Rittal Protects IT Infrastructure in Harsh Environments with Dust-Proof Racks, Redundant Cooling Systems, and Eplan Solutions

Introduction
Problem Operating in challenging environments requires robust and reliable IT infrastructure solutions. A waste management facility in New South Wales faced a significant issue with their IT equipment due to the accumulation of fine dust particles. These conditions posed a threat to the functionality and longevity of their servers, necessitating a tailored solution to safeguard their critical systems. To further enhance their operations, the customer also invested in Eplan Electric P8, choosing a comprehensive software solution enabling automation of their electrical design process to speed up the implementation of further plant automation projects.

Problem 
The waste management facility experienced frequent network and server outages caused by excessive dust buildup on IT equipment. Despite being housed in a “clean” room, the proximity of the server racks to a crusher plant meant that fine dust fragments infiltrated the room, making it impossible to maintain a dust-proof environment. This led to concerns about the reliability of their IT infrastructure and the potential for significant operational disruptions.

The challenge was twofold:

• Dust Protection: Ensuring the IT equipment was shielded from the pervasive dust particles.
• Adequate Cooling: Sealing the racks to protect against dust would compromise the cooling of  the servers, risking overheating and potential equipment failure.

Solution
Rittal provided a comprehensive solution to address both the dust protection and cooling requirements. The facility was supplied with two dust-proof, IP55-rated 42U 800x1000 racks, specifically designed to shield the IT equipment from dust ingress. However, simply sealing the racks was not enough; the challenge of adequately cooling the enclosed servers remained. To resolve this, Rittal installed two Blue e+ cooling units that work in tandem to maintain optimal temperatures within the sealed racks. These self-contained cooling units are designed to draw in hot air from the servers, cool it efficiently, and circulate it back into the enclosure without compromising the dust-proof seal. The solution also included a redundancy feature: if one cooling unit were to fail, the second unit would automatically take over, ensuring continuous cooling and protecting the IT equipment from overheating. Additionally, to maintain peak performance and reliability, Rittal provides quarterly maintenance services for the cooling units, ensuring they operate efficiently and any potential issues are addressed promptly.

Rittal’s TS8 cabinets are also utilised throughout the facility, housing automation, and control systems. A Rittal Solution Partner was instrumental in the installation process, removing the existing IT infrastructure from the old racks, replacing them with the new dust-proof models, and ensuring the new cooling units were fully operational. The Partner also handled the “rack and stack” procedure to ensure the IT systems were properly configured and secured. 

Eplan Software Integration

In addition to physical infrastructure solutions, the waste management facility opted for two Electric P8 licenses for their company.

The decision to integrate Eplan electrical design software was driven by several factors:

• Eplan Data Portal: With access to over 1.8 million parts to download, the facility realised they could eliminate the need to search across various webpages for component data. This streamlined access simplifies the design process and ensures accuracy in part selection.
• Automation Functionalities: Tools like macros, placeholder objects, and automatic connections were key benefits. The facility recognised the potential to automate much of their workflow, significantly reducing the time spent on manual drawing and increasing overall efficiency.
• Flexibility: The facility valued the customisation options that Eplan offers, seeing how it could be tailored to meet their specific organisational needs while providing the scalability required for or future growth.

Outcome
The implementation of Rittal’s dust-proof racks and Blue e+ cooling units has significantly improved the reliability of the waste management facility’s IT infrastructure. In addition, the regular quarterly servicing of the cooling units ensures they remain in top condition, further safeguarding the facility’s IT infrastructure against the harsh environmental conditions in which they operate. The integration of Eplan’s Electric P8 Select licenses has further streamlined the facility’s operations. The time savings from automation, easy access to part data, and the flexibility of the software have allowed the facility to speed up the design process for future automation projects.

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