IBM Unveils Data Center Cooling Technology
IBM today unveiled a new data center cooling technology, a patented thermal storage solution that can reduce cooling costs by up to 50 percent, according to IBM. The new system works as a "cold battery" placed between the cold water chillers and the data center's HVAC system.
IBM said its new technology has been patented, and did not release details about the precise workings of the thermal storage unit and the cooling agent being used. IBM has implemented its new product at a company-operated data center in Brompton, Quebec, which has achieved 45 percent savings. IBM said the thermal storage prouct has been named the "best new energy product" by the American Society of Heating, Refrigeration, and Air Conditioning Engineers (ASHRAE).
The liquid in the thermal storage unit freezes at a higher temperature than water, typically between 40 to 45°F, allowing the chillers to generate stored cooling with less effort than would be required with an ice-based solution. A number of data center operators, including Navisite and Credit Suisse, have tested or implemented ice-based thermal storage systems. Providers of ice-based thermal storage systems include Calmac and Cryogel.
IBM's system allows a data center operators to manage their chillers more cheaply and efficiently, taking advantage of differentials in power pricing. As an example, the chillers could be used to charge the cold battery during evenings or other periods in our prices are lower. The batteries could be activated during peak power pricing, reducing energy usage by these cooling units.
The thermal storage technology was introduced by IBM during today's rollout of its Project Big Green initiative, which will dedicate $1 billion per year to energy efficiency initiatives for data centers.
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By Rich Miller 
May 10, 2007 | Permalink | >Get Posts By E-mail
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