Recommendations to make better decisions when using slotted pipes in this class of spaces.
By Sergio Ramírez*
According to Gartner analysts, in the last five years there has been a growth of almost 10 data centers in Mexico per year; In addition, according to information from Cloud Magna, the operation of a 35-square-meter center would cost more than 10 million pesos in four years. The growth of this infrastructure reflects the importance it has for modern telecommunications, while future deployments of machine learning and virtual reality (VR) & augmented reality (AR) applications will cause the cost of its operation to grow to the same extent.
Not only the dependence on them explains the high costs of the space they occupy and that of their operation, we must also take into account the dimension of the losses that a company could face before the fall of a data center, which can be in excess of $20 million. Given this context, it is important to know the solutions that exist to optimize space and protect investment in equipment, especially thinking about risks such as fires, as well as the natural expansion that data centers will experience in the medium term.
In data centers, high-density applications are not new; for years we have had supercomputers cooled with liquids; however, the past 20 years have seen an increase in rack power densities, which have seen occasional "hot spots" of blade servers or higher-powered IT infrastructure. Just last year, data center "climatologists" pointed out that the power density climate may be changing, as new technologies advance, with business models incorporating AI and operating requirements for increasingly demanding supercomputers that need ultra-high-density racks.
While data center operators count on their risk mitigation strategy location selection and redundant systems for power and security, does it also include planning and adaptability for what's to come?
Here are two ways to protect your data center into the future, ensuring that it infrastructure and the space it occupies can adapt and change over time to meet the needs that come with evolving business, even in an environment that changes as fast as the weather.
BIM now and BIM in the future
Design tools enable bold new structures. 3D modeling, with strong growth through apps, can support with better informed construction decisions, materials and supply channels. BIM (Building Information Modeling) is a methodology that integrates design, engineering and developer teams in order to be more efficient in time and reduce waste in a project. One of the advantages it offers is the savings, for example, in England the use of BIM has generated savings of more than US $ 2,135 million per year in construction projects.
By incorporating BIM into designs and construction strategy from the start for new projects, data center owners have access to a virtual image of the building before construction begins and also after the last stone is laid. It can be a process that takes time, having to gather all the necessary data to complete the content, but in the end, one is rewarded with a data-rich model that provides a lot of information on estimates, orders, construction and maintenance; so the building can be prepared for future expansion. The benefit of having the building in the palm of the hand and in the long run, is that a homeowner can simulate future adaptations to the construction, identify potential disasters before work begins to be done; or locate a place to place new equipment. When every minute counts, you can't afford to waste time fixing pipe problems in the work field.
Adaptation to high temperatures
Today, data centers are hot, and they are getting even hotter. In fact, a 10KW load of TI produces heat similar to that of a barbecue grill. Most data centers operate efficiently with loads less than 10KW, using an air cooler. However, there are indicators that the exponential growth of data storage and processing produced applications such as AI, cloud servers and machine learning, will affect some data centers, but it is difficult to predict which ones, given that new business applications are emerging within traditional industry practices.
Applications, such as 'super computing', benefit from compact and dense hardware, which uses between 40 and 80KW per rack. These very high temperature densities require liquid to transfer heat efficiently to the outside of the building. Owners who expect their buildings to survive in the future should consider adapting to hybrid models of cooling (liquid-air-based cooling). The ability to adapt and add hybrid cooling models can define the success of the data center business plan to weather storms of diversity densities in the near future.
Planning ahead and provisioning for hybrid cooling models and the ability to add liquid distribution doesn't have to be a complex or expensive task. The key to success will be the use of piping solutions that are adaptable, scalable and easy to align.
Slotted mechanical pipe joining solutions are the preferred method to make data center joints scalable and adaptable, as data center installation and expansion can be done safely, quickly and without interruption, as well as eliminating environmental risks, health and fire hazards associated with other methods, such as welding. Alignment issues (which can be a big problem in modernization pipe solutions) are simplified by these slotted solution technologies.
Ready for mission-critical equipment
Not all manufacturers of slotted products are created equal. Before you choose, you need to be sure that you are choosing a mission-critical ready solution that brings confidence in construction. With good planning, there are refrigeration distribution solutions that are ready to operate in mission critical while being adaptable.
Similarly, not all producers provide data-rich content or the tools to maximize the value BIM brings to a project. The information that can be taken out will only be as good as the information that was previously provided.
So, whether you're pumping water out of a flood, or keeping vitally important equipment well cooled, the most important thing is risk mitigation; as well as incorporating adaptable cooling systems. While the application of BIM in a project will not guarantee that a plant is completely risk-proof, it will help to test it in the future on a constant basis.
* Sergio Ramírez, HVAC engineer, with more than 5 years of experience in the field and 3 years with Victaulic, serves as a leader in pipe joint solutions in the Northeast of the country, his specialty being hydronic balancing. Sergio was awarded Victaulic's highest distinction, "President's club 2016" for his excellent sales performance during 2015.
