Data Center Energy Efficient Cooling Control Demonstration PIR 10 052 (formerly Federspiel Controls)
Background 2009 PIER sponsored project resulted in the installation of intelligent supervisory control and wireless mesh network sensing systems to reduce cooling energy at the California Franchise Tax Board s Sacramento data center. Elements of the energy saving system: perforated floor tiles for the under floor air distribution system variable frequency drives (VFDs) for fans, wireless temperature and humidity sensors connected in a mesh network components are connected to intelligent control software and adapts to changing conditions to ensure data center reliability and minimize cooling energy consumption
Major Accomplishments from the 2009 Project Cutting costs in Data Centers (State Partnership for Energy Efficient Demonstrations) Data centers consume over 9 billion kwh/year Partners: California Franchise Tax Board, Federspiel Controls, Lawrence Berkeley National Labs Purpose: Install data automation software and hardware system that uses wireless sensors and web based software to control computer room air conditioning units. Results: Lowered total energy use by 21.3% Saved 475,000 kwh/yr Payback of 3.1 years Bottom line: $42,722 per year saved Technology Transfer: FTB plans to use this technology in other data centers. Federspiel Controls subsequently secured a federal grant to expand this technology to 12 other state owned data centers. 3
Background (Continued) In 2010, the U.S. Department of Energy and the California Energy Commission granted funds to Federspiel Controls to replicate the success of the 2009 project under varying conditions in eight State of California data centers. These grant awards would not have been possible without the success of the 2009 project. In May 2011, Federspiel Controls changed its name to Vigilent.
DOE Information and Communication Technology Portfolio Commenting on the 14 project U.S. Department of Energy portfolio of energy grants that includes this project, U.S. Secretary of Energy Steven Chu announced: By reducing energy use and energy costs for the information technology and telecommunications industries, this funding will help create jobs and ensure the sector remains competitive.
Project Uniqueness and Approach Tested technology at eight data centers of varying sizes from small localized data centers (< 1000 square feet) to medium and large data centers (up to 40,000 square feet). The sites and results are listed on the following slide. Tested data center reliability with variations in cooling unit types, equipment ages, and data center layouts. The American Society of Heating, Refrigerating, and Air Conditioning Engineers (ASHRAE) publishes acceptable temperature ranges for inlet air to data center equipment. This project produced energy savings by implementing an intelligent energy management system that measures, monitors and actively controls cooling units, providing just enough cooling to meet ASHRAE requirements.
Data Center Sites and Results Site Name Gold Camp Employment Development Department Franchise Tax Board Department of Water Resources Caltrans 2nd Floor Secretary of State Ziggurat Caltrans 9th Floor Totals City Rancho Cordova Sacramento Sacramento Sacramento Los Angeles Sacramento West Sacramento Los Angeles Square Feet Sensors CRAHs Annual kwh Savings Annual Dollar Savings Cooling Energy Reduced 40,000 495 23 484,174 $48,417 19% 12,500 63 5 433,049 $43,305 54% 12,000 126 15 697,045 $69,705 78% 5,300 53 6 288,348 $28,835 40% 4,000 44 4 149,555 $17,947 64% 2,700 32 5 37,084 $3,708 30% 2,500 41 4 84,134 $11,358 50% 667 31 3 140,135 $16,816 64% 79,667 885 65 2,313,524 $240,091 Average 41%
Funding and Job Creation Source of Funds Cost Share U.S. Department of Energy $584,079 California Energy Commission PIER Program $250,000 California Department of General Services and Office of Technology Services $50,000 Federspiel Controls, Inc. / Vigilent $205,399 Supplier Cost Match and Utility Incentives $118,939 Job Creation Eleven jobs were created as a result of this project. Two companies directly benefited from this project and increased their workforce: Vigilent added four highly skilled positions that were full-time advanced technical or managerial positions, and one part-time position. UMAI, which manufactures Vigilent hardware, added six full-time employees to its staff as a result of Vigilent orders. This website indicates the total 11 jobs that were created in California: http://www.recovery.gov/transparency/recipientreporteddata/pages/recipientprojectsummary508.aspx?award IdSur=90014
Gold Camp floor plan
Gold Camp thermal map before active controls went live (February 2011)
Gold Camp thermal map after active controls went live (July 2011)
Summary of System Benefits Major energy savings and carbon reduction Improved thermal management Cooling capacity increases, reducing capital expenditure Improved resilience and risk management due to the system s predictive model The system learns and adjusts to new equipment configurations (self maintaining) Quick payback and ROI Works with varying data center capacity, floor plan, and equipment type and age Quick installation