Emerson Network Power offering 'free cooling' solutions with advice on best practices

Emerson Network Power (NYSE: EMR) has announced the release of various, free "economization solutions" for reducing data center energy use. The company is offering fluid-side solutions and an air-side economizer paired with its Liebert iCOM control to present intelligent monitoring and control for optimized economic performance and maximized overall cooling efficiency.

Emerson further recommends organizations carefully review the benefits and accompanying risks of “free cooling.” The company maintains that, as energy prices continue to rise, data center managers are exploring every avenue for reducing energy consumption and cutting costs. Economizers are one such option.

“When a data center is located where weather conditions are favorable, economization can be a viable strategy for reducing energy use -- potentially as much as 50 percent -- and cutting costs,” says Fred Stack, vice president of marketing for the Liebert Precision Cooling business of Emerson Network Power in North America. “However, because business continuance is the ultimate goal of any data center, it is important to weigh the benefits of different types of economizers against their associated costs and risks. Our solutions, which include both air- and fluid-side economization, are designed with intelligent controls to maximize efficiency without sacrificing high availability.”

Air- and fluid-side economizers use outside air, when that air is cold enough, to reduce or eliminate compressor and/or pump operation in data center cooling units. Emerson Network Power is offering fluid-side economization solutions and an air-side economizer, all with the Liebert iCOM control providing intelligent monitoring and control functions. The various systems are:

Chiller Plant (fluid-side): In this system, a chilled-water loop feeding multiple cooling units within the data center uses cold outside air temperatures to cool the water and ultimately reduce chiller operation. Economization hours are dependant on a number of factors, including wet bulb temperature and supply and return water temperatures. A Chiller Plant solution, partnered with a Liebert CWTM or Liebert Challenger 3000 precision cooling system, can deliver average annual energy savings of 40-60 percent, estimates Emerson.

Liebert GLYCOOL System (fluid-side): Billed as a proven economization solution employed in many data centers, the self-contained Liebert GLYCOOL System functions as a normal glycol-cooled DX system until outside temperatures drop far enough to sufficiently cool the fluid in the heat-rejection loop. At that point, the Liebert iCOM control switches to the system’s “Econ-o-coil” and reduces or eliminates compressor and pump operation as long as outside temperatures remain low enough. Liebert GLYCOOL cooling can reduce average annual energy use by 20-50 percent, contends the company, and is available as an option on Liebert DSTM and Liebert Challenger 3000 precision cooling systems.

Liebert Air Economizer System: This system pumps cool outside air into the data center, reducing or eliminating compressor operation within the cooling unit and chiller plant. Field-supplied sensors can be wired to the Liebert iCOM control to close the outside air damper, should conditions not be right for economizer operation. Liebert iCOM control also can be used with third-party air economizers to provide a tested and field-proven control system that monitors conditions and provides reliable free-cooling. The Liebert Air Economizer System may deliver average annual energy savings of 30-60 percent and is compatible with downflow configurations of the Liebert DS and Liebert CW precision cooling systems.

Emerson Network Power says the various economization solutions are designed in accordance with industry standards and ASHRAE best practices and with thorough consideration of the issues that accompany economization. “Economization isn’t right for every location,” warns Emerson's Stack. “Ambient conditions, including temperature, humidity and dew-point, can impact performance, and airborne contaminants, if not properly filtered, can damage sensitive electronics. Even in the best of conditions, maintenance procedures and requirements should be reviewed and adjusted.”

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Emerson Network Power Offers ‘Free Cooling’ Solutions, Best Practices

Economizers offer savings in specific circumstances, but not a fit for all data centers

Columbus, Ohio [February 18, 2010] – As energy prices continue to rise, data center managers are exploring every avenue for reducing energy consumption and cutting costs. Economizers are one such option, and Emerson Network Power, a business of Emerson (NYSE: EMR) and the global leader in enabling Business-Critical Continuity, today rolled out its portfolio of economization solutions while urging organizations to consider carefully the benefits and accompanying risks of “free cooling.”

“When a data center is located where weather conditions are favorable, economization can be a viable strategy for reducing energy use—potentially as much as 50 percent—and cutting costs,” said Fred Stack, vice president of marketing for the Liebert Precision Cooling business of Emerson Network Power in North America. “However, because business continuance is the ultimate goal of any data center, it is important to weigh the benefits of different types of economizers against their associated costs and risks. Our solutions, which include both air- and fluid-side economization, are designed with intelligent controls to maximize efficiency without sacrificing high availability.”

Air- and fluid-side economizers use outside air—when that air is cold enough—to reduce or eliminate compressor and/or pump operation in data center cooling units. Emerson Network Power offers fluid-side economization solutions and an air-side economizer, all with Liebert iCOM control providing intelligent monitoring and control to optimize economizer performance and maximize overall cooling efficiency. The various systems are:

Chiller Plant (fluid-side): In this system, a chilled-water loop feeding multiple cooling units within the data center uses cold outside air temperatures to cool the water and ultimately reduce chiller operation. Economization hours are dependant on a number of factors, including wet bulb temperature and supply and return water temperatures. A Chiller Plant solution, partnered with a Liebert CWTM or Liebert ChallengerTM 3000 precision cooling system, can deliver average annual energy savings of 40-60 percent.

Liebert GLYCOOL System (fluid-side): A proven economization solution employed in many data centers, the self-contained Liebert GLYCOOL System functions as a normal glycol-cooled DX system until outside temperatures drop far enough to sufficiently cool the fluid in the heat-rejection loop. At that point, the Liebert iCOM control switches to the system’s “Econ-o-coil” and reduces or eliminates compressor and pump operation as long as outside temperatures remain low enough. Liebert GLYCOOL cooling can reduce average annual energy use by 20-50 percent and is available as an option on Liebert DSTM and Liebert Challenger 3000 precision cooling systems.

Liebert Air Economizer System: This system pumps cool outside air into the data center, reducing or eliminating compressor operation within the cooling unit and chiller plant. Field-supplied sensors can be wired to the Liebert iCOM control to close the outside air damper, should conditions not be right for economizer operation. Liebert iCOM control also can be used with third-party air economizers to provide a tested and field-proven control system that monitors conditions and provides reliable free-cooling. The Liebert Air Economizer System can deliver average annual energy savings of 30-60 percent and is compatible with downflow configurations of the Liebert DS and Liebert CW precision cooling systems.

Emerson Network Power’s economization solutions are designed in accordance with industry standards and ASHRAE best practices and with thorough consideration of the issues that accompany economization. “Economization isn’t right for every location,” Stack said. “Ambient conditions, including temperature, humidity and dew-point, can impact performance, and airborne contaminants, if not properly filtered, can damage sensitive electronics. Even in the best of conditions, maintenance procedures and requirements should be reviewed and adjusted.”

All of these solutions are available globally, although effective economization is contingent upon climate. A local Liebert representative can help evaluate the viability of economization in a given location.

For more information, visit www.Liebert.com, www.EmersonNetworkPower.com or www.Emerson.com.