While many others were at NGDC, I stay close at home and attended the arrival of Data Center Dynamics to Seattle where 243 people attended an event that expected 200, according to Stephen Worn, CTO. Many times I find a small event enables better networking as you see the same people many times during the conference and you start to build connections with others who have common interests.

One of the people I met at Uptime Institute's Symposium 2008, Green Enterprise Computing event is Digital Sense's Michael Tran.  I suggested he visit Data Center Dynamics Seattle as he was already planning a US trip and I can introduce him to some other people who are building Green Data Centers.

To handle power densities over 25 kW per rack, Digital Sense has chosen Emerson's Liebert XDO cooling as the primary cooling system. Michael said his installation will be the largest installation of XDO cooling in the world.

Being a little curious I searched for more information on cooling systems that can be repositioned and found some interesting patents.  I found one patent with Liebert's Lennart Stahl and Christian Belady.  I don't know Lennart, but I do know Christian.  Searching more I found 2 more patents with the same two people on them.

US Patent 6,564,858

Abstract

A method and system are disclosed for cooling a heat generating object. A coolant is passed through a heat exchanger so that heated air passing through the heat exchanger is cooled. A fan unit is selectively positioned adjacent to a first side of the heat exchanger. When activated, the fan unit draws the cooled air through the heat exchanger and directs the cooled air towards the heat generating object. The fan unit may be repositioned along a second side of the heat exchanger so as to redefine the flow of air drawn from and directed towards the heat generating object.

US Patent 6,705,389

Abstract

A method and system are disclosed for cooling a heat generating object. A coolant is passed through a heat exchanger so that heated air passing through a first portion of the heat exchanger is cooled. A fan unit is selectively positioned relative to the heat exchanger. When activated, the fan unit draws the cooled air through a second portion of the heat exchanger and directs the twice cooled air towards the heat generating object. The fan unit may be repositioned along a different portion of the heat exchanger so as to redefine the flow of air drawn from and directed towards the heat generating object.

US Patent 6,854,659

Abstract

A system for cooling heat generating objects arranged in a room. The system adapts in real time to changing cooling demands of the objects. Remote sensors mounted in proximity to the heat generating objects relay information to cooling units, which adjust their operation in response to the information.

After understanding more what Michael is doing, one guy I wanted to introduce him to is Christian Belady as he would be a good person to validate Digital Sense's use of Liebert XDO as it appears they have been influenced by some of Christian's cooling ideas.

We ended up chatting for over an hour on power and cooling techniques with power supply architect Shaun Harris, joining in the conversation.  Christian also pulled in Stephen Worn for a bit to discuss power and cooling ideas, and how customers like Michael Tran need to give more presentation at future events.

6 degrees of separation is an idea supported by Microsoft Researcher Eric Horvitz's recent article.  But what I find at Data Center Dynamics events there are many times the degree of separation is only 3 degrees or less.

Another recommendation for Data Center Dynamics is by Ken Oestrich.

In Ken Brill's opening keynote, after going through the background of energy studies in data centers, the path Ken Brill presents is the idea of an Energy Czar, an executive top down position to support a Green Data Center initiative.

This is nice in theory and is a method to sell a green data center program at the executive level. I question whether this is effective though. Part of my skepticism is raised by the fact that McKinsey is the sponsor of the study.

The problem with an Energy Czar is the job becomes a political job negotiating ownership and control of data center capital expenditures and operating expenditures while negotiating new SLAs and technical requirements. The term Czar is appropriate to describe the hierarchy and politics for the job.

I am trying to imagine how this would work.

One simple concept Mike Manos explained in his keynote is to use PUE to communicate the overhead to run data centers. Overhead costs are numbers executives understand. And, once execs understand how Green Data Center programs can affect overhead, projects are approved to improve efficiencies.

Is the PUE method a simpler way to put a Green Data Center initiative in place?

Can you get the executives all nodding their head when they understand how Green Data Center initiatives reduce overhead?

On Weds, there will be a presentation of the McKinsey report, and I'll be able to comment more on the idea of an energy czar to Green Data Centers.