Last March, the Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration (Pagasa) issued an El Ni\u00f1o Watch, warning the public about the possible repercussions of the dry season in the Philippines. Notifying the start of the summer season, Pagasa warns that heatwaves can worsen, especially with the changing weather conditions because of climate change. Last April 10, Pagasa computed the highest heat index in San Jose, Occidental Mindoro, and Butuan City, Agusan del Norte, which went up to 47 degrees Celsius.<\/p>\n
El Ni\u00f1o is a cyclical climate phenomenon that occurs in the Pacific Ocean and can significantly impact weather patterns. In the Philippines, El Ni\u00f1o is often associated with prolonged periods of drought and high temperatures, which can pose significant challenges for data center operators.<\/p>\n
“Dealing with the extreme spike of temperatures should not be taken lightly. This is when data center operators must be vigilant in monitoring their facilities. If not taken seriously, providers risk losing their reliability and connectivity,” said Pamela Albar, Associate Director for Channels & Enterprise Sales, Vertiv Philippines.<\/p>\n
For data center operators to keep their cool, here’s how they can protect their operations from extreme temperature spikes during summer:<\/p>\n
Run as many cooling units as possible<\/strong>.<\/p>\n It’s\u00a0better to double or triple the operation of your cooling units to keep the refrigerant pressures as low as possible so operators can prevent trips on high pressure. By running the cooling units\u00a0simultaneously, they can minimize the load on each data hall.<\/p>\n If cooling systems are not running at their total capacity, it can result in equipment overheating and potentially cause costly downtime. Cooling units are designed to remove heat from the data center environment. If they are not functioning correctly, the equipment can suffer from thermal stress, leading to premature failure or reduced performance.<\/p>\n Regular maintenance is\u00a0a must<\/strong>.<\/p>\n With the increased temperature, data center cooling units\u00a0must\u00a0double\u00a0its\u00a0usual work. This means the units\u00a0must\u00a0undergo frequent checking and maintenance, especially the condenser coils.<\/p>\n Condenser coils\u00a0are responsible for\u00a0releasing heat absorbed by the refrigerant in the evaporator coil. When\u00a0it is blocked with dirt and dust\u00a0or covered with rust, it reduces its heat-transfer capability and becomes ineffective when the ambient temperature climbs. Dirty coils can also cause a system shutdown due to uncontrolled high\u00a0pressure. This endangers not only the facility but also the operations during a critical time.<\/p>\n Invest\u00a0in high-quality cooling systems<\/strong>.<\/p>\n It is expected for data centers to experience unpredictable\u00a0temperature changes, which\u00a0is why\u00a0the facility needs\u00a0to have the best cooling system.\u00a0Operators\u00a0must\u00a0invest\u00a0in high-quality equipment to\u00a0increase\u00a0its lifespan,\u00a0maintain\u00a0a stable temperature environment,\u00a0and\u00a0reduce\u00a0the risk of thermal stress.<\/p>\n It also enhances the facility’s performance, ensuring the data center’s reliability. Consequently, investing in high-quality cooling systems is more cost-efficient because they are energy-efficient, lowering operating costs.<\/p>\n Some\u00a0types of cooling systems that data center facilities can invest\u00a0in are immersion, water-free, and evaporative free cooling systems designed to deliver reliability and efficiency in high-temperature environments.<\/p>\n As architects of continuity, these solutions\u00a0are offered by Vertiv, making them a reliable helper in upgrading thermal systems\u00a0and creating a maintenance plan to keep the facility cool, particularly during the El Ni\u00f1o phenomenon.\u00a0The company\u00a0also\u00a0provides\u00a0cutting-edge, sustainable, and innovative solutions that improve the performance and scalability of data centers, communication networks, and other critical IT facilities.<\/p>\n