Cooling System Optimization for Houston Assembly Facility
Motivair Cooling Distribution Units (CDUs) (Image Credit: Motivair)
Category: Data Center
Services Provided: HVAC, Plumbing
Completion Date: May 2024
Owner: Undisclosed
Contractor(s): D. Webber Consulting
Project Description
Pragmatic Professional Engineers (PPE) played a pivotal role in enhancing the cooling efficiency of a major assembly facility in Houston, Texas. The project focused on optimizing the cooling system for server racks and test stations, ensuring peak performance and reliability. The liquid cooling system was designed for 85% of the load and an in-row air cooling system handled the remaining 15%.
PE handled the HVAC and plumbing scopes of work for this critical infrastructure upgrade. Our team was responsible for the design and implementation of both air and liquid cooling solutions to support the high-density server racks and test stations.
The facility required robust cooling solutions to manage the significant heat loads generated by six server racks and two test stations. Each server rack, demanding a power capacity of 73 kW, utilized a combination of liquid cooling (62 kW) and air cooling (11 kW) to maintain optimal operating temperatures. The liquid cooling was managed by Vertiv Coolant Distribution Units (CDUs) integrated into the existing chilled water system, with a secondary loop utilizing 25% propylene glycol for enhanced thermal management. Our design included the use of in-row coolers to handle the air cooling needs, providing precise temperature control and efficient heat dissipation.
Key challenges included ensuring seamless integration with the existing infrastructure and maintaining the desired cooling performance within tight spatial constraints. Coordination with other contractors and adherence to strict technical specifications were essential to meet the project's goals.
The implementation of advanced cooling solutions resulted in significant improvements in thermal management for the facility. The optimized cooling system enhanced the reliability and efficiency of the server racks and test stations and reduced energy consumption and operational costs. The successful completion of this project underscores Pragmatic PE's commitment to delivering innovative and effective engineering solutions tailored to the specific needs of our clients.