High performance production PODs were implemented to replace existing inefficient stand alone equipment.
Each POD includes four (4) end of row Remote Power Panels (two A/B RPPs), fed from a pair of dedicated redundant Power Distribution Units (PDUs.)
Pairs of PODs are cooled by four (4) chilled water CRAHs, N+1 redundancy, that are fed from an enhanced chilled water loop supplying chilled water from the redundant existing plant.
The PODs are hot aisle contained with a pair of sliding doors and acrylic clerestory. The high-performance PODs required the installation of floor and ceiling septum to segregate cooling from the lower density general data center equipment.
Back of cabinets/hot aisle with up/down LED lighting. White downlight and RGB up-lighting distinguishes the PODs from each other and is utilized to recognize Holiday's and special events. Each cabinet is mounted with a pair of monitorable power distribution units.
Infrastructure and High Density POD Upgrades
Client: Aetna Insurance, Central Connecticut
Summary: The redesign by SIGMA7 has transformed a data center to meet higher production demands through strategic reconfiguration and infrastructure upgrades.
SIGMA7’s reconfiguration and redesign of high-density data center PODs and supporting infrastructure significantly increased the facility’s capacity and production capabilities at this facility originally designed for lower production densities. The facility’s enhancements, as implemented, have allowed these mission critical facilities to support more demanding and efficient production equipment.
Aetna's redundant Tier III concurrently maintainable Enterprise Data Centers, located in Central Connecticut, required installation of new 'higher' density compute equipment. The upgrade of the equipment was limited by available power and cooling capacity as well as the access floor air distribution.
SIGMA7 completed infrastructure and feasibility studies of the 12 year old 'lower' density compute facilities and as a result, developed masterplans for the implementation program. The infrastructure improvements were designed to accommodate the installation of over 2MW of HD equipment while increasing reliability and redundancy of the critical mechanical and electrical systems supporting the Data Center. The phased implementation was completed over several years, without shutdowns, while the redundant Data Centers maintained business-as-usual.
The High Density Compute Platform Study developed options for PODs of different cabinet configurations for maximum 240kW load densities per POD. Electrical distribution modifications to increase reliability as well as cooling distribution were evaluated. CFD analysis was performed to maximize the efficiency of the air distribution and containment.
Design for the implementation of the infrastructure modifications was developed in logical phases that incorporated chilled water loop modifications, CRAH unit installation and relocation as well as STS, PDU, RPP and electrical distribution installation and infrastructure modifications. The floor plenums were cleared of obstructions eliminating branch chilled water piping and extraneous copper, fiber, and power cabling. A dedicated high density cooling area was establish with the construction of dedicated access floor and ceiling plenums, hot aisle POD containment, and snorkeled CRAH returns.
To date, six (6) PODs have been installed in each of the enterprise data center facilities.
SIGMA7 has and continues to provide fully integrated Architectural, Engineering and Construction Administration services.
