Keeping Pace Is No Longer Difficult

The data center wide high-density cooling distribution system deployed by Husky Energy is actively managed and will provide over 320 days of free cooling per year using Opengate’s Containment Cooling™, raising supply air temperature and using a free economizer glycol loop to outdoor dry coolers

At the heart of the green high-density computing initiative is Opengate’s innovative cooling distribution system that contains the heat, dynamically scales to the IT load real-time, and reports cooling load data and alarms. Setup for the Opengate system was a snap and was easily adapted to the customer’s choice of IT equipment racks, precision cooling, and IT management software.

“We can maintain the same intake air temperature to every location in the room and automatically scale to the IT load, so every piece of IT equipment is working as efficiently and reliably as possible – no hot spots and no pressure build up in the rack” said Dave Oliver of CES Computer Environment Solutions and formerly the project lead at Husky, “With SiteX EC Containment Cooling, we have the ability to average 8 kW per rack and take any racks we choose to 30 kW, even in the 11 foot slab-to-slab urban setting.”

• High-density computing facility to maximize IT and real estate resources
• Maintain stable environment within low slab-to-slab high-rise building
• Conform to green energy mandate with PUE of 1.6 or less
• Complete IT flexibility with ability to locate high-density racks anywhere
• Utilize familiar and time tested DX CRAC units at the floor’s perimeter
• Free cooling over 320 days per year with glycol loop to outside fan coils
• Containment and continuous cooling distribution during utility failure

Maximum energy savings and maintaining a stable environment for high-density computing in a tight urban setting was a top priority. Another main objective; maximize IT resources and flexibility.

Deploying high-density racks in quantity and locating the racks anywhere on the data center floor wasn’t out of the question for Husky Energy. This high-density cooling strategy is not only possible, but will allow full utilization of cooling resources. Opengate’s cooling distribution system allows the room temperature to remain stable while maximizing flexibility for IT operations. Husky Energy has learned how to; manage IT exhaust heat, raise supply air temperature within the ASHRAE range, eliminate waste and gain flexibility to locate high-density IT racks anywhere on the floor.

1. All IT exhaust heat has a direct return path to cooling units
2. IT loads take cooling from the room – loads are divorced from cooling unit locations
3. Supply air temperature is raised to 20 ºC with no concern for hot air recirculation
4. Non-uniform air delivery will not have a detrimental effect on room ambient temperatures

Opengate software is providing real-time cooling load and environment monitoring as well as critical alarms at the management console level. Integration with IT or building management software is a snap. Opengate SiteX View software has easy to use MIB and XML data and the software suite is included - integrated within the microprocessor of each system.

1. Heated exhausted from network switch is directed out
2. System set for network switch operation maintains a slight negative rack pressure
3. Cool air enters the rack below the network switch chassis and also around major cable bundle
4. Blanket of cool air ensures proper network switch operation

Dual redundant Opengate EC20 system scales to the IT load real-time. Cartridges can be hot-swapped for higher flow rate cartridges. Heat is contained and cooling distribution is managed allowing maximum cooling efficiency and flexibility for high-density computing.

Opengate EC20 on a 30” wide rack - Inter-duct connector between adjacent systems allows ceiling to be quickly trimmed to entire row

EC20 shallow depth allows plenty of room for organizing cable bundles above with overhead cable trays or ladder racks

Maximized IT flexibility and data center efficiency – highly available high-density computing in a low slab-to-slab facility