Types of Prefabricated Modular Data Centers

Overview

The functional block is power, cooling or IT space. A power module holds switchgear/switchboards, ATS, UPS with batteries, transformers and panelboards, with standby generators usually a separate module. Cooling module types are chiller plant (air-cooled chiller, pumps/drives, storage tank, dry/evaporative cooler), DX plant, indirect air (air-to-air heat exchanger, evaporative, DX backup) and direct air (filters, evaporative, DX backup).

Form factor is ISO container, non-ISO enclosure or skid. ISO container footprints are 20 x 8 ft (6.10 x 2.44 m) and 40 x 8 ft (12.2 x 2.44 m), at 8 ft 6 in (2.591 m) or high-cube 9 ft 6 in (2.896 m). Practical container capacity is about 500 kW for power or cooling plant and about 200-250 kW for IT space. Skid-mounted modules often cost up to 40% less than equivalent enclosure designs but are generally indoor-only, and are not logical for IT space because they lack air separation.

Configuration is semi-prefabricated, fully prefabricated or micro/all-in-one. An all-in-one (power, cooling, IT) module is limited to about 150 kW in an ISO footprint, and beyond 2 or 3 micro data center modules on a site (about 500 kW) they become cost prohibitive. Walk-in enclosures must provide lighting, fire protection, security and a means of egress.

The paper distinguishes pre-engineered designs (documented and specified) from prefabricated ones (also factory assembled and tested). Use cases include retrofit capacity shortfalls, multi-tenant step-and-repeat growth, and edge or temporary sites.

Key points

1. Three attributes: functional block, form factor, configuration.
2. ISO containers are 20 x 8 ft and 40 x 8 ft, 8 ft 6 in or 9 ft 6 in high-cube.
3. Practical ISO capacity: about 500 kW power/cooling plant, about 200-250 kW IT space.
4. Skid modules cost up to 40% less than enclosures, are generally indoor-only and unsuited to IT space.
5. All-in-one modules reach about 150 kW in an ISO footprint; beyond 2-3 units (about 500 kW) per site they are cost prohibitive.
6. Walk-in enclosures need lighting, fire protection, security and egress.
7. Pre-engineered means documented; prefabricated also means factory assembled and tested.

Using it in design

• Give the module catalog functional block, form factor, indoor/outdoor rating, walk-in flag, shipping sections, footprint and height.
• Warn when an ISO power/cooling module exceeds about 500 kW or an ISO IT module about 250 kW, and treat a skid used for IT space as an error.
• Suggest semi- or fully prefabricated options when an all-in-one exceeds 150 kW or 2-3 units per site.
• Drive the selection wizard from the use case: retrofit shortfall, multi-tenant or edge/temporary.

Who should read it

Designers choosing among prefabricated module types and their capacity ceilings.

Related standards

• ISO 668
• ISO 1496-1
• UL 2755
• NFPA 101

Publication details

Authors

Wendy Torell

Publisher

Schneider Electric

Year

2017

Document number

WP 165

Document language

English

Source type

Manufacturer

Access

Free to read

Licence

Copyright retained; citation only — the publisher’s terms apply to the original document

Citation