NDY Melbourne mission critical market sector leader and associate director Hayley McLoughlin recently presented her "Beyond The Future - Upgrading a Data Centre Beyond its Planned Capacity" presentation at the recent Data Centre Dynamics Conference in Melbourne. Hayley’s insightful presentation investigates the challenges of a data centre upgrade project by presenting a case study on a particularly challenging Data Centre upgrade that NDY is currently delivering in the Asia Pacific region.

1. Beyond the FutureUpgrading a Data Centre Beyond its Planned Capacity
Hayley McLoughlin

2. What are the demands on our data centres?

3. Demands on Our Data CentresIncreased Loads
Stranded CapacityDynamic Load Changes
Short Upgrade Project Time-linesExpectation of Zero Downtime
Sustainability Requirements

4. Key challenges for an upgrade?

5. Challenges of Data Centre Upgrades
Parallel Systems
Lack of Isolation Points
Hidden Issues –Neutrals etc
Integration of Control Systems
Space Limitations
Target to Minimise Capital

6. How do we approach an upgrade?

7. Step 1: Validation & Brief DevelopmentSite inspection & review of information
Meetings to understand operational constraintsIdentify further information required
Development of design brief

8. Step 2: Masterplan Development
Options reviews
Develop high level masterplan
Develop high level transition plan
Schematic design

9. Step 3: Design Development
Ongoing risk reviews
Develop detailed transition plans
Document
Detailed design

10. Case Study:
Enterprise Data Centre Upgrade
Client: Global Technology Company
Location: Malaysia

11. Existing Configuration
Capacity: 600kW of IT Load
Dual Incoming HV Feeds
Parallel Redundant N+1 UPS System
Parallel Redundant N+1 Generator System
N+1 Water Cooled Mechanical infrastructure
Hot Aisle Containment
Combination of In-Row Coolers and CRAC Units within the data halls with spatial limitations.

12. Upgrade Requirements
Capacity: 1200kW of IT Load
No downtime
Opportunity to delay capital spend
Generally Tier 3 Resilience.

13. Existing Configuration

14. What is the specific upgrade approach?

15. Step 1: Central Mechanical Plant Upgrade

16. Step 1: Data Hall Pipework Connections

17. Step 2: New Generator Plant

18. Step 3: Redundant UPS

19. Step 4: New Main Switchboard

20. Step 5: New Capacity UPS System

21. With spatial restrictions, can we plan the load distribution to work with the services to improve the data hall environment?

22. Original Load Distribution (at N cooling)

23. Revised Load Distribution (at N cooling)

24. What is the impact on our planet?

25. One Planet Living
Diagram courtesy of One Planet Living
www.oneplanetliving.net

26. One Planet Living
Diagram courtesy of One Planet Living
www.oneplanetliving.net

27. Carbon
Higher load density leading to higher efficiency
Modular UPS
High efficiency chillers.
η DC= 1/PUE
Data Centre Efficiency
η DT
Transmission Efficiency
η IT
IT Efficiency

28. Waste
Reuse of existing facility
Redeployment of spare UPS module for mechanical load
Reuse of switchboards
Reuse of cabling

29. Land Use
Reuse of existing facility

30. Equity
Capital efficiency

31. Key Take Home Messages
Understand the facility prior to undertaking any design
Provide a practical implementation
Collaboration between disciplines
Collaboration between services and IT to ensure a resistant solution where you have restraints.

32. THANK YOU
Questions?