Nortek Air Solutions has launched an indirect evaporative cooling (IDEC) unit for reduced water usage and optimized energy savings in data centers.

The Cool3 IDEC unit is available in 200, 300 and 400 kW standard unit sizes, with Nortek claiming the 400 kW model offers annual partial power usage effectiveness (pPUE) below 1.1. The heat exchanger technology of the unit reduces data center humidity fluctuations and filtration requirements for white space. It is comparatively small and light, so it can be deployed in new and existing data centers as an end-on unit, a rooftop unit, or in a stack.

Industry’s lowest water usage?

Nortek believes this unit has the industry’s lowest water usage, thanks to its three operating modes.

In winter, it runs in Air Economizer mode, with the heat exchanger covering100 percent of the cooling load in the data center. Maximizing the operating hours in the Economizer mode helps save water.

In summer the direct evaporative cooler (DEC) unit is switched on, providing free cooling due to water evaporation. This mode provides the most operating cost savings in locations where outdoor conditions allow.

During extreme hot and humidity hours of the year, the DX trim (direct expansion or mechanical cooling using compressors) facility finally comes into use. 

“The Cool3 IDEC unit is designed to help our customers achieve an impressive and more energy-efficient PUE, best water efficiency in the market, lowest TCO and a cost-effective data center cooling experience,” said Kris Holla, chief sales officer and vice president.

The unit also features a high performance EC fan array popular in modern cooliong uints, which has been installed in data centers and other mission critical facilities to provide operating cost savings, high performance and redundancy.