Cool solutions: Plate heat exchanger insights for Canadian data centres
The Canadian data centre landscape is currently witnessing significant expansion and investment. A crucial contributing factor to the efficiency of these centres is the strategic use of plate heat exchangers. In this blog, we review how data centers are using, maintaining and servicing this equipment to conserve energy and improve processes.
DATE 2024-08-12With revenue projected to reach $9.69 billion in 2024 and a strong annual growth rate of 6.44% expected through 2028, the Canadian data centre landscape is witnessing significant expansion and investment.
A crucial contributing factor to the efficiency and sustainability of data centres is the strategic use of plate heat exchangers. They play a vital role in managing temperature levels, optimizing cooling processes and ultimately supporting the seamless operation of critical IT infrastructure.
Benchmarking insights for PHE maintenance and service
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Who Did We Survey?
We interviewed respondents from data centres across Canada. The majority (32%) were in Quebec, followed by Alberta at 29%. Ontario was a close third at 26%. There was a large gap between these three provinces and the rest, with Manitoba and British Columbia at 5% each and Saskatchewan at 3%
In terms of job role, 42% of our respondents identified as Process Engineers, followed by Plant Engineering Managers at 21%, making this the only industry where engineers outranked other titles among the respondents. Next, C-suite and Maintenance Managers were tied at 11% each, followed by Sustainability Directors at 8%. Plant Managers and Plant Operations Managers were tied at 3% each.
Heat Exchangers in Action
A whopping 97% of our respondents currently use plate heat exchangers in their operations. In terms of specific usage, the majority (60%) use them for heat recovery, 32% use them for heating and only 8% use them for cooling.
The main use of plate heat exchangers in data centres is to manage and control temperature levels. Some other benefits they offer include:
- Cooling of IT Equipment: Plate heat exchangers play a crucial role in cooling servers and IT equipment, preventing overheating.
- Waste Heat Recovery: Captures and repurposes heat generated by data centre equipment, promoting energy efficiency.
- Precision Temperature Control: Ensures a stable and controlled environment for sensitive electronic equipment, enhancing overall reliability.
- Space Optimization: The compact design of plate heat exchangers helps data centres make better use of available space, especially in crowded server rooms or data halls.
Servicing Practices: A Breakdown
Regular servicing is a critical step to ensure equipment continues performing at optimal levels and stays as reliable as the manufacturer intended. We asked how our respondents are servicing their plate heat exchangers and whether they follow specific schedules and methods.
Maintenance Practices:
- 89% adhere to specific cleaning and maintenance schedules
- 62% clean or service annually
- 16% of respondents clean or service every 1-4 years
- 11% of respondents clean or service every 5-7 years
- 11% of respondents were not sure
Factors Influencing Cleaning Frequency:
- 60% follow regulatory requirements
- 46% cited cost considerations as a primary influencer
- 43% said performance changes drive cleaning
- 41% take operating hours into account
- 38% follow the manufacturer’s recommended schedule
- 24% said it depends on the types of fluid processed
Cleaning Methods:
- 76% utilize high-pressure water jetting
- 62% utilize chemical cleaning
- 41% opt for mechanical cleaning/brushing
Cleaning Providers:
- 62% use a repair company
- 24% rely on the manufacturer
- 14% use a distributor
Performance Measurement Practices:
- 54% use continuous data logging to measure performance
- 35% measure performance randomly
- 8% say they do not measure performance
The Advantages of Plate Heat Exchangers
As a leading manufacturer of heat transfer, separation and fluid handling solutions, you can count on Alfa Laval's to enhance the performance of your data centre’s plate heat exchangers and assist with:
Solving Fouling Challenges
Open cooling towers can create a major source of fouling that, over time, increases costs from reduced performance, maintenance and repair and even equipment shutdowns. Alfa Laval’s proven gasketed plate-and-frame heat exchangers can help manage fouling.
Reduction of Power Bills
On average, as much as 40% of a data center’s power consumption goes toward cooling the servers. By optimizing temperature control and reducing the workload on primary cooling systems, plate heat exchangers contribute to energy savings and lower operational costs.
Enabling Greener Solutions
Alfa Laval has been a trusted partner to the IT industry for decades, working with customers to design reliable, environmentally friendly data center cooling systems.
Achieve Operational Excellence with Alfa Laval
By leveraging Alfa Laval’s innovative solutions and support, data centres can enhance their heat transfer efficiency, reduce energy consumption and ensure optimal operation of their plate heat exchangers.
Our expertise in advanced plate designs, customized solutions, energy efficiency optimization, as well as our reputation for reconditioning and repairing existing equipment, means we’re the ideal partner to help your existing or future plate heat exchangers reach peak performance.
To learn how Alfa Laval can help your data centre become more efficient, contact one of our experts today.