Data centres are critical infrastructure facilities that require efficient and reliable mechanical and electrical systems to support the operations of servers, storage devices, and other IT equipment. The following is a summary of key aspects to consider when designing and operating data centre mechanical and electrical systems.
Type: Data centres can be classified into several types based on their size, purpose, and level of complexity, including enterprise, co-location, and cloud data centres.
Classification: Data centres can also be classified based on their infrastructure and resilience levels, such as Tier 1 to Tier 4 data centres, with Tier 4 being the most robust and resilient.
Cooling: Effective cooling is essential for data centres to maintain optimal temperatures for IT equipment and prevent overheating. This can be achieved through various cooling systems such as air conditioning, evaporative cooling, or liquid cooling.
Redundancy: Redundant systems are essential for ensuring the availability and reliability of data centres. This includes backup power supplies, redundant cooling systems, and redundant network connections.
Other important factors to consider in data centre design include physical security, fire suppression, and energy efficiency. An effective data centre design should balance these and other factors to ensure optimal performance, reliability, and cost-effectiveness.