Published: October 29, 2024
Contingency Cooling for Birmingham Hospital’s Data Centre and Comfort Cooling for Patient Wards
ICS Cool Energy delivered a comfort and process temperature control solution for a major hospital in Birmingham. The hospital required an additional 80 kW of cooling capacity for comfort cooling in one of its patient wards, as well as a contingency cooling system for their data centre, which houses sensitive patient and operational data. Both systems were provided as long-term hires, with ICS Cool Energy’s i-Chillers serving as the backbone of these temperature control applications.
The Challenge
The hospital approached ICS Cool Energy with two key cooling needs.
First, they required a reliable and cost-effective system to deliver air-conditioning for patients’ comfort. Second, and more critical, they needed an on-site contingency cooling solution for their data centre.
Previously, the hospital relied on external providers. No on-site contingency system meant that in the event of a failure, they had to call in to deliver and install backup equipment. This reactive approach posed a significant risk, as every minute is critical when it comes to data centre cooling. Any delay in restoring cooling could lead to irreversible data loss.
The Solution
Following a comprehensive site assessment and analysis of the hospital’s requirements, ICS Cool Energy’s sales engineers proposed a solution to meet both needs:
- A process-grade 80 kW i-Chiller to provide comfort cooling for the patient ward. This system was delivered under a rolling 12-month hire agreement, offering the hospital long-term flexibility without capital expenditure. The chiller ensures stable and reliable temperature control, creating a comfortable environment for both patients and staff.
- To safeguard the hospital’s data centre, ICS Cool Energy installed a 160 kW i-Chiller alongside multiple internal air handling units. This backup system is always on standby and ready to take over should the primary cooling system fail. With this contingency solution in place, the hospital no longer has to rely on external emergency cooling support, significantly reducing the risk of data loss.
“Had the hospital maintained its previous arrangement of calling in external help during a failure, the data centre could have been severely compromised. Without backup equipment on-site, any failure in the regular cooling system could have resulted in the loss of vital patient and operational data. The new system minimises this risk and ensures continuity and data protection.” – Grant Spittle, Sales Engineer, ICS Cool Energy.
The Result
The hospital now benefits from two reliable air-conditioning and cooling systems on long-term hire. The i-Chillers provide consistent comfort cooling in the patient ward, contributing to overall patient well-being.
Meanwhile, the contingency cooling system helps keeping the hospital’s data centre operating and critical data protected. The on-site backup is ready for immediate activation in the event of a failure, preventing potential data loss and avoiding severe financial and operational consequences.
This project highlights ICS Cool Energy’s expertise in delivering efficient, reliable, and cost-effective solutions that give customers peace of mind and operational flexibility.
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Air handling unit hire
We hire air handling units (AHUs) as stand-alone equipment or as part of a complete solution for both heating and cooling applications. 150kW and 350kW AHUs are in stock and can be deployed rapidly to your business. Using the latest energy-efficient technology, our air handling units circulate air as part of your air conditioning, heating or ventilation system. They are a versatile solution for heating or cooling spaces from small offices to large retail spaces, marquees, temporary structures, hotels or data centres. The units are compact and high capacity to provide airflow from 2,000m3/hr to 40,000m3/hr. <strong>Why use us as your air handling unit hire partner?</strong> Our engineers will provide you with a full turnkey rental solution including; a detailed site survey, delivery, installation and commissioning of your air handling units. With our expert installation and commissioning, we will ensure they meet your new or existing temperature requirements, whether you’re covering a refurbishment or maintenance project, breakdown or need an extra boost during peak seasons.
Chiller hire
High performance chillers for hire to keep your process running. With our huge selection of over 500MW of chillers readily available for rapid deployment, we can cater to your specific cooling needs. From compact 3kW units to powerful 1.4MW industrial chillers, we have a wide range to choose from. Our chiller hire units can provide liquid leaving temperatures ranging from +15°C to -40°C, all conveniently provided by a single unit. Our low footprint packaged i-Chillers are protected in purpose built transport frames for ease of install and off hire to your exact needs. The exclusive i-Chiller range is built with integrated pumps and buffer tanks, multiple compressors and refrigeration circuits for cooling redundancy and flanged, camlock and Bauer hoses available for rapid onsite installation in all situations. A unique immersed coil in tank design enables the robust and reliable close temperature control required for critical process applications. Since 1989 we've been providing chiller hire in the UK for process manufacturing applications, our technical specialists engineer are able to support any job, no matter the size from short term to up to 9 years. Working with you, our team will provide the most reliable, robust and economic for your business. <strong>Chiller hire for manufacturing</strong> Our i-Chiller range is designed specifically with manufacturing applications in mind. The unit’s unique evaporator is immersed within a generously sized storage tank and each unit comes with a 3-bar pump as standard (customisable up to a 5-bar pump), ensuring they can handle demanding industrial applications. <strong>Modern & efficient chillers</strong> Our chiller hire fleet is on average, less than 1.5 years old, ensuring reliability and modern equipment for your business. The age of the equipment and our engineer’s approach will ensure that it is energy efficient – reducing your energy costs. You could also make further savings by considering a free cooling solution.
Data centre cooling
Requiring low temperatures for continuous operation and peak performance, data centre cooling requirements are high. Our industrial hire chillers (up to 1.2MW) and portable air conditioning solutions can provide the standard of cooling required to keep data centres running. Our hire chiller range is designed with the highest levels of efficiency in mind and are perfectly suited to being positioned in enclosed spaces such as data centres. The chiller hire range has also been designed and developed to offer the smallest equipment available on the market. This design, coupled with low power consumption, ensures our units are perfect for data centre applications. We have worked in the data centre cooling industry since its inception, providing equipment and service regardless of footprint or location. By providing services such as remote monitoring and ongoing maintenance, we are the perfect partner to ensure your data centre operates without interruption or thermal throttling. <strong>Why choose us as your data centre cooling partner?</strong> It’s typically a data centre industry standard to have a back-up plan in the event of an equipment failure. To support you with critical N+1 planning, we can survey your site and create a contingency plan for you. We can hold equipment at our depots and arrange immediate delivery in an emergency. Our team of technically trained chiller engineers have vast experience in Data Centre cooling, providing specialist engineering support and rental services. Beginning with a detailed survey of your server rooms and existing equipment, to the delivery, installation and commissioning of cooling equipment, we will take care of every aspect of your cooling requirements.