By Karl Lycett – Rittal UK’s Product Manager for Climate Control
Most people envisage the traditional setting for IT equipment as a cavernous data centre, housing large numbers of racks with flashing LED lights, all contained within a sterile environment specially designed to protect the delicate internal electrical components.
While this type of location does exist, IT equipment is increasingly being relocated from ‘white spaces’ and into the more hostile environment of the production facility.
This trend is based on a need for reduced latency between the IT and the machines it controls. Bringing the two physically closer together means that they can communicate more efficiently.
The white space is then given over to any IT that controls business services which don’t require such speeds. Or the space can simply be repurposed and used as a storage facility for company records or files.
But moving the IT equipment from one location to another isn’t as simple as it sounds. Compared to the machines they control IT components are particularly sensitive to temperature fluctuations while also themselves generating a considerable amount of excess heat. This has to be managed, and the only effective way to do so is by using a specific type of climate control which is designed to cater for the needs of industrial IT.
Rittal is a technology leader in both industrial and IT climate control systems so we are perfectly placed to combine our expertise in both areas.
A case in point is our market-leading ‘Blue e+ IT’ cooling unit, developed to meet the rigorous demands of industrial IT. Its innovative ducting offers a high level of protection for IT equipment. The cooling unit can be mounted on the rear of the IT rack, while delivering cold air via ducting through to the front of the equipment in accordance with standard IT ‘front breathing’ airflows. This means that the hot and cold air do not mix; a scenario which would reduce the efficiency of the cooling.
A roof-mounted version of the Blue e+ IT unit is also available, if space is in short supply.
For more information on how Blue e+ IT could benefit your industrial IT, please watch our webcast to see how these products work and, more specifically, how they can help you.
To view a recording of our webcast go to: https://register.gotowebinar.com/recording/5523832478845410818
Further information at www.rittal.co.uk and www.friedhelm-loh-group.com or on twitter @rittal_ltd.
