Oxford Brookes University

Low-GWP technology helps busy university servers keep cool

Cutting edge R32-based air conditioning technology from Daikin was a no-brainer when a forward-thinking university was refurbishing a 1960s building to rehouse its School of Business and provide a range of modern teaching and study spaces. Daikin’s R32 Split systems ensure year-round temperature control for the vital server rooms that enable staff and students to work online without fear of interruption because of overheating if the network is under load.

Low-GWP technology helps busy university servers keep cool

The Daikin Split systems consist of condensing units mounted on the roof of the four storey building to serve wall-mounted fan coil units with 7.1kW nominal cooling in the communications rooms below, two on each floor and one in the adjoining rebuilt Main Hall. There is also a Daikin R32 Sky Air A-Series system with a 6.8kW Roundflow cassette serving the ground floor café area. All the systems were installed by Manchesterbased Daikin D1 Installers Building Environmental Solutions.

"Companies countrywide are benefiting from our expertise as installers of air conditioning equipment to ensure their server rooms, computer rooms and communication rooms are adequately cooled to protect very expensive and delicate equipment."

Lyndon Wilde, Small Projects and Maintenance Manager at BES

Early adoptors

Gavin Hodgson, Energy and Carbon Reduction Specialist in the Environmental Services Team, says

the university is a keen early-adopter of technology developed for advanced environmental performance and operating efficiency. Daikin was the first manufacturer to off er a full range of R32 Spilt systems up to 14kW in the UK. R32 is a component of the widely used R410A refrigerant, but on its own has a significantly lower global warming potential – 675 against 2088 – making it an ideal choice for the next stage of the move towards low-GWP refrigerants.