In the data center industry, work continues despite the crisis. For instance, the startup Nautilus Data Technologies recently announced its intention to launch a new floating data center. Nautilus Data Technologies became known a few years ago when the company announced plans to develop a floating data center. It seemed like yet another idea that would never come to fruition. But no, in 2015 the company began work on its first data center, Eli M. Its floating base was launched . The capacity of the data center is 8 MW, with room for 800 server racks.
The startup previously received about $36 million in investments from various partners. Now it — Orion Energy Partners. They invested $100 million in floating data centers. The funds will go towards expanding data center capabilities, creating additional facilities, new research, and more.
The two-deck data center from Nautilus Data Technologies features a modular structure.
Why are floating data centers needed? Their main advantage is mobility. Thus, if a company needs additional resources, it can dock such a data center to the shore in the region where it operates and quickly obtain the required resources. The investors who have invested in the company plan to create several of these data centers, placing them in the port of Singapore. On land, a data center cannot be constructed here — there is simply not enough available space, and the building density is very high. But off the coast — that’s possible. According to the developers, a fully operational floating data center can be deployed in about six months.
Company representatives also state that the mobility of the data center allows it to quickly leave the shore if problems arise in the region — flooding, fire, local conflict, etc.
It is important to understand that this is not an autonomous data center; it requires the corresponding infrastructure to operate — communication channels, power grid, etc. Such an object cannot operate in the middle of the ocean. However, it can be transported to almost any region accessible by water — ocean, sea, or navigable river.
The appearance of the new data center
A positive aspect here is the cooling system. It is water-based, and creating it does not require the deployment of a complex water supply and drainage system. The coolant is always on hand. It is sourced directly from the ocean or sea (through special hatches located below the waterline of the floating base), is lightly cleaned, and used for cooling. The warmed water is then released back into the sea or ocean. Due to the fact that water does not need to be pumped through pipes from a distance, the energy consumption of the data center is lower than that of a standard facility with similar power. The test data center had a PUE of 1.045, while the actual object has a slightly higher PUE of 1.15. According to calculations by environmental specialists, the negative impact on the environment will be minimal. Local and even global ecosystems will not be harmed.
This is what the server cooling system looks like based on heat exchangers at the rear door of the server rack (manufacturer ColdLogik).
As for the new data center, it has already been named Stockton I. Construction is taking place at the Port of Stockton in the northern part of California. According to the plan, the data center will be operational by the end of 2020. Another facility is being built by Nautilus Data Technologies at the docks of Limerick in Ireland. The cost of creating the Irish data center is $35 million. According to the developers, the energy efficiency of floating data centers is 80% higher than that of traditional ones, and the rack density in such facilities is several times higher than in standard data centers. Capital expenditures are reduced by up to 30% compared to traditional data centers.
Source: habr.com
