News

Emerson Network Power Adds Advanced Controls and Variable Capacity to Liebert Challenger 3000 Precision Cooling System

10/19/2009

Columbus, Ohio [October 15, 2009] – Data center managers seeking increased control and operating efficiency of their precision cooling systems may now deploy the Liebert Challenger 3000 with Liebert iCOM controls from Emerson Network Power, a business of Emerson (NYSE: EMR) and the global leader in enabling Business-Critical Continuity™. The enhanced Liebert Challenger 3000 also has the ability to integrate an energy-efficient digital scroll compressor if chosen as an option.

The Liebert Challenger 3000 precision cooling system provides complete environmental control, including cooling, reheat, dehumidification, humidification and filtration. Its compact footprint makes it ideal for facilities where space is a premium. All of the system’s critical components are front-accessible, so the unit can be corner-installed or installed flush against other equipment. The unit also utilizes environmentally-friendly refrigerant R-407C, making it compliant with the Montreal Protocol and the U.S. EPA Clean Air Act.

The addition of the Liebert iCOM control system enables up to 32 units to communicate and work together as a team to precisely control temperature and humidity across a room while optimizing the efficiency of the entire cooling system. The control system also enhances the reliability of the cooling system by allowing predictive, performance-based analysis. It displays real-time information, such as setpoints, environmental conditions, operational status and alarm conditions. In addition, two Liebert IntelliSlot card housings enable simple network management protocol (SNMP) or Web-based centralized monitoring, or monitoring via an existing building management system or Liebert SiteScan Web.

The digital scroll compressor, which is available in a self-contained system design, allows unit capacities to quickly adapt to changing room conditions. The technology is capable of responding to changes as small as +/- 1 degree Fahrenheit (Celsius) and +/- 1 percent RH (relative humidity).

“As a result of these enhancements, the Liebert Challenger 3000 can be more precisely matched to the exact requirements of a data center,” said Bob Blough, director of marketing, Liebert Precision Cooling, Emerson Network Power. “This approach has shown to be as much as 30 percent more efficient than traditional hot-gas bypass when the system needs to operate at a reduced capacity.”

The system is available in self-contained or split system designs, which enable the unit to be fitted with a variety of architectures. Cooling configurations include air, water, glycol, GLYCOOL and chilled water. It is available in nominal ratings of 10.5 kW (3 tons) and 17.5 kW (5 tons) and in upflow and downflow configurations.

For more information on the Liebert Challenger 3000 with iCOM controls, or any other Liebert technologies and services from Emerson Network Power, visit www.liebert.com.

New Rack Power Distribution Units

Emerson Network Power Bolsters Desktop, Point-of-Sale Power Protection with Liebert PSP Backup Power Unit

8/4/2009

Columbus, Ohio [July 28, 2009] – As professional workstations, point-of-sale terminals and other small but critical office equipment are increasingly susceptible to utility power fluctuations and poor overall power quality, individuals and small businesses are looking for new levels of power protection to maintain system continuity and network connections. Emerson Network Power’s new Liebert PSP uninterruptible power supply (UPS) provides an affordable answer to this challenge by ensuring ample battery time for a short ride-through or an orderly shutdown for extended power outages.

Four models of the next-generation Liebert PSP are available in capacities of 350VA/120V, 500VA/120V, 500VA/230V and 650VA/230V, and are backed by an industry-leading, two-year replacement warranty. Amid the often frantic period when utility power is lost, the Liebert PSP delivers up to five minutes of backup power at full load. Users also benefit from advanced early warnings when the UPS is beginning to shut down, via the Liebert MultiLink software that accompanies each Liebert PSP. Additional product features include:
– Power protection via three battery-backed outlets
– Surge protection via one surge outlet that is color-coded for easy identification
– User-replaceable batteries are convenient for on-site maintenance
– Compliance with the European Union’s Restriction of Hazardous Substances Directive (RoHS) prohibiting the use of six hazardous materials in the manufacturing of electronics, which makes the compliant product more environmentally friendly at the end of its life
– Two-year replacement warranty includes battery health and covers shipment to and from the user site

The Liebert PSP is available immediately throughout the world and comes with a Quick-Start Guide of step-by-step instructions for quick and easy deployment.

Other members of the Liebert PS family of products for office, network and rack applications include the Liebert PSA, Liebert PSI-XR and Liebert PSS. For more information on the Liebert PSP or other Liebert technologies and services from Emerson Network Power, visit www.liebert.com.

Emerson Network Power Introduces SmartAisle™ Solution to Improve Effectiveness of Data Center Cooling

Columbus, Ohio [March 9, 2010] – As high heat densities continue to push the limits of data center cooling, Emerson Network Power, a business of Emerson (NYSE: EMR) and the global leader in enabling Business-Critical Continuity™, today introduced the SmartAisle cooling management solution that utilizes cold aisle containment to increase cooling efficiency and rack capacity. The SmartAisle solution is available to customers worldwide.

Leveraging the hot aisle/cold aisle rack configuration, the flexible SmartAisle solution contains the cold aisle to prevent hot and cold air from mixing, while adding a layer of intelligent management through the Liebert iCOM™ control system. The combination of cold aisle containment and precise aisle-level control of temperature, humidity and airflow allows the SmartAisle solution to deliver greater than 30 percent energy savings and a 25 percent cooling capacity increase without compromising availability.

“Containment has proven to be an effective approach to increasing cooling system efficiency, but containment without control is only a partial solution,” said Fred Stack, vice president of marketing for the Liebert Precision Cooling business of Emerson Network Power in North America. “With the SmartAisle solution we’ve taken containment to the next level, magnifying the results that can be achieved by providing greater control of the contained environment while also enabling a modular approach to data center optimization.”

Knurr® cabinets from Emerson Network Power are utilized within the cold-aisle containment structure. The SmartAisle solution can also be adapted to existing IT racks. A clear plexiglass ceiling system serves as a roof to contain cold air. Swinging or sliding doors contain the areas at the ends of the aisle. Horizontal and vertical rack blanking panels are used to optimize the cabinet airflow. An alternative curtain system is available for ceiling containment as an alternative to the plexiglass ceiling panels.

The addition of the Liebert iCOM control system provides monitoring, control and communications vital to the SmartAisle solution’s significant performance improvement over standard containment structures. Remote sensors in both the hot and cold aisles allow Liebert iCOM to ensure proper temperature, humidity and airflow to the inlet of the servers. The control system monitors conditions in the cold aisle to independently control both the variable capacity compressor (or chilled-water cooling capacity) and the fan speed of the cooling units and allows the units to work in teamwork mode for energy-efficient load sharing operation.

“While constructing our newest energy efficient, high-density co-location facility in Santa Clara, we evaluated several different energy saving infrastructures for our 30,000-square-foot data center to support over 1,000 high-density cabinets. Our goal was to find a solution that would provide us with efficient cooling, while we gradually expand our customer base,” said Tom Wye, president and CEO, Bay Area Internet Solutions. “Carefully comparing the various technologies, we found that the SmartAisle solution from Emerson Network Power would provide us with the most efficient and flexible cooling system available. The SmartAisle solution is now an integral component of our cooling infrastructure.”

"Nemertes sees sensor-driven intelligent management of cooling as the most important improvement in data center climate control in many years,” said John Burke, a principal research analyst at Nemertes Research. “Fifty-nine percent of the enterprises Nemertes speaks with say that data center HVAC is still a challenge, especially problems with density, efficiency, and control of airflow. Improved, and especially more intelligent, cooling infrastructure is their main strategy for addressing such problems."

The SmartAisle solution can be used on raised or non-raised floors, and is compatible with variable capacity Liebert DS and Liebert CW cooling units containing Liebert iCOM controls, as well as row-based Liebert CRV and Liebert XD systems with Liebert iCOM controls. The system is capable of cooling up to 30kW per rack, depending on whether internal or external cooling is used with the cold aisle containment. Existing IT racks can be retrofitted with a SmartAisle containment system.