Data Skyscrapers

[joebert]

July 3rd, 2009, 3:52 am

Why don't companies build skyscrapers for use as data centers instead of really wide 1-3 story buildings that take up a lot of space ?
Doesn't it get windier the higher you go ?
Couldn't you use that wind to cool servers ?

July 3rd, 2009, 6:33 am

There are 100 reasons why but I'll address your question on the wind. Skyscrapers aren't built with windows that open anymore for a number of reasons. Two are, it kills the HVAC system & it's dangerous.

[joebert]

July 3rd, 2009, 6:43 am

What if there were no windows ?

Duct systems that work like wind tunnels could be setup between floors and the ceiling/floor vents could connect to it. It could be sealable for times when using the outside air was going to do more harm than good.

Are there wind turbines that could fit inside of air ducts like this, perhaps one per-foot ? I wonder how much such turbines would interefere with the cooling of the server rooms.

I'm interested in hearing these 100 other reasons why there's not skyscraper data centers.

[ATNO/TW]

July 3rd, 2009, 7:31 am

You might find this informative:

http://hightech.lbl.gov/DCTraining/best ... nical.html

July 7th, 2009, 12:51 am

joebert wrote:

What if there were no windows ?

Duct systems that work like wind tunnels could be setup between floors and the ceiling/floor vents could connect to it. It could be sealable for times when using the outside air was going to do more harm than good.

Are there wind turbines that could fit inside of air ducts like this, perhaps one per-foot ? I wonder how much such turbines would interefere with the cooling of the server rooms.

I'm interested in hearing these 100 other reasons why there's not skyscraper data centers.

I agree with you joebert...btw...this is truly mind boggling question

July 7th, 2009, 6:45 am

Wind may make people cooler but it doesn't make objects cooler. I worked in a 40 story office building where 2 gas turbines cooled & or heated the entire building. Putting something in the duct system on each floor wouldn't work & would cost double.

Building high instead of wide costs more as well. Water pressure from the street only goes up about 6 floors. Anything higher than that requires pumps & tanks to get the water to the upper floors. For hot water, the cold water has to return from the tank on the roof to be heated & sent up again. That's just for what's called house water. Installation of sprinkler systems in case of a fire also costs less in a lower building.

[joebert]

July 7th, 2009, 6:48 am

What if in place of windows, there were solar panels ?

[ATNO/TW]

July 7th, 2009, 7:10 am

Speaking of which, ever seen BP Solar? Don't laugh. It's a long one or two story building like most datacenters.

[UPSGuy]

July 7th, 2009, 7:41 am

Quote:

AISO.net powers its data center with 120 solar panels that generate DC power, which is then run through an inverter and stored in batteries.The company also uses cooling systems from Freus Inc. that use less power than coinventional chillers.

http://www.aiso.net/technology-network-sun.html

Looks like they employ some other green technologies as well. They're 'Sun Energized, Water Fueled, & Air Powered'.

Update: Here's a blog that shows a picture of their panels & discusses a bit.

[ATNO/TW]

July 8th, 2009, 7:09 am

Now would be a good time to discuss this with the NSA (National Security Agency), which is about to build a 1-million-square-foot data center at Utah's Camp Williams.

Quote:

The enormous building, which will have a footprint about three times the size of the Utah State Capitol building, will be constructed on a 200-acre site near the Utah National Guard facility's runway.

Quote:

It will also require at least 65 megawatts of power -- about the same amount used by every home in Salt Lake City combined. A separate power substation will have to be built at Camp Williams to sustain that demand, said Col. Scott Olson, the Utah National Guard's legislative liaison.

http://www.sltrib.com/news/ci_12735293

[joebert]

July 8th, 2009, 8:07 am

I think that's the article that prompted me to bring up skyscrapers ATNO.

[UPSGuy]

July 8th, 2009, 8:10 am

I would think at some point someone would have brought up alternatives to the new power plans. Way to really stick to your guns and show Americans how you want them to save energy, goverment. Shall I just go ahead and disregard all the other White House emails I get from the mailing list, too?

[joebert]

July 8th, 2009, 8:14 am

Quote:

Shall I just go ahead and disregard all the other White House emails I get from the mailing list, too?

If you're not a government employee or an employee of a company with government contracts, it probably wouldn't make a difference either way.

[UPSGuy]

July 8th, 2009, 8:25 am

Why you say that? It's coming from the new update feature that they put up when they changed the site. Supposed to be part of their open government thing, i think. It's intended for the gen. pop.

[joebert]

July 8th, 2009, 8:40 am

What good does knowing what the government is doing via a mailing list do for you ?

How will any of the information provided change your life in any way by knowing about it ?