Inside Microsoft’s Dublin Mega Data Centre
Home page > Hot Topics > Inside Microsoft’s Dublin Mega Data Centre
5 September 2011
Microsoft’s new data centre in Dublin represents a milestone in data centre design. The new facility will power much of Microsoft’s global cloud computing operation, while using far less energy and water than typically consumed in other data centres of this scale. The Dublin centre operates at a Power Usage Effectiveness (PUE) of 1.25, Microsoft says, compared to averages of about 2.0 for the industry and 1.6 for other Microsoft facilities. 
This photo gallery offers a look inside the new Dublin facility, offering a closer look at the design innovations driving its efficiency, including a “free cooling” system that uses outside air to cool the data centre, and a server pod design that employs hot aisle containment to support warmer operating temperatures inside the server space. These rooftop air handling units drive cooling system for the Microsoft Dublin data centre. These units take outside air and draw it into the data centre for use in the air conditioning system. This practice, known as “free cooling” or air-side economization, – allows facility owners to dramatically reduce the amount of energy used in cooling. Chillers, which are used to refrigerate water, are widely used in data centre cooling systems but require a large amount of electricity to operate. With the growing focus on power costs, many data centres are using free cooling to reduce their reliance on chillers to improve the energy efficiency of their facilities. 
But many locations only allow data centre operators to use free cooling for a portion of the year, with chillers used for the remainder. Microsoft says the climate in Dublin, where the average annual temperature ranges between 23 and 80 degrees F (-5 to 27 degrees C) will allow it to use free cooling year-round under normal operating conditions. If the temperature exceeds that range, or external air quality is affected by a nearby fire or contaminants, Direct eXpansion (DX) cooling will be used in lieu of chillers. A view of the server pods in the Microsoft Dublin data centre, showing the hot air containment structures enclosing the rear of the cabinets (click for larger version of image). 
Whether using free cooling or chillers, chilled air needs to find an efficient path to the servers to do its job. Separating cool supply air and warm exhaust air is a key data centre efficiency strategy. This photo shows the interior of Microsoft’s Dublin data centre, including server pods featuring a hot aisle containment system using a fixed structure, with the cabinets housed in a fitted opening in the side. The hot aisle enclosure has a entrance (green end door) for admin access. A diagram of the air economisation (free cooling) system at the new Microsoft data centre in Dublin, Ireland (click for larger version of image) 
This diagram illustrates how the free cooling (air economisation) system works in the Microsoft Dublin data centre. Cool outside air comes into the facility through intakes on the rooftop air handers, and then flows through a duct system into the data centre. The air moves through the servers, and exits in the hot aisle, where it is contained and vented through a plenum that returns it to the air handlers. A look at the diesel generators providing emergency backup power for the new Microsoft data centre in Dublin, Ireland. 
The Microsoft Dublin data centre covers 303,000 square feet and uses up to 5.4 megawatts of critical power, with the potential to expand to a total of 22.2 megawatts of critical power in the future. The company has multiple backup generators on site to provide emergency power to keep the facility online in the event of a utility power failure. An aerial view of the Microsoft data centre in Dublin showing the rooftop air handler units atop the first phased of the facility, as well as the vacant roof space available for additional air handlers as the remainder of the facility is built out. 
The Dublin data centre went live on July 1, when more than 303,000 square feet of space was put into operations. The building totals 550,000 square feet, allowing for additional expansion as Microsoft fills the facility with servers. The data centre was one of the largest construction projects in Ireland over last 12 months, requiring approximately 1 million man-hours to complete and a workforce of close to 2,100 at peak.
|