East London Data Centre
CFD Thermal Analysis
Hot / Cold Aisle
EPods
Retail Adjacency
Project: Confidential East London Data Centre
Sector: Data Centre
Client: Phoenix ME
Size: 0.6MWe
Completion: May’ 22
Services Provided: Airflow and cooling distribution analysis, external heat dissipation analysis
WP3 were appointed to conduct a detailed Stage 5 thermal analysis of the conditions within and surrounding this densely packed micro-data centre.
Working with the design consultant, contractor and client to establish a thorough and highly detailed geometry and set of parameters, WP3 used our full range of modelling, design and commissioning skills to firstly develop a multi-purpose CFD model and then analyse and optimise conditions within the data hall.
All potential air distribution failure scenarios and ‘worst case’ redundancy arrangements were discussed, considered and tested, to provide the client with certainty around the performance of the installation.
Utilising our model, changes were made to data hall geometry, data rack positioning, air distribution and extract arrangements and specific grille details to minimise temperature differentials throughout.
With a local food production and distribution facility adjacent, strict planning restrictions and third party systems (i.e. kitchen extract) had to be built into the model to provide a holistic analysis. This ensured that adjacent tenants did not pose a risk to the performance of the data centre, and likewise that data centre extracts did not affect the neighbours.
Packaged generators were located externally on the spatially restrictive site, requiring analysis of various external prevailing wind conditions and the dynamics of the exhausted flue gases to ensure that hot exhaust was not being recirculated into the main fresh air intakes adjacent.
Details of natural ventilation to the main switchgear pods was also modelled to verify performance.