Daikin enhances its Data Centre cooling solutions with the new Pro-C CRAH range.
Daikin announces the launch of its new Pro-C Computer Room Air Handler (CRAH), extending its Data Centre product portfolio. Designed to meet the cooling needs of any Data Centre configuration, this unit offers an optimised design and advanced control strategies.
The product will be manufactured in two factories in Italy and the UK, ensuring best-in-class delivery time and low transport costs.
Product Overview
The Pro-C unit is an ideal solution for thermal management, featuring third-party certified performance. Its cooling capacity range is from 30 kW to 210 kW. Thanks to its flexibility and modularity, it can perfectly adapt to any Data Centre layout and requirements. Efficiency is one of the key aspects achieved thanks to the product’s main features, such as optimised chilled water heat exchangers, the latest generation of EC fans, and the integration of pressure-independent control valves and active harmonic filters.
Reliability is guaranteed thanks to advanced control solution strategies and automatic transfer switches to prevent any power failures.
Unlocking Efficiency: 7 Standout Features of the Daikin Pro-C CRAH
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Flexibility for Any Data Centre Layout
The Pro-C design is flexible and modular, making it ideal for all Data Centre requirements. This unit is available in two configurations: hard floor and raised floor. Hard floors can be selected in a split or compact configuration, while raised floors can only be in a split version.
In addition, the unit configuration for raised floors includes an optimised heat exchanger, which ensures high energy efficiency by recovering heat from the expelled air and transferring it to the inlet air. This process reduces energy consumption.
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Optimised Heat Exchanger for Maximum Efficiency
The Pro-C's features ensure air-cooling system efficiency by providing efficient part-load operation, focusing exclusively on sensible heat exchange. This approach simplifies the system by eliminating the need for condensate discharge management and air dehumidification. By operating at higher chilled water temperatures, the system prevents the formation of condensate that could damage Data Centre equipment.
In addition, the high chilled water temperatures allow perfect adaptation to free cooling chillers, which use lower ambient temperatures to cool water without using compressors. Daikin's water coil circuiting design has been optimised for high efficiency, especially when the temperature differential is significant. In addition, the thick aluminium fins used for the water coil of the Pro-C as standard ensure more robustness and longer lifetime, as Data Centres work 24 hours non-stop.
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EC Fans with Active Power Factor Correction (PFC)
EC fans use brushless DC motors, which have a longer lifespan than traditional ones. By matching the cooling load to the Data Centre’s needs, they dynamically respond to variations in the heat load generated by server activity and associated equipment.
This results in precise speed control and lower energy consumption. Also, EC fans are equipped with active Power Factor Correction (PFC), which minimises harmonic distortion and corrects power factor, thereby improving overall efficiency.
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Integration of Pressure-independent Control Valves
The Pro-C can also be equipped with Pressure-independent control (PIC) valves to manage the water flow properly, improving the total air-cooling equipment running time and temperature control. Integrating PIC valves can ensure a stable flow, better temperature control, and lower operating costs.
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Advanced Control Strategies for Efficiency & Reliability
Data Centres typically need high cooling capacities and many CRAH units to operate the air-cooling system properly. Hence, it is essential to use control systems that optimise performance and provide the necessary redundancy to keep the system running and maintain the desired temperature conditions in the white space.
Daikin's teamwork functions offer additional redundancy and safety during failures or critical states and can adjust capacity individually based on real-time data from the hall. The Daikin control systems are designed to adapt to evolving trends, keeping them in line with industry advancements.
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Built-in Protection Against Power Failures
Reliability is to be ensured even in the event of a power failure. Given the complexity of managing a Data Centre, the main requirement is to ensure continuous operation 24/7. The reliability of Pro-C units is therefore crucial for the overall HVAC system's reliability. In this regard, including automatic transfer switches (ATS) within the Pro-C unit assembly is highly recommended.
An uninterruptible power supply ultracapacitor can also be integrated into the Pro-C, allowing it to activate fans promptly when the ATS restores power. Full fan speed is then reached in less than one minute.
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Expertise from a Specialised Manufacturer
Data Centre projects are highly complex, often requiring specific air handling unit features, on-time delivery and reliable maintenance services. These requirements can only be met by specialised manufacturers with the expertise and capabilities that customers in this sector expect. Daikin, the world's leading air conditioning company, meets these needs with its global presence, including sales offices, product development and manufacturing facilities.
Daikin's air handling and CRAH units are designed and manufactured in Europe at Caleppio di Settala (Italy) and Cramlington (Northumberland, UK). This arrangement provides manufacturing flexibility and reduces transport costs due to the proximity of these facilities to installation sites across Europe.
In addition, Daikin's extensive global service network ensures prompt and competent service coverage for Data Centre installations, increasing reliability and customer satisfaction.
This strategic advantage was key in delivering a high-performance cooling solution for a Data Centre in Norway, ensuring optimal efficiency and reliability while meeting tight project deadlines.
Additionally, Daikin offers the opportunity to test the machines before delivery to verify their performance and compliance with project specifications. This ensures reliability and optimal performance under the demanding conditions of Data Centre operations.
Extensive product portfolio for Data Centre’s
Daikin's portfolio for Data Centres includes various cutting-edge products and systems tailored to meet specific needs. A summary description of the portfolio is provided here below:
- Air-to-water free cooling chillers: Daikin-free cooling chillers utilise low ambient air temperatures to reduce the need for mechanical cooling, thereby cutting energy consumption and extending equipment life. The series includes glycol-free options, which offer additional benefits such as reduced maintenance and improved efficiency. The series covers from 183 to 2154 kW and is available under two compressor technologies: scroll and VFD screw (Daikin-developed) for optimal part load efficiency. Also, Daikin-owned VFD is cooled down by refrigerant, ensuring proper operation in all working conditions.
- Intelligent Data Centre Manager (IDCM) control system ensures optimal performance over time by leveraging AI-supported plant management. The IDCM system monitors and adjusts the operation of multiple chiller units to maintain peak efficiency and reliability.
- Pro-W Fan Array units are designed for flexibility and scalability. They are available in 4 sizes, covering from 175 to 700 kW. Thus, Pro-W units can meet the cooling needs of Data Centres of all sizes, providing efficient and reliable cooling solutions.
- Pro-C CRAH units are the ideal solution for thermal management, featuring optimised design and advanced control strategies. Available in two configurations, covering 30 kW to 210 kW, they meet the demands of any Data Centre configuration, ensuring precise temperature control, flexibility, redundancy, and low operating costs.
- After-sales services: Daikin can provide preventive and corrective maintenance services to ensure the efficiency and reliability of Data Centre cooling systems. Additionally, Daikin on Site (DoS) offers real-time remote monitoring to identify and resolve issues before they affect system performance.