Press: The data centre with its own power station

Rittal Data Centre Container makes autonomous data centres possible for the first time

Up to now, supplying power to mobile data centres has been a limiting factor: While data can now be transmitted by directional radio relay or satellite, older facilities for the provision of servers and IT infrastructure are dependent on an existing power source. With the combination of the Rittal Data Centre Container and cogeneration (CHP) units from its sister company Würz, Rittal now offers a completely autonomous data centre that can used everywhere. The two companies, members of the Friedhelm Loh Group, are the first to offer a data centre from a single source that is independent of existing infrastructure. The CHP unit generates environmentally friendly electricity that is fed directly into the connected data centre. The combination of container data centre and CHP unit is particularly advantageous for two reasons. First, the use of a cogeneration plant to generate electricity benefits from government funding. Second, Rittal uses the waste heat from the power plant to cool the IT equipment.

High level of efficiency
The conversion of waste heat into cold water for climate control is performed with the aid of a CHP unit connected to the absorber for combined heat, power and cooling, which provides energy-efficient cooling in summer. In the winter months, climate control is provided by the direct free cooling integrated in the Rittal Data Centre Container. The system leads cold, filtered outside air into the Data Centre Container and so keeps the temperature constant. This way, the energy costs of air conditioning can be reduced by as much as 40%. If needed, the waste heat from the CHP unit can also be used to heat offices. The basic version of the Rittal Data Centre Container offers space for up to seven 19-inch racks with a total of 329 height units and it is already equipped with a power distribution system, cable compartments and an access system, in addition to free cooling.

Rittal offers the Data Centre Container in a variety of expansion stages, depending on customer needs. For a fully redundant power supply, the Rittal Data Centre Container can be run with two cogeneration plants. Extending the container length to twelve metres allows space for up to 14 racks. If so desired, the plant can also be supplied with an uninterruptible power supply (UPS) and an automatic fire detection and extinguishing system. In the version with redundant power plants, the UPS is so adapted so that it bridges the time until the second CHP has started up. Optional office containers are also heated by the CHP or provided with air conditioning from the attached absorber.
Autonomous data centres are often used as up-and-running solutions for medium sized companies. As rapidly deployable back-up data centres, they are also highly suited to projects that call for data services for a limited period on green-field sites. This is the case with events, in research projects or in police and military operations.

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Rittal

Rittal GmbH & Co. KG, which has its headquarters in Herborn, Germany, is one of the world's leading system suppliers for housing and enclosure technologies, power distribution systems, system climate control and IT infrastructure. Customers from all sectors of industry, from mechanical and plant engineering, as well as from the IT and telecoms market, are making use of system solutions from Rittal.

Its broad product range also includes complete solutions for modular and energy-efficient data centres: from innovative security concepts for data systems (formerly known as Litcos) through to physical data and system security for IT infrastructures (formerly known as Lampertz). The leading software providers Eplan and Mind8 - Rittal subsidiaries - are supplementing the Rittal product portfolio with interdisciplinary engineering solutions.

Founded in 1961, Rittal is now active worldwide with 12 production sites, 63 subsidiaries and 40 agencies. With 9,000 employees worldwide, Rittal is the largest company of the proprietor-run Friedhelm Loh Group of Haiger, Germany. The entire group employs more than 10,500 people and generated revenues of more than € 2.2 billion in 2008. Further information at www.rittal.com and www.friedhelm-loh-group.com.