Rittal modular safe with direct free cooling

Rittal has launched the Extend modular safe with direct free cooling to provide users with economical and energy-efficient cooling, using outside air.

The new modular safe offers sensitive IT hardware system-tested protection against fire, smoke gases, fire extinguisher water, dust and unauthorised access. Alongside the servers and storage solutions, other components such as system controls, fire alarm and extinguisher system and busbars supplement the security safe and make up a fully equipped compact data centre.

As with all the modular safe cooling units, the horizontal airflow and the separation between the cold and the hot side in the modular safe is ensured - even when direct free cooling is employed inside. The cooled air is guided in front of the 482.6 mm (19″) level of the IT system.

Three different modes are used, depending on the outside temperature.

Cooling by means of outside air alone is sufficient for a predefined temperature range, such as cooler regions, eg, Melbourne.

If the outside air temperatures are too low, some of the warm exhaust air is mixed with the incoming supply air, so that suitable process conditions are established for the IT hardware.

At higher external temperatures, the cooling system integrated in the device is used, cooling the outside air to the desired air inlet temperature. If the outside temperature is warmer than the exhaust air, cooling takes place exclusively in air recirculation mode.

The cooling unit is installed between the side panel of the modular safe and the outer wall on site. The arrangement between the modular safe and the outer wall, which optimally supports the cold/hot aisle containment principle in the modular safe, increases cooling efficiency. This area is shielded off to help maintain the product characteristics of the modular safe.

Air exchange with the environment is usually via fire dampers which close immediately if smoke is detected. This means the system is safely protected from fire.