V RICONDITION C OOLING SOLUTIONS Next Generation Cold Corridor Takes modular thinking in energy-efficient data centre design to a new level
In 2006, Minkels became the first data centre supplier in Europe to commercially launch Cold Corridor solutions, in order to separate data centre airflows in an energy-efficient manner. Today, data centre users worldwide have a need for extraordinarily high levels of flexibility in Cold Corridor implementations. Minkels Next Generation Cold Corridor is the ultimate modular solution to meet your flexible and dynamic data centre construction requirements. Since 2006, the Cold Corridor system has enabled countless data centres to effectively improve their energy efficiency by separating hot air from cold. As further experience was accumulated from project to project, an increasing understanding was gained of the role of the Cold Corridor within the IT infrastructure. An industry characterised by incessant progress requires ever more sophisticated solutions, such as Minkels Cold Corridor. Not only has Minkels R&D department further improved the energy efficiency of its Next Generation Cold Corridor, it has also raised modular thinking in the field of data centre design to a new level.
Minkels Next Generation Cold Corridor Takes modular thinking in energy-efficient data centre design to a new level NEW FEATURES: Modular options based on clients best practices. Ease of installation. R&D based airflow optimization. Wide choice of security options and (automatic) door systems. Plug & play integration of measuring sensors. Adaptable to all kinds of fire suppression systems. High level of roof light transmission.
COLD CORRIDOR PRINCIPLE The basic principle behind the Minkels Cold Corridor is the segregation of hot and cold airflows at row level. Airflow segregation is a vital step towards the achievement of integrated energy saving throughout data centres. However, the two main benefits to be gained by installing a Cold Corridor are: Constant air conditions for your IT equipment. Considerable energy saving potential. The fact that air conditions around the IT equipment remain constant also implies that higher inlet temperatures are permissible. The application of higher inlet can therefore increasingly be taken for granted. The ASHRAE specifications widely applied throughout the data centre market are therefore raised on an annual basis. Furthermore, the application of higher inlet temperatures also implies that there is greater potential for the use of free cooling, which yields a reduction in the amount of highly costly compressor operating hours. Experience gained from the numerous projects Minkels has executed in this field has shown the real potential for savings of up to 50%! Constant air conditions around server equipment also substantially reduce the risk of hotspots. This yields sharply increased levels of predictability and reliability for your valuable IT equipment. Minkels has over the past six years acquired a great deal of knowledge and experience in this field. Knowledge and experience that have of course been incorporated in the latest design. Minkels also naturally strives to achieve the highest possible levels of flexibility and modularity. Phased investment and a high degree of flexibility assure you of the most appropriate technical solution at low cost.
Modular cable system Pivot roof High level of roof light transmission Flexible wall system R&D based airflow optimisation Wide choice of security options (Electric) sliding door Hinged door The basic Cold Corridor system comprises the following: Doors: both sliding and hinged doors. Top panels: top panels are fitted to rails, independently of the server racks. The top is fitted with highly illuminating top panels, enabling light ingress of up to 83%. Wall panels: in the event that one or more cabinets are missing from a row, or are to be installed later, then the apertures can be closed using a flexible wall system. SYSTEM INTEGRATION Minkels clients increasingly express the need for complete system integration. The Next Generation of Cold Corridor caters closely to such needs. Complete integration with the ecosystem in and around the Cold Corridors has also been taken into consideration. Cooling & airflow management Security Cable management Fire detection and extinguishing Monitoring
INTEGRATION WITH COOLING SYSTEMS The Cold Corridor system is always used in combination with your data centre cooling system. This can be achieved in various ways, the most common of which are: Room cooling in combination with a raised floor. While this is a traditional method of cooling, it is nevertheless still widely applied. Integration of active cooling in the Cold Corridor. This row-based cooling system moves the cooling much closer to the heat source. This is often a highly practical and inexpensive option in compact spaces in particular, due to its highly modular nature and reduced distance between the cooling and IT equipment. It naturally also yields further energy savings. Row based cooling is ideally suited for the construction of High Density Clusters, even in existing circumstances. Furthermore, the fact that there is no need to install a (high) raised floor in this case enables a further reduction in the amount of investment required. The demand for integrated cooling systems in Cold Corridors is increasing sensationally! Minkels offers attractive total solutions in this field with its VariCondition-DX and -H2O systems. The Corridor system can naturally also be applied in order to enclose the hot side (Hot Corridor). While most clients opt for a setup whereby the cold side is enclosed, there are nevertheless circumstances in which setting up a Hot Corridor is preferable. In each case, however, the same basic principle is applied, namely to segregate hot airflows from cold, which can yield opportunities to achieve considerable energy savings. Minkels specialists would be pleased to advise you on the most optimum setup for your particular data centre environment. Airflow management Minkels recently introduced a new airflow management portfolio for its (server) racks. This portfolio is based on the accurate control of the airflows in and around the racks. The simple yet highly effective products it comprises help minimise the amount of energy wasted due to inefficient airflows (also see whitepaper 04: Rack airflow optimisation). The same philosophy has also been applied in the Next Generation Cold Corridor system. Minkels therefore offers the market a state-of-the-art proposition! INTEGRATION WITH FIRE DETECTION AND EXTINGUISHING SYSTEMS There are numerous types of fire detection and extinguishing systems which can be installed in data centres. However, the design and fitting of such systems is naturally a job for the experts. During the past few years, almost all the popular versions of these systems have been fitted in combination with the Minkels Cold Corridor. * * Row based cooling is ideally suited for the construction of High Density Clusters, even in existing circumstances. Minkels fits special bushed panels through which the piping for the fire extinguishing system can be conveniently led into the Cold Corridor.
Minkels offers various options which ideally support integration with such systems (also see whitepaper 05: Integration of the Cold Corridor with Fire Suppression Systems). Pivot roof panels In the event that a sprinkler or water-mist system is installed, then the Cold Corridors need to be rendered readily accessible to these agents. Minkels has therefore developed a system comprising thermal fuses, which ensures that the top panels are unlocked and automatically fold open at a temperature of 57 degrees Celsius. Minkels holds the patent for this unlocking mechanism. Minkels has developed a system comprising thermal fuses, which ensures that the top panels are unlocked and automatically fold open at a temperature of 57 degrees Celsius. Control by BMS system, based on potential free contact, is also available. Pivot roof panel control by means of BMS is also supported. Pivot panel is electrically released using potential free contact. The system is equipped with panel position indicators. Bushed panels It is sometimes necessary to install a nozzle in the Cold Corridor itself. In such cases, Minkels fits special bushed panels through which the piping for the fire extinguishing system can be conveniently led into the Cold Corridor.
Motion sensor Door position contact Locking mechanism Key pad Push button Varicontrol-L HiD system Portal Modular Integrated Solutions INTEGRATION WITH CABLE MANAGEMENT Data centres are increasingly equipped with top-of-rack cable infrastructure. Installing the cabling above the racks offers major benefits in terms of order, neatness and manageability. Minkels supplies a modular cable tray system which can be fitted on top of the rack. This system is perfectly compatible for use with the Cold Corridor. The system can be installed both longitudinally in line with the (row of) racks and transversely as a connecting bridge between Cold Corridors. Given that the cable tray system is directly attached to the racks, it can save you valuable time which would otherwise have to be spent installing it. Sliding door system, with mechanical soft closure. Sliding door system which is opened and closed electrically. Security is maintained by means of a keypad, card reader or integration with the existing security system. The Minkels VariControl-L electronic closure system is supported by the electrically operated Cold Corridor. The top panels are secured on the inside by means of square pin locks (non pivot roof only). The mechanical and electric sliding doors also offer the added advantage aclosed automatically to maintain cooling efficiency. INTEGRATION WITH SECURITY SYSTEMS Besides excellent availability and low energy bills, the Cold Corridor system also greatly contributes to the (physical) security of your valuable equipment. Restricted access to the Cold Corridor can be achieved in several ways, such as:
MINKELS SERVICE PROVISION The Minkels service team is ideally qualified and equipped to carry out the on-site assembly of your racks and Cold Corridor system swiftly, efficiently and at little cost. In this regard, we can take all the worries off your hands by performing: Site surveys (Internal) transport Installation service Waste management Commissioning and user training The Minkels Sales & Service team invariably remains at your service! INTEGRATION WITH MONITORING SYSTEMS Monitoring the conditions in and around server racks is an increasingly vital factor in managing the quality and availability of IT equipment. It has also become popular to monitor at various levels: namely at room, corridor and rack level. Minkels Cold Corridor system therefore comprises special sensor integration panels which are fitted in the roof. The wide range of standard sensors contained in the Minkels VariControl-S portfolio can be fitted to these panels toollessly. Our designers naturally took into consideration that the sensors also need to be neatly and conveniently wired to the monitoring infrastructure. FLEXIBILITY Wall system It is a common occurrence that a Cold Corridor has to be installed in circumstances where the rack setup is not entirely symmetrical. In such cases, a flexible wall system is required with which to perfectly cope with the irregularities. Minkels therefore designed a flexible system which can be readily adapted often on site, too to the particular requirements in question. The same system can also be used to enclose the following structures: Columns Height variations between racks. Apertures in a row of racks, where a rack is missing or is to be installed at a later stage. After all, some clients opt not to completely fill a Cold Corridor with racks from the outset. The flexible wall system can then be used to seal the Cold Corridor systematically and efficiently, thus ensuring that performance remains high. The wall panels can be readily and conveniently adapted whenever another rack is installed. It is simply not practical to fit top panels in certain cases, and this is where the flexible wall system offers a solution in blanking off the vertical opening up to the ceiling.
Product overview Basic product data Standard Remarks Aisle widths (W) 1000-1800mm Standard widths are 1200 and 1800mm Minimum Depth (D) Height (H) Color 800mm 2000mm 2075mm 2200mm 2275mm RAL7047 RAL9011 Other heights on request Door systems Sliding door system - mechanical Standard Optional Remarks Double doors X Manually operated with soft close Single door X Manually operated with soft close Synchronised X Mechanical with soft close Lock Euro profile cilinder X Standard Cilinder Lock - Electronic X Access Control System not included* Door Portal X Depth 100mm Door Handles X Door position contact X Potential Free *Door Portal is required Standard Optional Remarks Sliding door system electric Double doors X Electrical operated Single door X Electrical operated Synchronised X Electrical synchronised Door Portal X Depth 100mm Access Push Button X Access Motion Sensor X Outside access* Lock Keypad X Wireless* Lock VariControl - L X HID access cards* Door Handles - - Not Applicable Door position contact X Potential Free * Replaces standard push button Standard Optional Remarks Hinged door system - mechanical Double doors X Manually operated Single door - - Not Available Synchronised - - Not Available Lock - - Not Available Door Handles - - Not Applicable Door position contact - - Not Available
Product overview W = Aisle width D = Depth H = Height X = Panel size Y = Flexible start/ end panel Roof systems Standard roof system Standard Optional Remarks Roof rail system X Independent of racks High Light Transmission X >83% Lockable panels X Square key locks (inside) Panels Sizes (X) 600mm Start and end panel, flexible 100-175mm (Y) 700mm Sensor integration panel X VariControl S compliant Fire Suppression panel X ø 35mm hole Standard Optional Remarks Pivot roof system Roof rail system X Independent of racks High Light Transmission X >72% Lockable panels - - Not Applicable Panel Release Thermo Bulb X Opens at 57 C Panel Release - Electrical X Panel Release Position Indication X Only icw Electrical Panel Release Panels Sizes (X) 700mm Start and end panel, flexible 150-225mm (Y) 800mm Sensor integration panel X VariControl S compliant Fix panel 400mm None Pivot Panel Wall system Standard wall system Wall width Wall height Wall Thickness Self supporting Standard Optional Remarks 300mm 600mm 800mm 2000mm 2075mm 2200mm 2275mm 25mm X Other widths on request Other heights on request
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