Long-term field performance of an innovative dew point evaporative cooling system as a low-energy cooling solution for a live edge data centre

Small-scale edge data centres are expanding rapidly. These facilities are typically embedded in existing building services and cooled less efficiently than large purpose-built data centres. This paper presents, to the authors' knowledge, the first full-year field study of an innovative dew point evaporative cooling (DPC) system operating as part of a building-integrated cooling arrangement in a live edge data centre in the UK. The installed system was assessed through performance mapping, full-year operational data, seasonal temperature profiles, hourly analysis, and microbiological monitoring. During normal operation, the DPC system delivered humidity-neutral sensible cooling at a stable and low electricity demand. The monthly average COP reached about 37 during September to November, with an annual mean of about 30. In a hot period in July, the COP fell to about 18 and the supply air became warmer than the return air. This was found to be a system-level effect caused by heat gain in the plant enclosure and the interaction with the auxiliary cooling units, rather than a limit of the heat and mass exchanger itself, which short-term and component tests do not capture. Microbiological monitoring confirmed that the water-side risk was controllable under a bespoke management protocol. The results show that DPC can provide energy efficient base cooling for small edge data centres. The study also separates the site-specific results from the transferable findings and sets out design, control and maintenance considerations for the wider deployment of building-integrated DPC systems.