We all know how noisy some traditional industries are, such as mining, manufacturing, and construction. However, many modern ones are also incredibly loud. One that people may find surprising is data centres. You might think that from the electronics you use at home and work that it’ll be relatively quiet, but that’s not the case with massive server farms. We want to have a closer look here to see what causes all of this sound. Then, if you need advice about industrial silencers, you can trust the experts at Ventx.
The major problem
Most of the noise issues with data centres all lead back to a key factor; it is vital to keep them cool. Electrical equipment can get incredibly hot, especially when it has to work extremely hard. It is worse when you have a large volume of electronics densely packed in a relatively small space.
Cooling is absolutely vital for data centres for a number of reasons. Most importantly, overheating can damage equipment and reduce its lifespan. This can be incredibly expensive. On top of that, if electronics overheat, they can go offline and interrupt key services like online banking, cloud storage, and AI. This can lead to data loss and huge disruptions. Plus, there is also a risk of fires if there are no measures to address the heat.
Noise sources
Data centres tend to utilise a number of different pieces of kit for cooling. However, each of them can generate significant amounts of noise. If you combine them all, the sound can reach dangerous levels inside and outside the buildings. This may mean solutions like industrial silencers, noise barriers, and acoustic panels are necessary.
One of the main noise culprits is air handling units. You usually find rows of them on the roof of a data centre to release hot air and draw in fresh cooler air from outside. They are vital for preventing overheating and getting rid of contaminants that could damage the electrical equipment, including dust and moisture.
Another major noise source is chillers. Again their job is to release hot air from within the buildings. The biggest issues here are with air cooled chillers because, like AHUs, they vent hot air out of the property. They rely on fans and compressors, two pieces of equipment that can generate a lot of sound.
Several types of cooling systems in data centres use water to prevent overheating. It’s an effective option because it can absorb a surprising amount of heat. However, it often leads to the need for cooling towers to vent steam. The venting can generate a lot of noise, so it is important to look at solutions like industrial silencers.
While the three sources above largely generate noise outside the data centres, it can be equally loud inside them. The key factor here is the electrical equipment will have fans to help keep components cool. When you’ve got thousands of them in a building, the sound can be unbearable.
Finally, there can be significant noise if there are problems with the mains power supply to data centres. The majority will have some kind of backup power system to minimise downtime. Generators can be very loud though, especially if they are diesel powered.
Talk to us about designing industrial silencers
Ventx is one of the UK’s top industrial noise control specialists. We can deliver fantastic products for clients, focusing on reducing noise without an impact on performance. This is vital for things like cooling and venting processes because you need to ensure they still release heat and draw in air as efficiently as possible.
So, if you have problems with noise and want to see how effective industrial silencers can be, speak to us. We can design and manufacture them for all kinds of facilities.
