sineQN

Rack Hygiene

Shauna — Tue, 16 Oct 2012 18:10:54 +0000

Rack Hygiene is a newly coined term used to describe the care in which an IT server rack envelope should be designed, controlled and maintained. The rack envelope consists of the entire volume of space from the floor to top of the rack itself. The use of blanking plates and other fittings around the edge, top, floor, or the rack direct air intake so that only air from the cold aisle reaches equipment intakes and prevent leakage of exhaust air into the intake area. Fans on the top or rear doors of the cabinet ensure a negative pressure for exhaust air coming out of equipment. This effective airflow management prevents hot spots, which are especially common in the top spaces of a rack, and allows the temperature of cold aisles to be raised and thus produce energy savings. Furthermore,ineffective rack airflow management at the rack and row level is a key contributor to aisle and room overheating.

Hot & Cold Aisle Containment

Shauna — Tue, 16 Oct 2012 18:09:22 +0000

Containment of hot/cold aisles and ducting hot air from cabinets are intended to prevent cool/exhaust air mixing within data halls or server rooms. Generally rows of cabinets face each other so that cool air can reach the equipment air intakes at the required set point temperature for the room.

A cold-aisle containment system (CACS) encloses the cold aisle, allowing the rest of the data hall to become a large hot-air return plenum. By containing the cold aisle, the hot and cold air streams are separated. This containment method requires that the rows of racks be set up in a consistent hot-aisle / cold-aisle arrangement. A hot-aisle containment system (HACS) encloses the hot aisle to collect the IT equipment’s hot exhaust air, allowing the rest of the room to become a large cold-air supply plenum.

Both hot-aisle and cold-aisle containment provide significant energy savings over traditional uncontained configurations.

Waste to Energy

Shauna — Tue, 16 Oct 2012 18:08:46 +0000

Waste to energy conversion is an increasingly recognised approach to resolving two issues in one – waste management and sustainable energy. Waste represents an increasingly important fuel source. Using waste as fuel can have important environmental benefits. It can not only provide a safe and cost-effective way of waste disposal but can also help reduce carbon dioxide emissions. Whilst energy can be derived from waste by burning landfill gas, there are also alternative methods to generate energy from waste. When waste is incinerated in large amounts, the heat energy can be recycled and used to heat factories, hospitals and other large buildings. Alternatively, the heat can be used to generate electricity. This is done by using the steam created by combustion to drive a steam turbine. Electricity generating waste plants can typically process between 20,000 and 600,000 tonnes of waste per year, from which they can generate between 1 and 40 MW of electricity. Waste-derived fuel can also be burnt in boilers as an alternative to coal. Any energy that is recovered from biological waste can be regarded as renewable. It comes from plant material – either directly, or in the case of animal waste, paper or card, indirectly. As plants grow they absorb carbon dioxide from the atmosphere. When biomass is used as fuel, this carbon dioxide is returned to the atmosphere, making the process carbon neutral.

Free Cooling

Shauna — Tue, 16 Oct 2012 18:07:59 +0000

Free cooling uses the cooling capacity of low external air temperatures to assist in the process of chilling water or directly cool a space . External air at around 7-14 Deg C can be used to meet a cooling load and thus reduce the energy consumed by the mechanical refrigerant plant. Free cooling systems take advantage of these favorable weather conditions to enable chiller plant to be shut down for long periods, saving significant amounts of energy and cutting carbon emissions.

Combined Heat & Power

Shauna — Tue, 16 Oct 2012 18:06:46 +0000

The simultaneous generation of usable heat and power (usually electricity) in a single process. CHP is a highly efficient way to use both fossil and renewable fuels and can therefore make a significant contribution to the UK’s sustainable energy goals, bringing environmental, economic, social and energy security benefits.

Case Study One

Shauna — Sat, 16 Apr 2011 12:44:59 +0000

Client: Danish renewable energy specialist

Role: sineQN provided the project management and contract administration services for the construction of a purpose-built Research & Development facility to develop and test the client’s largest wind turbine blades.

Key Green aspects incorporated:

30m² of solar panels, capable of providing all the hot water for the site offices
Ground source heat pumps to heat and cool the office block. These are 300-400% efficient and have the capacity to provide 330 KW of heat and 150 KW of cooling
A self-contained sewage treatment plant for filtration and discharge, with rainwater harvesting for use in toilet flushing and irrigation
The monitoring of the carbon footprint of the project during the construction phase – which minimised vehicle traffic
The creation of a vegetable garden onsite to provide fresh fruit and vegetables

Case Study Two

Richeh — Sat, 16 Apr 2011 12:22:35 +0000

Client: UK retail and investment bank

Role: sineQN provided the project management and contract administration services for the construction of an award-winning data centre.

Key Green aspects incorporated:

20,000 sq ft of white space, extending to 50,000 sq ft within a 300,000 sq ft building
Tier 3+ Standard
Average load 7.7 KW per rack (max. 11 KW)
Used enclosed cold aisle containment
Achieved BREEAM Excellent and LEED Platinum
Specialist chillers were procured, which are designed to operate efficiently at low load
Trinergy UPS for mechanical system
Ice Mine system to provide one hour of cooling in the event of a chiller failure
sineQN won the Data Center Dynamics ‘Mega Data Centre of the Year’ Award in 2010

Biodegradable

Shauna — Fri, 15 Apr 2011 13:33:52 +0000

A product compiled of natural materials that can be broken down into simple compounds and absorbed back into the eco system without harm if it has moisture, heat, and micro-organisms. Biodegradability is certified by The International Standards Organization (ISO) 14855, and requires 60% biodegradation in 180 days.

Bio digester

Shauna — Fri, 15 Apr 2011 13:33:32 +0000

A heated tank that produces combustible gas from waste organic matter, recycling plant nutrients and helping to reduce dependence on inorganic fertilisers, making it easier to grow organically.

Biodynamic

Shauna — Fri, 15 Apr 2011 13:33:10 +0000

A method of organic farming and gardening that is self-sufficient in compost, manures and animal feeds. Astronomical calendars are used to determine timing for planting. Herb-based preparations that include some animal organs are also used. The Demeter symbol guarantees products have been produced bio dynamically.