Water Treatment Expert for Data Centers
Introduction
My name is Rami Elias Kremesti, I am a chartered water treatment specialist based out of the UK who has worked on Data Center projects in the UK and Holland.
Data Centers comprise large halls consisting of thousands of data servers which generate large amounts of heat that needs to be dissipated hence the need for cooling towers. If the cooling towers are evaporative, you need make up water. Cooling towers also have blow down streams that can be recycled with RO systems.
Challenges
The make up water for the cooling towers needs to be treated depending on the source. This normally involves some kind of filtration, disinfection and sometimes demineralization to increase the cycles of concentration. Some data centers in Slough use bore hole water which is contaminated with Iron hence the need to remove the iron before the RO systems. I have seen RO systems fail in 6 months or less due to inadequate pre-treatment.
Fire fighting systems are also essential in your data center. Careful what you fill your fire fighting system with. Knowledge of chemistry and corrosion/scale is essential here to prevent undersirable clogging of the nozzles. Anti-Freeze chemicals are food for bacteria remember that…
Legionella management is essential wherever there are cooling towers or showers or water features like fountains. You need to make sure the water is disinfected, not scaling or corrosive. Any showers need to be inspected regularly/descaled/disinfected. Hot water needs to be hot and cold water needs to be cold to reduce the chance of Legionella proliferation. Water Samples need to be analyzed for bacterial levels and legionella according to a Legionella Management Plan. You need an Legionella Management appointed person. Closed hot and cold water systems need a water management plan. Scale, Corrosion, Biofouling could be problematic if not managed properly.
Experience
I have worked with Ozone systems for disinfection. They are interesting but prone to problems. Start with a water analysis because there are no one size fit all water treatment systems. One supplier for a data center in Holland installed Active Carbon Filters before the RO’s to remove Chlorine not knowing that Holland uses Chlorine free Biostable water. They also used softeners although the water was soft. Lastly they ordered ozone injection/recirculation pumps from China that had wonky heads it was embarrassing.
Conclusion
These are the basic principles of Water Management for Data Centres. Kremesti Environmental Consulting Ltd can help you manage this very important package.
Get in touch.
Rami Elias Kremesti M.Sc., CSci, CEnv, CWEM