the Liebert PDX technology for all future projects.
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