How to save money with “Free Cooling” for both large and small IT environments
But to better understand how this saving occurs, let’s briefly review what the characteristics of this type of cooling are.
In Europe this is the case for 70-80% of the year – air is drawn in from outside and fed into the technical rooms to be cooled.
The principle of direct free air cooling is quite simple: When the outside temperature is below a certain threshold (e.g. below 25°C) – and in many areas in Italy and the rest of the world, this is the case – the air is drawn in from outside and fed into the technical rooms to be cooled.
Hot air, produced by the IT equipment installed in the room, is expelled to the outside, generally by overpressure. In this way a complete separation of hot and cold air flows is achieved (principle of cold aisle systems). When the outside temperature is too low (e.g. below 13°C), in order to avoid sending freezing air over the IT equipment, a recirculation system mixes warm air taken from the back of the rack with cold outside air, so as to adjust the inlet temperature to the setpoint.
By implementing such a situation, cooling costs are reduced by up to a tenth. Direct free cooling saves up to 90 % of the electricity required to cool the rooms compared to conventional solutions.
The reduction in consumption is due to the massive use of passive cooling elements and the minimization of electrical components in the cooling circuit. In addition, the reduction in the number of components in the cooling system leads to better reliability and significantly lower maintenance costs.
Is it possible to install a cooling system based on direct free cooling technology even in small rooms?
Yes, obviously, with satisfactory results both in terms of bill savings and environmental pollution. Today, choosing eco-friendly solutions for your company is an increasingly successful choice that increases your opportunities to work on valuable projects (e.g. tenders). In addition, it should not be underestimated that even in the case of small businesses or small technical premises, maintenance costs will be insignificant compared to those incurred by those who still have a different type of system.
Given that direct free cooling is a successful solution for large rooms as well as small halls and smaller technical rooms, can we say the same for private individuals?
Undoubtedly, this technology can also find its dimension in “family” use. In this case too, an energy diagnosis should be carried out in order to determine how to implement such a system in a private property. However, by its very nature, it is in the industrial sector that Free Cooling can unleash its full potential and be of great help in combating pollution and reducing environmental impact.
This, in fact, is one of the great principles on which the Vactis philosophy is based. We strongly believe that eco-sustainability should be a fundamental part of any design. That is why we focus on energy efficiency, minimising environmental impact. We fight against energy waste and inefficiency and aim to implement innovative measures to reduce consumption and improve energy efficiency.
Our mission is to increase the value creation of each individual company by optimising consumption. For this reason, our work is focused on developing specific skills and on being able to offer simplicity and excellence through practical solutions, focused on feasibility, in both technical and economic terms.
If you have any questions or would like more information about our services, contact us!
