In the data center industry, work continues despite the crisis. For example, the startup Nautilus Data Technologies recently announced its intention to launch a new floating DC. Nautilus Data Technologies became known a few years ago when the company announced plans to develop a floating data center. It seemed that this was another fix idea that would never be implemented. But no, in 2015 the company began work on its first Eli M data center. Its floating base was launched in . The power of the DC was 8 MW, and the capacity was 800 server racks.
The startup previously received about $36 million in investments from various partners. Now into it Orion Energy Partners. She invested $100 million in floating data centers. The funds will be used to expand the capabilities of data centers, create additional facilities, new research, etc.
Two-deck data center from Nautilus Data Technologies with a modular structure
Why do we need floating data centers? Their main advantage is mobility. So, if any company needs additional resources, it can moor such a data center to the shore, in the region where it works, and quickly get the necessary resources. Investors who have invested in the company plan to create several such data centers at once, placing them in the port of Singapore. It is impossible to build a data center here on land - there is simply not enough free space, the building density is very high. But on the coast - please. According to the developers, it is possible to deploy a full-fledged floating data center in about six months.
Also, company representatives say that the mobility of the data center makes it possible to quickly set sail from the coast if a problem arises in the region - flood, fire, local conflict, etc.
It should be understood that this is not an autonomous DC, for its operation it needs the appropriate infrastructure - communication channels, power grid, etc. In the middle of the ocean, such an object will not be able to work. But it can be transported to almost any region that can be reached by water - the ocean, the sea or a navigable river.
Appearance of the new data center
The positive thing here is the cooling system. It is water, and for its creation it is not necessary to deploy a complex system of water supply and drainage. Coolant is always at hand. It is drawn directly from the ocean or sea (through special hatches located below the waterline of the floating base), cleaned a little and used for cooling. Then the heated water is poured back into the sea or ocean. Due to the fact that water does not need to be pumped through pipelines from afar, the energy consumption of a DC is lower than that of a standard facility of similar capacity. At the test data center of the company, PUE was 1,045, at a real facility it is slightly higher - 1,15. According to calculations made by environmental experts, the negative impact on the environment will be minimal. Local and even more so global ecosystems will not be affected.
This is how the server cooling system based on heat exchangers in the back door of the server rack looks like (ColdLogik manufacturer)
As for the new DC, it has already received the name - Stockton I. Construction is underway in the port of Stockton in northern California. According to the plan, the data center will be put into operation at the end of 2020. Nautilus Data Technologies is building another facility at Limerick Docks in Ireland. The cost of creating an Irish DC is $35 million. According to the developers, the energy efficiency of floating data centers is 80% higher than conventional ones, in addition, the density of racks in such facilities is several times higher than in standard DCs. Capital costs are reduced by up to 30% compared to a standard DC.
Source: habr.com