We create data centers
from consept to commissioning
DEVELOPING
We select an optimal site for a data center based on:
— connection availability
— land plot cost
— optical routes
— logistics
— available resources
We study your needs and take into account the specifics of IT hardware and requirements for reliability-cost balance.
CONSTRUCTION
A prefabricated building from steel structures that ensures high assembly speed.
Structural system: reinforced-concrete foundation, metal framing, partitions from sandwich panels.
We use typical elements indoors, thus ensuring reasonable delivery terms and no vendor-lock.
LAUNCHING
Connection to GGC UES, PJSC, if needed.
The contract for technological connection and electric power transmission is concluded directly with GGC UES, PJSC, omitting regional grid operators. Thanks to that, we manage to achieve two objectives: low rates and high connection reliability.
MAINTAINING
We have a good understanding of what and how needs to be done after commissioning a data center. We will arrange processes and gather a team of engineers that will be responsible for data center operability.
We will organize the work: from protocols to proactive behavior, from CMMS to arrangement of trainings for duty shifts.
Cost estimations
CapEx — capital expenditure
EUR 4,000 per 1kW of IT power
| ≈ expenses for 4.5 MW data center | per 1 kW of load per year | ||
|---|---|---|---|
| Rotary UPS and guaranteed power supply system | 5 MEUR | 1 100 EUR | |
| Structural system of the building | 250 MRUR | 650 EUR | |
| Electrical commutation and transformation | 200 MRUR | 550 EUR | |
| Ventilation and cooling | 2 MEUR | 450 EUR | |
| Structured cable system | 1.8 MEUR | 400 EUR | |
| Fire safety systems | 1.2 MEUR | 260 EUR | |
| Other systems and objects | 200 MRUR | 550 EUR | |
OpEx — operating expense
EUR 475 per kW of IT power per month
| ≈ expenses for 4.5 MW data center | per 1 kW of load per year | ||
|---|---|---|---|
| Power | 3 RUR per kW | 300 EUR | |
| Payroll | 7 employees | 66 EUR | |
| Operation and maintenance of electric power systems | 255 000 EUR per year | 55 EUR | |
| Operation and maintenance of ventilation and other engineering systems | 100 000 EUR per year | 20 EUR | |
| Operation | 1.8 MEUR | 30 EUR | |
Leave your contact details to get free cost estimation
Why free cooling?
Free cooling is an alternative to classical data center cooling techniques.
Reduced construction and operation costs
No need in cooling units
Good for the climate of Central Russia
The main advantage of free cooling system is its simplicity. Its design does not contemplate the use of complex cooling equipment; instead, it utilizes simple and relatively cheap fans that do not require much power and daily maintenance.
One data center on free cooling technology can accommodate hundreds of such fans. For example, a project that we are currently working on has over 300 of them. If one of those fans breaks down, the system will still keep working.
Data centers on free cooling technologies are more reliable compared to classical ones: malfunctioning of even several fans will not result in the whole system failure.
IT industry leaders talk about free cooling
Yandex
"Yandex data centers implement a well-known principle of ‘reliability lies in simplicity’. Due to minimum technical equipment and a simple cooling principle, it became possible to drastically increase reliability and reduce costs. It is very seldom that you can achieve both of those objectives simultaneously. Yandex managed to do that."
Egor Karitskiy
Head of IT Infrastructure and Data Centers projects at Yandex (2014-2019)
“Yandex data centers on free cooling turned out to be an extremely efficient solution in many ways. For me as a head of IT infrastructure, the matter of efficient cooling in hot summer days was very important. I can say right away that there were no problems with server overheating but I was instinctively cautious about that issue. Furthermore, we estimated the cost of local grid operators internally and compared it to commercial co-location centers. It turned out to be 1.5-2 times cheaper.”
Alexander Trikoz
Head of IT Data Centers Operation at Yandex (2016-2019)
[freecooling approach allows] ”Facebook's Luleå data centre is averaging a PUE in the region of 1.07”.
Facebook Press Service
Wildberries
The objective of data center construction for our company is to combine maximum efficiency and maximum reliability. We have analyzed experience of different companies and came to the conclusion that experience of Yandex and Facebook will be good for us. Now, we are on the stage of designing and documentation development and we expect to launch a data center already in 2021. Solutions suggested by airDC – free cooling, modularity, structural system simplicity, and speed – let us hope that Wildberries will have one of the most efficient data centers in Russia or maybe even in the whole world.”
Sergey Bobretsov
CTO
We use our own concept when building data centers
We are the only ones in Russia to combine free cooling, modular construction system and, if needed, direct connection to GGC grid in data centers.
Data Center Organization
airDC data center is a stand-alone rectangular building.
Dimensions of a building: approximate minimum – 50x70x15 meters, approximate maximum – 50x120x15 meters. The building stands on reinforced-concrete foundation, has metal framing basis and sandwich panels as external and internal partitions.
Organizational arrangement of a building:
- independent IT modules (3 and more),
- infrastructure module,
- office block.
3 to 8 modules
80 to 150 racks in an IT module
10-20 kW per rack
Power supply
A building consists of independent IT modules, each having a separate:
— 10 kW input from distribution point
— Transformer
— UPS (rotary)
— Optional: diesel generator (as part of DRUPS or separately)
— 0.4 kW commutation system (distribution boards, bus ducts etc.)
All modules are joined in a guaranteed power supply system based on Dedicated Redundancy+ scheme.
Electric Power
Data center: 3 to 10+ MW
IT module: 1.2 to 2 MW
Cooling
Every IT module has 8 fan units.
Each unit operates independently of adjacent ones and has 6 air supply and exhaust fans managed by a controller.
The algorithm works based on the pressure difference between atmosphere, a cold aisle and a hot aisle. For each of 8 units, you can set its pressure level which is selected by data from a differential pressure sensor. This approach ensures that even if one unit breaks down, all other units will keep working.
Direct free cooling — air supply fans, air plenums, exhaust fans, controllers.
We will develop data center concept for your infrastructure
We develop large and small-scale data centers
Data center for WILDBERRIES
An example of a large-scale project
Power: 4.5 MW
Implementation period: 17 months
“The objective of data center construction for our company is to combine maximum efficiency and maximum reliability. We have analyzed experience of different companies and came to the conclusion that experience of Yandex and Facebook will be good for us. Now, we are on the stage of designing and documentation development and we expect to launch a data center already in 2021. Solutions suggested by airDC – free cooling, modularity, structural system simplicity, and speed – let us hope that Wildberries will have one of the most efficient data centers in Russia or maybe even in the whole world.”
Sergey Bobretsov
CTO
We develop data center construction industry in line with global trends
Vladimir Naumushkin
Chief Development Officer
«Data center industry historically has always been and still is very conservative. Many companies follow the ‘let well enough alone’ principle and keep repeating typical functioning solutions for many years. On one hand, that is a reasonable strategy but sometimes that prevents you from seeing new real solutions that turn out to be more cost-efficient and reliable. I am convinced that a modular data center with direct free cooling is this new reliable and cost-efficient solution. And I suggest that those who think of creating their own data center consider this solution. I believe that life does not stand still, new technologies replace old ones and that is a natural development cycle. Maybe, we shouldn’t resist this natural course of things. And what do you think?»
«Data center industry historically has always been and still is very conservative. Many companies follow the ‘let well enough alone’ principle and keep repeating typical functioning solutions for many years. On one hand, that is a reasonable strategy but sometimes that prevents you from seeing new real solutions that turn out to be more cost-efficient and reliable. I am convinced that a modular data center with direct free cooling is this new reliable and cost-efficient solution. And I suggest that those who think of creating their own data center consider this solution. I believe that life does not stand still, new technologies replace old ones and that is a natural development cycle. Maybe, we shouldn’t resist this natural course of things. And what do you think?»
Myths about data centers based on free cooling technology
The hardware will not work at high summer temperatures
Modern server and networking hardware as well as storage systems are designed for routine operation within the temperature range of up to 36 degrees. This is typically the maximum temperature for summer time in the central part of Russia.
Low humidity will result in static electricity
There is no place for condensation to appear, even if the air humidity is high. There are no cold elements in the air path. Heat capacity of the air does not depend on its humidity, therefore there is no dependence between cooling capacity and humidity.
The hardware will collect dust
Air is supplied through a system of coarse and fine filters. Filters are replaced when they are full and do not require any critical costs. Operating experience: filters are replaced once a year in a heavily dusted environment.
Do you have more questions?
Creating data centers using free cooling technology
Phone
Email
Address
Tula, 55A Pushkinskaya St.