A typical data center uses 3-5 million of gallons water every day. This is equivalent to the water requirement of 30,000-50,000 people! The world is witnessing an acute shortage of water in agriculture, communities and industries. It is no surprise that water and environmental experts are making conscious efforts to increase water efficiency in data centers and find alternate solutions such as carbon-free solar and wind energy.
At their end, data centers can look at the following eight water treatment areas to improve their operations in terms of water efficiency.
Routine circulation of biocide treated water through the line equipment, and piping is essential in data centers. It helps to manage biofilm formation due to stagnation and prevent impurities from entering the equipment.
Pretreatment equipment solutions from Chem-Aqua (e.g., softeners, reverse osmosis, dealkalizers and filtration) help optimize water use and minimize operational costs.
Data centers use cooling towers to prevent the computers from overheating. While high-quality cooling towers are designed for recycling a significant percentage of water, they are also breeding grounds for Legionella bacteria and a significant threat to public health. Routine cleaning and disinfection of cooling towers along with a comprehensive Legionella risk management program can enhance the efficiency of operations.
Proper control of cooling water parameters and right water chemistry program will help prevent corrosion and scaling to occur in data center cooling facilities.
Closed loop cooling systems are less vulnerable to external contaminants caused by exposure to the environment. However, issues like fouling, corrosion, scale, dirt, grease, debris and microbiological growth can hamper their efficiency.
Regular cleaning, the use of right corrosion inhibitor and passivation of closed loop cooling system reduce energy-robbing deposits and keep water-side problem under control.
Biofilms develop on the interiors of water systems in data centers. It can cause corrosion damage, harbor waterborne pathogens and decrease heat transfer efficiency four times more than calcium scale deposits. Timely biofilm removal, control, and prevention solution can improve the hygiene level of water in data centers.
Given the volume of water that data centers consume, they also release vast amounts of wastewater. This calls for recycling the water as much as possible. Recycling of water is an environmentally balanced cooling solution to offset the consumption of water.
Data centers can set up pH, filtration, and RO processes to treat and reuse the water on the premises. Another alternative is to build a wastewater treatment plant. They can also consider recycling treated water from the community municipalities.
A study says that there are close to 597 hyperscaler data centers globally, more than double from 2015. The coming years will witness the establishment of new hyperscalers or the expansion of the existing hyperscalers.
You can imagine the complexity of water management processes in these hyperscalers! That’s why hyperscalers need dedicated and end-to-end managed operations to handle their water challenges.
Data and digitization have established their footprints in every field. It was only a matter of time that data centers leveraged them for water management. Technologies such as artificial intelligence, sensor systems, and Internet of Things (IoT) make it easy to shift to intelligent water solutions. For example, data centers can implement a real-time automation system that continuously monitors and controls water treatment programs based on changing system demands.
Similarly, automated biofilm technology can monitor microbial control and predict early signs of potential problems. Such digital enablers can improve water operations and reduce energy costs.
The design and engineering should be such that it manages water resources efficiently while reducing carbon footprint, operational expenditure and socio-economic burden on the community.
It is necessary to find a partner that provides you with the right solution for water treatment in data centers. Chem-Aqua provides a turnkey and cutting-edge solutions which comprises a comprehensive range of products, services, and patented equipment to optimize water usage in data centers.
Contact Chem‑Aqua today for an in-depth analysis of your data center water treatment requirements and collaborate for holistic solutions.
Written by: NCH/Chem-Aqua Asia