Loop optimization, drycooler retrofit, and airflow management
The Challenge
A tenant of 111 8th Avenue’s landmark colocation facility, Crown Castle’s 16,000 square foot data center space faced significant operational inefficiencies. Part of Mantis' efficiency solutions group, the data center team designed a project including data center loop optimization, BMS and airflow management solutions.
A provider of towers, small cells and fiber, the data center needed better mechanical systems to continue delivering premium service for its own customers. The challenges this energy project tackled included:
- Supply air short-circuiting back to the CRACs
- Pumps constantly running due to no ability to control loop pressure
- Continuously running dry coolers
- CRAC overuse resulting in wasted energy and cost
The Solution
Located in Manhattan, the rooftop at 111 8th lacks elevator and crane access, making drycooler replacement impossible. Mantis Innovation engineers retrofitted three 150-ton drycoolers with EC motor technology and motorized valving controlled by the BMS for automatic failover and rotation. This reduced the number of running drycoolers from three to two, with fans operating at 30-50% speed. Custom solutions included airflow management, loop optimization, and drycooler fan retrofits.
- Data center optimization
- HVAC/mechanical
- Loop optimization
- Drycooler retrofit
- Airflow management
- Utility incentive qualification
- No-cost energy audit
The Results
The project delivered energy and financial savings, improved operational gains, and enhanced visibility and control over the HVAC environment. The Crown Castle data center's BMS was modified with intelligent system logic and redesigned reporting functions for better monitoring and decision-making.
- 4 CRAC units turned off, saving 602,000 kWh
- 93% of airflow now directed in front of the rack vs mixing into hot aisle air streams
- 2 pumps running at 50-75% vs 3 at 100%
- Real-time Power Usage Effectiveness (PUE) metrics
- Granular monitoring and control over HVAC equipment based upon sensed temperature and humidity