Calibrating gas leakage detectors is crucial to ensure uptime and efficiency – but how can data center managers make sure it’s done reliably?
With the continuing growth of AI and cloud computing, data centers are becoming ever more integral to the global economy. Their customers need ultra-dependable services, with high capacity and computing power. And the impact of failing to provide this is significant. Research this year from the Uptime Institute found that for more than half (54%) of data centers, their most recent significant, serious or severe outage cost more than $100,000 – and one in five lost more than $1m. Of course, downtime isn’t the only risk. Given the pressure on data center infrastructure, there is growing pressure on facilities to operate efficiently to maximize the productivity of their resources. A critical factor supporting robust data center services is cooling. Issues with this are responsible for more than one in ten (13%) impactful outages, according to the Uptime Institute’s research. In addition, the productivity losses that arise from inefficient cooling are substantial. As McKinsey notes, the capacity of a data center depends on how well it can cool its servers, because cooler equipment can be kept closer together. And since cooling accounts for around 40% of a facility’s energy consumption, inefficiency leads to higher costs as well as reduced output.
In most data centers, equipment is cooled using refrigerant gases, which in turn are kept cool by chiller units. So, it’s essential for uptime and productivity that these chillers are working optimally. An important concern is the risk of gas leaking, which can seriously compromise performance. It makes cooling less reliable and efficient, and in some cases can cause a chiller to stop working completely. The rise in the use of low-GWP refrigerants makes it even more important to avoid leaks. As we recently discussed in another blog, both Europe the US are imposing stricter limits on the GWP (global warming potential) of refrigerant gases. But since many low-GWP options are flammable, a leak could potentially create a safety hazard as well as reducing efficiency and polluting the environment.
The importance of calibrating gas leakage detectors
Growing demand, increasing power densities and rising global temperatures are all putting more pressure on data centers and their cooling systems. So, to maximize productivity, avoiding gas leaks is an increasingly critical priority. For this reason, gas leakage detectors play a vital role, providing an alarm when a refrigerant leaks so engineers can address the problem.
Large data centers will likely have dozens of these detectors. But simply installing the devices isn’t enough. To make sure they can accurately detect the presence of refrigerants, it’s also important to calibrate gas leakage detectors properly. A poorly calibrated detector risks creating a false alarm, which disrupts operations and wastes engineers’ time. Worse, it could miss a leak that gradually degrades a system’s efficiency – increasing energy use and eventually leading to a major failure.
In Europe, regulation supports the annual calibration of gas leakage detectors through mandatory testing. But as responsible data center operators realize, calibration is much more than a regulatory checkbox. It’s an essential maintenance practice that helps ensure safety and reliability while optimizing efficiency. Even so, calibration adds to the growing list of responsibilities facing facility managers. They’ll want to carry it out thoroughly, but with as little impact on operations as possible. Given this, many data centers engage third party calibration services for the task. But the quality of these depends heavily on the expertise and equipment of the engineers involved. So how can data centers make sure their gas leakage detectors are calibrated in a way that delivers maximum value?
How Schneider Electric’s expert approach ensures optimal calibration
Schneider Electric’s approach to gas leakage detector calibration exemplifies what should be expected from a first-class calibration service. Since we manufacture data center chillers, we have an in-depth understanding of the associated technology – including hardware and software. This enables us to carry out calibration to the highest standards. What’s more, guided by our industry experience, we’ve developed a particularly robust way of working. Rather than calibrating the same detectors year after year, we replace them annually with new devices, pre-calibrated by our experts. As well as ensuring precise, consistent leak detection across all of a data center’s equipment, this avoids the inaccuracies associated with aging detectors – whether through false alarms or missed leaks.
We can incorporate this service as an upgrade to our customers’ existing maintenance contracts, delivering added value and efficiency. This means gas leakage detector calibration can take place alongside other scheduled work, further boosting efficiency by avoiding the disruption of a separate visit. Customers who choose this option are not only improving their data center’s safety and reliability. By minimizing energy consumption and reducing pollution – as well as making sure they’re ready for low-GWP refrigerants – they’re also enhancing their sustainability.
The ‘hidden hero’ of data center performance
The calibration of gas leakage detectors may not always be the highest-profile task on a data center manager’s to-do list. But when a facility has made substantial investments in high-performing equipment, it makes no sense to undermine this by risking inefficiencies and unnecessary downtime. For this reason, effective gas leakage detectorcalibration should be seen as the ‘hidden hero’ of reliable operations – providing indispensable support for services your customers can trust.
As the demand for data center services continues to grow, the need to cool equipment withoptimal efficiency and reliabilitywill only increase. And for businesses with ambitious sustainability targets, taking a proactive approach tocalibrating their gas leakage detectors is also vital for managing energy use responsibly. At Schneider Electric, we have the expertise and experience to fulfil this essential requirement in the best way possible. We look forward to working with you to deliver sustainable future growth.
To discover more about Schneider Electric’s gas leakage detector calibration service, download our guide: Minimize downtime and ensure optimal performance of your data center cooling systems
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