Royal Devon data centre reduces energy costs with cooling upgrade

Secure I.T. Environments, a UK data centre designer and builder, has announced the completion of cooling upgrades at the Royal Devon University Healthcare, NHS Foundation Trust. The upgrades are expected to significantly reduce energy costs, with a projected return on investment (ROI) in under three years. The updated installation is anticipated to allow the data centre to reach a Power Usage Effectiveness (PUE) efficiency rating of 1.14 while achieving a Cooling PUE of 1.10.

In recent times, Secure I.T. Environments has conducted a range of projects for the trust, including this latest one. The company has replaced the existing cooling infrastructure with three indoor units that optimise efficiency. Employing a free cooling solution, the data centre can function in a higher temperature-free cooling configuration for a larger portion of the year. This method leverages ambient temperatures, which results in a reduction of running costs.

The incorporated units blend direct expansion air cooling and an energy-efficient FreeCool circuit. This complements built-in compressors for the direct expansion circuit. External Hybrid Heat Rejection (HHR) units were also strategically installed on site.

Chris Wellfair, the Projects Director at Secure I.T. Environments, commented on the completion of the upgrade, saying, "The primary source of operating expenditure for data centres is electricity. Whilst maintaining the climate conditions within a data centre is critical, the ASHRAE TC9.9 2016 thermal guidelines now give confidence to operators that they can control the indoor temperature at higher levels. This, combined with the efficiencies gained with new equipment, will dramatically lower energy costs at RDEF and achieve a return on investment in under three years," said Chris Wellfair. 

The installation process took place over three phases, which allowed the data centre to remain online and fully operational in supporting hospital and patient services. Secure I.T. Environments handled the tasks relating to decommissioning existing units and installing new equipment, including electrical works, configuration and testing.

Secure I.T. Environments' successful completion of cooling upgrades at the Royal Devon University Healthcare NHS Foundation Trust signifies a significant step towards enhancing energy efficiency and reducing operational costs within the data centre. By leveraging innovative solutions and strategic installation methodologies, the project not only achieves substantial energy savings but also ensures uninterrupted support for critical hospital and patient services. This accomplishment underscores Secure I.T. Environments' commitment to delivering high-quality, cost-effective infrastructure solutions tailored to meet the stringent demands of the healthcare sector while effectively advancing sustainability goals.