Case study

Energy, waste & materials savings for datacentres

Key achievements


20,000 euro saved due to longer lasting filters.

10,000 euro saved in energy consumption by choosing A+ filters.

Less labour, waste disposal and operational cost.

Customer:

Large multinational

Location:

Spain

Sector:

Datacentres

Solution


For nearly all buildings, energy performance and sustainable practices are important to ensure that you can achieve a reduced operating costs but also a lower carbon footprint.

According to EN16798-3 a data centre is considered an environment with low occupation rate and therefore the demands on air filtration efficiency is reduced. The main purpose of protecting the air is not for peoples health but to ensure that there is no build up of dust on the machinery.

To address these challenges, we recommended implementing our30/30 ePM10 50% pre-filters and our high-efficiency XLT ePM2.550% 592x592x640 mm filters with 10 bags. These filters offer extensive filter surface, high dust retention capacity, and low pressure drop. Additionally, we included an Indoor Air Quality analysis in all interior areas of the data centre as part of our services.

The solution was designed to ensure that the air in the datacentre was protected to reduce the levels of dust build up but also ensuring that energy savings were easily achieved. The solution also offered less waste due to longer filter lifetime and less operational down time as the filters could last longer within the AHU.

Process overview  


The data centre under consideration is a state-of-the-art facility designed to securely and efficiently store and process large volumes of information.

It features advanced cooling systems to maintain optimal equipment temperatures, ensuring continuous and uninterrupted operation.

Additionally, it is equipped with physical and digital security measures to guarantee the confidentiality and integrity of the hosted data. This centre also focuses on sustainable practices to reduce its environmental impact and optimise energy efficiency in all operations.

  Challenges  


  Frequent changes of their prefiltration was a key problem. The panel filters previously used were only able to be operational for one month before
               they would become saturated

  The secondary filters stage was causing a high pressure drop in the AHU which created higher energy consumption within the
               system

  The location of the datacentre meant that the filters would be exposed to high levels of dust concentrations. This meant that a high
               dust holding capacity of the filter would be needed


Results


After the start-up, an external company performed an analysis to determine the effectiveness of the installation in both rooms. The measurements were carried out according to the ISO 14644-3:2021 standard for the average value of particles sizes 0.5 μm (number of particles) and 5 μm (particles/m³). The results obtained showed that not only is the ISO 8 class reached, but the values are at the limit of the ISO 7 class (the concentration of particles between one class and the next is 10 times lower).

Likewise, the active control of the CC 6000 equipment through the AirImage sensor represents an energy saving that allows the client to reduce the operating cost of the installation and contribute positively to the environment.

The results of this implementation were significant:

  • Increased durability and dustretention capacity in the filters.
  • Considerable reduction in pressure drop.
  • Reduced waste generation.
  • Decreased energy consumption.
  • Carbon footprint reduction.
  • Lower operational costs.
  • Improved and assured indoor air quality.
  • Client loyalty, providing us with the opportunity to
    implement these changes in other data centres.

In terms of financial savings, the impact was significant. Previously, the client had to replace pre-filters every two months and compact filters every six months, resulting in an annual cost of approximately 50,000 euros. With our filters, the annual material expense was reduced to around 30,000 euros.

Furthermore, in terms of energy consumption savings, the reduction in pressure drop thanks to our 30/30 pre-filters and Hi-Flo XLT filters translated into an estimated annual saving of about 10,000 euros.