Customized data center cooling system operating at significant outdoor temperature fluctuations

Abstract

This elaboration presents the configuration of the cooling system of the POLCOM Data Center which utilizes commercially available components, proposes steering strategy and analyzes their functionality. The designed architecture of cooling and dedicated control system is presented to demonstrate the novelty and customization with respect to the demanding outdoor temperatures existing in the climate of the Małopolska Province. The cooling system control and operation is illustrated by a comprehensive analysis of compressor and freecooling modes. The discussion on embedded functionality of chillers is undertaken. According to features and limitations of the complex solution, the cooling system reached the annual average coefficient of performance of 8.63 in 2015 (increase of 110% compared to the year 2014), operating 65% of the time during the year in compressor mode and 35% in freecooling mode. This coefficient in compressor mode amounted to 4.39 while in freecooling mode totaled 16.50. It was proved that in the real case under consideration they generated losses in electricity consumption amounting to 557MWh per year. The real-time experimental data collected from the commercial Data Center installation are used to present a unique operation of a such complex system.