CPI’s Containment Solution Helps TCS Overcome Limited Power Availability and Win 2 ASHRAE Awards

Seattle-based TeleCommunication Systems (TCS) needed to expand its data center, but didn’t have enough available power to support the expansion. 

The telecom company produces solutions for mission-critical wireless communications that demand proven high levels of reliability, security and availability. For example, if you call 911 from a cell phone located anywhere in the country, the signal is likely to pass through TCS’ data center before it reaches emergency personnel.

Having a highly efficient and reliable data center in this case was literally a matter of life or death.

To overcome the company’s limited power availability and cooling inefficiencies, TCS deployed a three-pronged solution that included evaporative-only cooling, a full airside economizer and CPI’s answer to passive cooling: an airflow containment that included F-Series TeraFrame® Cabinets in Glacier White with Vertical Exhaust Ducts in a hot/cold aisle layout.

While CPI’s cabinets and vertical exhaust ducts work to keep hot air isolated from the room by passively directing it into the plenum, the evaporative cooling system’s exhaust fans still require energy to keep the room supplied with cool air.

In addition, TCS needed to deploy other critical elements in the data center -- reliable cabling infrastructure that optimized connectivity, airflow and convenience. In the end, the room’s all-white layout of equipment cabinets and Evolution® Cable Management products helped reduce energy used for lighting by 30%.

This drastic energy consumption reduction led ASHRAE to give TCS a first-place regional technology award in 2011 and second place honors on the national level in 2013 for Category III – Industrial Facilities or Processes.

Raissa Carey, eContent Specialist