High-density cooling infrastructure

Group Metropolitan has successfully completed LD6 COLO2 High-Density Cooling Deployment at a Data Centre in Slough. As Principal Contractor and Designer, the £1.8 million project was delivered over a 38-week programme, incorporating electrical, mechanical, BMS, leak detection and commissioning works within a live data-centre environment.

The project was initially developed as a High-Density Cooling installation before evolving into a Direct Liquid Cooling (DLC) deployment following a change in end-user requirements.

The project delivered a high-density cooling area to support a new cabinet deployment, incorporating four Cooling Distribution Units (CDUs), new primary chilled water pipework, secondary and tertiary fluid networks, PDU relocations, CDU power, containment and enabling works.

The works required close coordination between the mechanical and electrical installations, with the new cooling infrastructure integrated into the existing data-centre services.

The end user (a leading Educational Institution) secured a reduced footprint within the data hall, resulting in a revised requirement for four CDUs with primary and tertiary pipework delivering chilled water into Dell racks.

The revised solution required electrical, chilled water, BMS and leak detection systems to operate as one integrated installation.

Group Metropolitan delivered new plant integration, CDU power supplies, field equipment, below-floor leak detection extensions and associated cooling infrastructure. PDU relocations, containment and enabling works were also completed to facilitate the new high-density cabinet deployment.

The works were undertaken within a live data-centre environment, requiring careful coordination of installation activities, existing services and operational constraints throughout the programme.

The change to Direct Liquid Cooling introduced a commissioning route outside the existing client framework.

Testing, flushing, acceptance and demonstration activities were developed around the actual system risks and client acceptance requirements. This provided a structured approach to validating the new cooling infrastructure and ensuring the completed services operated as intended.

The project successfully adapted to significant changes in end-user requirements while maintaining delivery, commissioning and operational readiness within a live data-centre environment.

The completed installation provided the required infrastructure for the new Direct Liquid Cooling deployment and delivered valuable practical experience of DLC systems, interfaces and commissioning requirements for Group Metropolitan’s future high-density cooling projects.