ACS Ventilation Group For Data Centres

The explosion of big data and the constantly increasing need for more cloud computing has created a massive environmental challenge – how to reduce the emissions of data centres while still meeting the global data needs.
According to the International Energy Agency, data centres consume approximately 200 terawatt-hours (TWh) of electricity, or nearly 1% of global electricity demand, contributing to 0.3% of all global CO2 emissions.” Source: Forbes 2021

Eirgrid, the state-owned electric power transmission operator in Ireland stated the following in a recent paper“The number and scale of large data centres seeking to connect means that Ireland’s electricity demand is currently expected to grow by c.38% between 2017 and 2025, equivalent to the growth in the 50 years between 1930 and 1980, including the entire rural electrification programme” Source: EirGrid

In the EirGrid Generation Capacity Statement 2019-2028 , they predict that the data centre capacity in Ireland could account for 29% of total demand by 2028. Source: EirGrid

The effect on the planet of rising CO2 emissions has been widely documented – The United Nations-backed Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change produced a report investigating what is likely to happen to oceans, glaciers and ice caps if carbon emissions continue to rise. The report predicts dire effects such as high tides, storm surges, melting ice sheets and rising sea levels.

Rising to the Challenge of Reducing Energy Consumption in Data Centres

How can Data Centres reduce their energy consumption? Of their overall energy usage, it is estimated that the ventilation systems used to cool IT equipment in data centres account for over 40% of the overall energy used. (Source: Science Direct)

Research Gate corroborates these figures and gives an example of the percentage of energy that is used for cooling in the diagram below.

Therefore, reducing energy usage on ventilation will potentially have the single biggest effect on reducing energy consumption.
At ACS Ventilation, we are passionate about helping all our customers find the most sustainable, ventilation systems that minimise energy consumption to protect the planet, create the best indoor air quality for employees and protect the well-being of staff responsible for the maintenance of the ventilation system.
Read our Sustainability Policy here.

World-class, Energy-Saving, Sustainable Ventilation Solutions for Data Centres

Our solutions use cutting-edge technology that create systems that offer the highest level of air filtration and air quality and significantly reduce energy consumption through the use of components that provide world-class, certified efficiency levels and eliminate landfill waste. These components include technology such as electrostatic precipitation. Our solutions also use recyclable (100% aluminium) and renewable materials.

Our solutions and their components are produced by industry-leading manufacturers and are tested and certified to the world’s highest standards. The key component used in our data centre solutions is an active electrostatic filter (FE system) which is manufactured by Expansion Electronic – a global leader in the manufacture of active electrostatic filters for air purification. The active electrostatic filter is unique in its energy efficiency and the ability to kill off harmful particles (as opposed to only collecting the particles).
You can read more detail about how it works here.

Certification for the active electrostatic filter (FE system)

The FE system has been certified to a host of world recognised standards including EN ISO 16890, UL867, UNI 11254:2007, EN 1822:2005. These certifications are based on extensive testing by independent and international authorities such as the Hygiene Institute of Air ILH of Berlin, Polytechnic of Turin and the Technical Research Institute SP of Sweden and a host of others.
You can view the certs here:

• EN ISO 16890 Certification
• Research and Studies
• UL867 Certification
• EN ISO I6890 Certification Video

These tests testify and certify the superior efficiency and air quality yielded by the FE system compared to traditional pocket and bag filters. (The FE filter has an A+ energy rating (Eurovent) compared to a C rating for a pocket filter).
The net effect of this is that the use of an FE filter system benefits both the planet and its inhabitants by reducing energy consumption (giving an excellent return on investment) and decreases pollution, providing better air quality for employees and by ensuring the safety of ventilation maintenance staff and reducing maintenance work load.

Technology

This range of active electrostatic filters with integrated electronics, the FE SYSTEM series, has been designed and developed to minimise the power consumption of an air handling plant. The Electrostatic filter FE SYSTEM is an alternative to the traditional pocket filter and was designed to simplify the use of electrostatic filters in Air Handling Units and Rooftops. Its use in ventilation systems, particularly in the air-conditioning sector, is simplified by the fact that the FE filter can be retrofitted into existing ventilation systems due to the standard housing sizes.

The electrostatic filter is made of electrostatically charged aluminium active plates. It consists of a purification treatment system that allows the separation of the polluting substances, (which can be either in a solid state (dust) or gaseous (oil vapours), from the incoming air flow.)
The system allows the separation of the pollutants from the gas, which flows through the electrodes. The air-suspended particles – whatever their size – are electrically charged by the emission electrodes, creating an electric field. This field causes the ionization of the particles, which allows the collision between ions and pollutants causing the precipitation of the pollutants which are then captured and detained by the capture plates. The result is completely purified air, free from any type of pollutants.

Certified Efficiency: A+ rating

In ventilation systems, the air handling process can result in a significant waste of energy.
The amount of energy wasted depends on the pressure drop which is directly proportional to the efficiency class of the filters (and therefore the obstruction level) and the level of desired air quality inside the unit. The FE System filter is rated A+ (Eurovent) compared to a C rating for a pocket filter.

A mechanical air filter’s efficiency depends mainly on a mechanical capture of the particles in transit by the filtering fibrous matrix. This causes a progressive increase of the load losses, due to the accumulation of deposits and hence, as time passes, the filter becomes less efficient and uses more energy.

By comparison, the active electrostatic filter (FE system) offers very low load losses (i.e. very little pressure drop), it stays almost constant during the normal operating life resulting in much higher efficiency. The table below shows key energy criteria comparison between a pocket filter and the FE system.

Studies have shown that electricity consumption reductions of over 30% have been achieved as a direct result of replacing bag or pocket filters with A+ rated FE System filters.

Indoor Air Quality

The quality of air produced by the FE System is verified by the many tests it has undergone. Below is an extract from one test on bacterial load and moulds carried out by the ILH Berlin – Institute for Air Hygiene

The main advantages of the Electrostatic Precipitators (ESPs) are the following:

• – Collect particles from 0.01 µm to 100 µm up to 99% efficiency
• – Operate at high flow rates, up to 3,000,000 cfm (1400 m3/s)
• – Operate at high particle loadings, 500 grams/m3
• – Have low energy costs, 16 – 100 Watts/1000 m3/h
• – Have very low pressure drop 64Pa constant even when full

Applications

The FE filter system has been installed around the globe, improving well-being, comfort, air hygiene and sustainability in indoor ventilation systems and making buildings more efficient, with low emissions and healthier through clean energy.
Our solutions allow us to supply new Air Handling Units using the FE filter or it can be retrofitted into existing Air Handling Units, Rooftop Units and ventilation ducts, due to the standard housing size of the FE filter.
The filter is available in a range of standard sizes as shown in the chart below