The Data Center Group was commissioned to realize a modular IT outdoor container as a backup data center for KVB, Kölner Verkehrs-Betriebe AG.
Kölner Verkehrs-Betriebe AG is one of the largest public transport companies in the Federal Republic of Germany. Every working day, more than 850,000 people in Cologne travel on the buses and trains of the Kölner Verkehrs-Betriebe. With 368 streetcars and light rail vehicles and 305 buses, it offers a high-performance range of urban and regional transport services on almost 60 lines.
However, there is more behind the product "local public transport" than just passenger transportation. At the depots, in the workshops, sales outlets and in the administration, around 3,000 employees ensure that the mobility service is available to passengers every day.
Founded in 1876, the transport company started with a horse-drawn streetcar line and continued with the first electronic streetcar from 1903 onwards. Today, Cologne would be unthinkable without this transport company.
The technical planning of the outdoor data center was completely carried out by the engineering office Heiming (IBH) from Cologne, while the general planning was carried out by the architectural office Spies, also from Cologne.
The strip foundation was calculated and designed with a connection to the existing KVB building. It was important that access to the container via the existing building was planned at ground level and without steps. KVB requested a special roof construction with a circumferential roof overhang, which was implemented accordingly.
Due to the low clearance height on the KVB premises, the steel structure for recooling units, chillers, railings, gratings and ladder access made of hot-dip galvanized steel could only be installed after delivery and positioning of the container.
Glycol collection systems including pressure monitoring were used for the outdoor air conditioning units from Thermofin and RC Group.
The external lightning protection by means of interception rods and discharge into the container frame and foundation earth electrode serves as a Faraday cage.
After a one-week full load test with 50 kW power and handover of the overall documentation, the finished data center was handed over to KVB after a total of four weeks.
As there is streetcar through traffic in the direct vicinity of the built container, a vibration expert opinion had to be prepared. According to its calculations, a total of 14 vibration dampers are installed as a foundation between the foundation and the outdoor data center container.
The outdoor data center includes:
- Modular UPS with additional battery cabinets and internal and external bypass from APC.
- NOVEC-1230 extinguishing system incl. two early fire detectors as well as monitoring of the airlock and the existing building by Kidde Ventilation and deaeration of the UPS during battery charging by means of fire dampers, which are controlled by the MSR (measurement/control technology), as well as a higher-level control system for personnel access.
- In addition, a degassing system was installed, which can be switched by means of a key switch after extinguishing from the airlock area.
- All controls, regulations and messages are regulated by a MSR system.
- Intrusion alarm system and access control with airlock function
- Electrical power: 50 kW
- Air conditioning power: 50 kW N+1
- All trades according to VDS with expert approval
- Blower door test
Picture: © orpheus26 / #113490876 / stock.adobe.com (standard licence)
