Toronto – Dec. 12, 2011 – Trane, a leading global provider of indoor comfort systems and services and a brand of Ingersoll Rand, today announced the launch of TracerTM XT, a platform based on GE software technology that improves the performance and efficiency of data centers.
Tracer XT was developed in response to data center customer requests for more ways to reduce energy consumption, improve building operations and optimize system management.
Energy reduction is more important than ever. The world's data centers are expected to consume 19 percent more energy in the next 12 months than they have in the past year, according to results of a global industry census conducted by DatacenterDynamics.
Tracer XT combines Trane industry-leading Tracer building controls and heating, ventilation air conditioning (HVAC) domain expertise with GE Intelligent Platforms' Proficy® Software platform for visualization, advanced analysis and modeling, remote monitoring and diagnostics. This solution also uses Proficy Process Systems for integrated software and high-availability control systems applications for industrial and redundant-control requirements.
Tracer XT is the first solution that Ingersoll Rand and GE are introducing as part of a cooperative agreement to develop intelligent offerings that combine the world-class industrial solutions of GE and the industry-leading HVAC expertise of Trane. Tracer XT is based on the Proficy Software platform, which is GE ecomagination® qualified for improving overall process efficiency, reducing waste and defects, and reducing energy usage.
Trane and GE Intelligent Platforms will unveil the new Tracer XT application at the DatacenterDynamics trade show, one of the industry's major shows focused on data centers:
Tracer XT Technical Benefits
The Tracer XT software application allows users to improve energy use and uptime, reduce operational costs, optimize lifecycle costs across building systems and increase profitability.
"Leaders of data centers and other critical indoor environments need fast, integrated information to most effectively manage their facilities,” said Joel Lehman, global portfolio manager, system controls for Trane. "By collecting real-time data and providing actionable information at incredible speeds, Tracer XT integrates with existing Tracer controls to allow for faster decision making about management of data center functions, including critical systems.”
Tracer XT enables data-driven decision making at all levels of an organization to improve building efficiency and to reduce energy consumption. Itprovides data and analytics that allow users to manage energy wisely and to optimize indoor environmental conditions for enhanced business results.
Tracer XT uses proven standards-based supervisory control and data acquisition (SCADA) technology and industrial language to integrate real-time data from applications including security, fire, safety, heating, ventilation and air conditioning (HVAC), and power distribution and monitoring. The platform can use more than 100 common communications protocols to achieve this.
The application includes a high-speed, time-stamped database to allow for rapid data collection, recording more than 200,000 events per second. The capabilities of Tracer XT also enable a high level of availability by combining redundant equipment, controls and workstation strategies.
Tracer XT also provides a powerful approach that integrates data from stand-alone systems into a single high speed database to deliver the key information users need, in the way they want to see it. It supports precision and process-oriented cooling by delivering system analytics that allow users to manage energy use and cooling requirements to optimize facility performance.
Tracer XT provides usable information – both global and granular views – with easy-to-read, graphical, customizable dashboards tailored to specific functions such as information technology (IT), facilities management and production management. Web-based, open and scalable, the platform can be accessed remotely over the Internet, enabling low-cost integration and simple expansion as a business grows.
GE and Trane have worked together on a solution for GE’s Ohio-based data center which features 29,000 square feet of raised floor – equivalent to six professional basketball courts – and includes more than 3,800 IT systems. The data center consumes 24 million kilowatt hours of power each year. To help with the reduction of water and energy, GE updated the data center with nearly 30 products from nine different GE businesses including power quality, chilled water, electrical, security and IT services equipment, coupled with Trane integrated systems with equipment and controls. This solution resulted in reducing annual energy consumption in the data center by more than 11 percent and water usage by 20 percent.
"With the spotlight on data center power consumption, GE’s goal is to optimize operational efficiency and reduce power consumption across our entire data center portfolio," said Steve Doublett, principal technologist, Data Center Technologies, GE Corporate Global Infrastructure Services. "Supervisory control and data acquisition systems can monitor, control and optimize the variety of critical systems present in an enterprise-class data center. These are keys to meeting our data center goals of efficiency, reliability and availability, which is demanded by our business."
For more information: www.ge-ip.com/datacenters and www.trane.com/datacenters.
About GE
GE (NYSE: GE) works on things that matter. The best people and the best technologies taking on the toughest challenges. Finding solutions in energy, health and home, transportation and finance. Building, powering, moving and curing the world. Not just imagining. Doing. GE works. For more information, visit the company's website at www.ge.com.
About Ingersoll Rand
Ingersoll Rand (NYSE:IR) is a world leader in creating and sustaining safe, comfortable and efficient environments in commercial, residential and industrial markets. Our people and our family of brands -- including Club Car®, Ingersoll Rand®, Schlage®, Thermo King® and Trane® — work together to enhance the quality and comfort of air in homes and buildings, transport and protect food and perishables, secure homes and commercial properties, and increase industrial productivity and efficiency. We are a $14 billion global business committed to sustainable business practices within our company and for our customers. For more information, visit www.ingersollrand.com.
Proficy is a registered trademark of GE Intelligent Platforms. All other trademarks are the property of their respective owners. Trane and Tracer are trademarks of Ingersoll Rand.
Media Contacts:
Perri Richman/Joan Schimml
Ingersoll Rand
+1 732-652-6943/+1 651-260-4983
prichman@trane.com/joan.schimml@irco.com