Rudolph/Libbe Companies and BHP ENERGY LLC to Build One of the World’s Most Energy-Efficient Data Centers Using Capstone Turbines
Walbridge
and Hudson, Ohio – Rudolph/Libbe
Companies and its subsidiaries, BHP Energy and GEM Inc., are designing and
building one of the world’s most energy-efficient computer data centers for
Syracuse University.
The
data center is expected to use 50 percent less energy than a typical data center
today, making it one of the "greenest" computer centers in operation.
BHP
was selected by Syracuse University and IBM to integrate a tri-generation
concept into the world’s most advanced data center. This system includes 12
patented Capstone C65 Hybrid UPS systems that run on natural gas and produce 65
kilowatts each. The center will make its own heat and air conditioning. Waste
heat from the turbines will be linked to absorption chillers, which will use the
heat energy to make cold water to cool the computers. During winter, waste heat
from the Capstone turbines can be used to make hot water for an adjacent
building. Computers will be cooled with water rather than air. The on-site
electrical tri-generation system will allow the data center to operate
completely off-grid.
BHP
is an authorized distributor of Capstone Turbine power generation systems.
Capstone Turbines are compact, affordable energy systems that reduce energy
costs while helping to protect the environment with near-zero emissions.
“Syracuse
University, the state of New York and IBM are true innovators. We are extremely
proud to be working with them on a project that will influence the way data
centers are designed and operated,” says Hussien Shousher, president of GEM
Inc.
IBM
will provide more than $5 million in equipment, design services and support. The
New York State Energy Research and Development Authority (NYSERDA) is
contributing $2 million to the project.
Data
Center Infrastructure
The
liquid cooling system will use double-effect absorption chillers to convert
exhaust heat from the microturbines into chilled water to cool the data center’s
servers, with sufficient excess cooling to handle the needs of an adjacent
building.
Server
racks will incorporate IBM’s Rear Door Heat eXchanger “cooling doors” that use
chilled water to remove heat more efficiently than conventional room-chilling
methods.
Sensors
will monitor server temperatures and usage to tailor the amount of cooling
delivered by each Rear Door Heat eXchanger—further improving efficiency.
The
project also will include a direct current (DC) power distribution system. In a
typical data center, alternating current (AC) electricity is delivered by a
central power plant through the local utility’s electric grid and then converted
to DC to power the servers – a conversion which results in power loss. Directly
generating DC power on-site eliminates those power losses.
The
data center is expected to be completed by the end of 2009.
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Facts
about data centers
The
project addresses a critical concern for modern data centers around the world:
ever-spiraling energy consumption and cost, driven by growing demand for
computer services such as Internet communication, entertainment, global commerce
and services.
Data
centers in the United States consume annually more than 62 billion kilowatt
hours of electricity – equivalent to the amount used by approximately 5.8
million U.S. households—for a total cost of about $4.5 billion. If current
trends continue, that usage could double by 2011.
June 9, 2009
Rudolph/Libbe Companies and BHP ENERGY LLC to Build One of the World’s Most Energy-Efficient Data Centers Using Capstone Turbines
Walbridge
and Hudson, Ohio – Rudolph/Libbe
Companies and its subsidiaries, BHP Energy and GEM Inc., are designing and
building one of the world’s most energy-efficient computer data centers for
Syracuse University.
The
data center is expected to use 50 percent less energy than a typical data center
today, making it one of the "greenest" computer centers in operation.
BHP
was selected by Syracuse University and IBM to integrate a tri-generation
concept into the world’s most advanced data center. This system includes 12
patented Capstone C65 Hybrid UPS systems that run on natural gas and produce 65
kilowatts each. The center will make its own heat and air conditioning. Waste
heat from the turbines will be linked to absorption chillers, which will use the
heat energy to make cold water to cool the computers. During winter, waste heat
from the Capstone turbines can be used to make hot water for an adjacent
building. Computers will be cooled with water rather than air. The on-site
electrical tri-generation system will allow the data center to operate
completely off-grid.
BHP
is an authorized distributor of Capstone Turbine power generation systems.
Capstone Turbines are compact, affordable energy systems that reduce energy
costs while helping to protect the environment with near-zero emissions.
“Syracuse
University, the state of New York and IBM are true innovators. We are extremely
proud to be working with them on a project that will influence the way data
centers are designed and operated,” says Hussien Shousher, president of GEM
Inc.
IBM
will provide more than $5 million in equipment, design services and support. The
New York State Energy Research and Development Authority (NYSERDA) is
contributing $2 million to the project.
Data
Center Infrastructure
The
liquid cooling system will use double-effect absorption chillers to convert
exhaust heat from the microturbines into chilled water to cool the data center’s
servers, with sufficient excess cooling to handle the needs of an adjacent
building.
Server
racks will incorporate IBM’s Rear Door Heat eXchanger “cooling doors” that use
chilled water to remove heat more efficiently than conventional room-chilling
methods.
Sensors
will monitor server temperatures and usage to tailor the amount of cooling
delivered by each Rear Door Heat eXchanger—further improving efficiency.
The
project also will include a direct current (DC) power distribution system. In a
typical data center, alternating current (AC) electricity is delivered by a
central power plant through the local utility’s electric grid and then converted
to DC to power the servers – a conversion which results in power loss. Directly
generating DC power on-site eliminates those power losses.
The
data center is expected to be completed by the end of 2009.
Facts
about data centers
The
project addresses a critical concern for modern data centers around the world:
ever-spiraling energy consumption and cost, driven by growing demand for
computer services such as Internet communication, entertainment, global commerce
and services.
Data
centers in the United States consume annually more than 62 billion kilowatt
hours of electricity – equivalent to the amount used by approximately 5.8
million U.S. households—for a total cost of about $4.5 billion. If current
trends continue, that usage could double by 2011.