Year 1
| Title | Credits |
|---|---|
| Mathematics | 5 credits |
| Instrumentation and control * | 10 credits |
| Cooling equipment * | 8 credits |
| Quality process | 5 credits |
| Maintenance and security | 4 credits |
| Total | 32 credits |
Year 2
| Title | Credits |
|---|---|
| Water treatment * | 4 credits |
| Energy efficiency and renewable or sustainable energy | 6 credits |
| Electrical distribution * | 10 credits |
| Advanced control* | 6 credits |
| Integrated project | 8 credits |
| Total | 34 credits |
Duration: 1 or 2 years depending on your background.
* For those modules, there are laboratories at the HELHa College in Belgium (one week/year)
You can download our DC Brochure here 
Mathematics
The math course aims at giving the students the tools they need to follow other courses and improving their analytical skills. The content is focused on analyzing functions, understanding basic principles about differential equations, and having an overview of some statistical notions.
The methodology is to have an almost self contained website, with videos, syllabus and training exercises with some online live sessions to introduce some of the difficult points and have opportunities to answer students questions.
Skills
- Computing and/or estimating a result, based on the content of the course.
- Giving the meaning of this result and having the ability to argue if it is relevant or not.
- Acquiring high rigor and precision using appropriate notations demonstrating a logical approach.
Objectives
To acquire mathematical tools for other courses and work on the basic concepts necessary to understand various applications
Content
- Prerequisites
- Algebra and geometry, complex numbers
- Functions and curve sketching (derivatives, integrals…)
- Differential equations and Laplace Transform
- Two variables functions
- Statistics
Methodology
- Live sessions / Q&R sessions
- Interactive content: videos, applets, cross-references
- Tests and training with dynamic feedback
- Final exam
Teachers
- Jean-Baptiste Coulaud
- Mathematical Engineer, PhD
- Cristobald de Kerchove
- Mathematical Engineer, PhD
Instrumentation and control
The Control lecture will see different technical approches about these topics : basics about electricity, sensors and actuators, PID control, PLC Programming, HMI, SFC, Fieldbuses (RS232, Modbus RTU and TCP, Profibus and Profinet).
These topics will be seen in theory, exercices and lab. All this is seen with the troubleshooting point of view.
Skills
- Understand the basics of electricity, instrumentation, control and PLC.
- Be able to troubleshoot an instrumentation, control and SFC system linked with the PLC and HMI.
Objectives
This module aims to introduce the instrumentation and control principles in a troubleshooting point of view. The goal is here to aware the students in: electrical, sensors and PLC’s contents, linked with data centers.
Content
- Introduction to electrical principles : Symbols, electrical quantities, resistors, capacitances, inductors, diodes, transistors
- Instrumentation : Temperature, pressure, flow and level sensors, main characteristics and measurement chain
- Control : Introduction to system identification, open and closed loop systems, controllers (P, PI and PID)
- SFC : Introduction to sequential logic
- PLC and HMI : PLC and HMI theory and programming
Methodology
- Lectures : Illustrated theory
- Exercises : Online exercises linked with the theory
- Labs* : Practice about instrumentation, PLC and HMI programming and SFC.
*take place at the HELHa college in Belgium
Teachers
- Maxim Dumortier
- Electromechanical engineer
Cooling equipment
The module covers the energetic concepts required to deal with the thermal equipment found in datacenter for cooling requirements and heat recovery. Fundamental topics as the basic concepts of heat transfer (conduction, convection, radiation), the thermodynamic principles and the properties of fluids (air and vapor) are followed by their application to heat exchangers and thermodynamic cycles together with an overview of the cooling technologies and the HVAC in datacenter.
The theoretical lectures are illustrated by practical exercises and will be applied during the thermodynamic experiments.
Skills
- Understand the basic concepts of thermodynamic and heat transfer
- Relate them to the operation of the cooling equipment in data center
- Detect and identify the main troubles from the operating parameters
- See the cooling system as a whole
Objectives
Provide extensive knowledge on the cooling of data center, from each separate equipment performances towards a global vision of the cooling system operation.
Content
- Thermodynamic and heat transfer : 1st and 2nd principles, thermodynamic cycles, heat transfer modes, properties of cooling fluids and moist air
- Cooling equipment : Heat exchanger, vapor compression refrigeration cycle, cooling towers, dry cooler
- Cooling strategies in data center : Possible combinations of the cooling equipment, standard guidelines
- Overview of energy savings technologies : Free air cooling, liquid cooling
Methodology
- Lectures : Theory with illustrations and application exercises, question and answer during live sessions
- Labs* : Handling of cooling equipment to understand a data-sheet, link the input and output parameters and deal with common troubles: plate heat exchanger, vapor compression refrigeration cycle, cooling tower. *take place at the HELHa college in Belgium
Teachers
- Delphine Lupant
- Mechanical engineer, PhD
- Adrien Pourbaix
- Master industrial engineer
Water treatment
The module covers the use of water in cooling process, the water characterisation (physical, chemical and microbiological parameters), the water treatment andb laboratories about the determination of Langelier saturation index and Ryznar stability index.
Skills
- Understand the principles of the operation of water treatment technologies and water chemistry that are core to the field of data centers facilities engineering.
- Exercise independent technical judgement in the analysis of data and implement of engineering solutions.
- Identify, review and select techniques, procedures and methods in the area of cooling technologies and water treatment in data centers.
Objectives
Students of this course will develop a broad understanding of the water characterisation , specially in cooling process.
Content
- The control phase : Introduction to Statistical Process Control, Control Plan
- Use of water in Datacenters
- Water Characterisation (physicals, chemicals, microbiological parameters)
- Corrosion
- Water Treatment
- Study Case
Methodology
- Lectures : Illustrated theory
- Labs* : Determination of Langelier saturation index and Ryznar stability index.
*take place at the HELHa college in Belgium
Teacher
- Sébastien Sclamender
- Master in Chemical Engineering
Quality process
The module covers the development of fundamental quality systems that provide for continuous improvement, emphasizing defect prevention and the reduction of variation and waste in a process. Based on the Lean principles, process management and Six Sigma, the learners will understand the tools and techniques to improve the efficiency of their processes.
They will seek to improve the quality of process outputs by identifying and removing the causes of defects (errors) and minimising variability in business processes.
Through practical examples and exercices, they will becomes proficient in the use of basic problem solving techniques used to monitor and control process. At the end, they will be able to use a set of quality management methods, including statistical methods, and creates a special infrastructure of people within the organisation who are experts in these methods. The module is also designed to meet the requirements of the Six Sigma Yellow Belt Award.
Skills
- Become key stakeholder in implementing Six Sigma and Lean projects in an organisation,
- Describe improvement project,
- Identify possible improvement actions, use several tools such as FMEA, Quality Function Deployment (QFD), etc.
Objectives
Students of this course will develop a broad understanding of Lean and /Six Sigma principles. They will be able to discuss the basics of Six Sigma and why organisation use it, to define and describe Lean basics concepts and tools and to implement Lean and/or Six Sigma initiatives.
Content
- Overview of Six Sigma and organisational Goal : Description of Six Sigma Organisational Goals ; explain Lean principles organisation, explain design for Six Sigma (DFSS)
- The Define phase : Project identification, Voice of customer (VOC),Project Management basics, Management and planning tools, Business Result for projects, Team dynamics and performance
- The Measure phase : Process analysis and documentation, inroduction to probability and statistics, collecting and summarising data, measurement system analysis
- The Improve phase : Design of experiment, Roots cause analysis
- The control phase : Introduction to Statistical Process Control, Control Plan
Methodology
- Student will receive theoretical bases and will work on practical case. They will be submitted to Quiz’s and assignment submissions during each steps.
Teacher
- Karl Colin
- Master in Chemical Engineering
- Master in Applied Economics
Energy efficiency and renewable or sustainable energy
The objectives are to measure the energy consumption, the energy cost and the energy efficiency of a data center and to understand and analyze renewable energy types to reduce a data center’s environmental impact.
Skills
- Know the key measurements to quantify the energy efficiency of equipment and processes
- Understand how to calculate the PUE in accordance with the European code of conduct and standards
- Become familiar with the tools and methodology for the DCIM with a focus on energy
- Have an overview of the current trends in terms of energy recovery methods and how to introduce sustainable energy in data center
Objectives
Understand and analyze renewable energy types in order to reduce the data center environmental impact.
Content
- Energy Audit : Introduction to the continuous improvement process. Measurements (meters and sensors) and analysis to assess the energy efficiency.
- Power Usage Effectiveness : Definition, calculation guidelines in the context of the European Standards and interpretation.
- Data Center Infrastructure Management (DCIM) : Scada system for the follow-up and the control of key parameters. Use of dashboard to monitor the performance indicators.
- Energy recovery and sustainable energy : Waste heat recovery, focus on power generation from photovoltaic solar panels.
Methodology
- Lectures : Principles illustrated with practical examples
Teacher
- Valérie Seront
- Electrical engineer
Electrical Distribution
Analysis of the Low Voltage electrical distribution quality. Skills development in UPS, LV generators and servers wiring. Study of the High Voltage networks basics and operating on HV cells in complete safety.
Skills
- To be able to assess to quality of a power grid;
- To predict UPS maintenance;
- To wire servers and to safely handle HV cells.
Objectives
This module aims to make electricians able to improve the quality and the reliability of a LV electrical networks, and to safely operate on HV cells.
Content
- Reminders about Electrical concepts : Electrical production abstract, power plant alternator, AC electricity, single and three phases systems, power grid, transformers, loads, TT-TN-IT networks, schemes, symbols, safety and functional purposes, choice of earthing system.
- Power quality problem : Power grid quality issues, causes and consequences, troubleshooting and solutions.
- Harmonic management, UPS, LV Generator Sources of harmonics and harmonic content, consequences, harmonic mitigation, switch mode power supply, LV generator and industrial applications.
- High Voltage: Symbols, earthing systems, supplier-customer equipment, RM6/SM6 cells and technology, loops and antennas, schemes, maintenance procedures.
- Servers wiring : Norms and principles.
- + 1 day of laboratories: Power factor and harmonics measurement & Operation on transformers and HV cells.
Methodology
- Lectures : theory based on power quality, harmonic management, ups, LV generator, servers wiring and HV basics.
- Exercises : online exercises linked with the theory and based on zero fail over time facilities.
- Labs* : Power factor and harmonic analysis, HV cells operations
*take place at the HELHa college in Belgium
Teachers
- Xavier Donnet
- Electrical engineer
- Loick Myster
- Electromechanical engineer
Security and maintenance
The module covers the maintenance as well as the risk assessment for everything contained in a data center and the means to protect them: protection against fire and floods, protection against electrical hazards
In addition, this module will show the different types of data centers that exists as well as the security protocols that relate to them.
Skills
- Know and understand the different kinds of risks in a data center.
- Being able to differentiate data centers (Tiers and Classes).
- Know and understand the different access protocols and security procedures.
Objectives
The safety course is about obtaining general knowledge of the various fields covered by the prevention of occupational accidents and fires. It also covers the different kind of data centers with access control, physical electrical protection, security protocols and procedures.
Content
- Maintenance: introduction, TPM & RCM
- Types of maintenance: Corrective, Preventive & Predictive maintenance
- Predictive maintenance: Vibration monitoring, Thermography & Process Parameters
- Failure Analysis: BOM, FME(C)A & Task List
- Data Center Tiers & Classes
- Fire Protection: Fire Types and Classes, Smoke and Heat Detection, Aspiration Detection and Sensing, Sprinkler Systems, Gas Suppression Systems, Fire Prevention Technology
- Flooding protection
- Physical electrical protection
- Data Center Safety
- Physical Infrastructure Security
- Access Control
- Security Protocols & Procedures
Methodology
- Lectures: Theory with illustrations and application exercises.
Teachers
- Mairesse Andrew
- Master industrial engineer and prevention adviser
Advanced control
This module aims to introduce the control and supervision principles in a troubleshooting point of view.
Skills
- Having basic knowledge about fieldbuses and being able to commission and troubleshoot a device
- Having basic knowledge about SCADA and be able to modify a SCADA system
Objectives
The goal is here to aware the students in: fieldbuses and SCADA linked with data centers.
Content
- Networks : General theory around networks
- Fieldbuses : RS232, MODBUS RTU, PROFIBUS, MODBUS, TCP, PROFINET
- SCADA : Introduction to SCADA
Methodology
- Lectures : Illustrated online theory. Videos
- Formative exercices : Online exercises linked with the theory
- Labs* : Practice about RS232, MODBUS RTU/TCP and SCADA*take place at the HELHa college in Belgium
Teacher
- Julien Vachaudez
- Telecom and Multimedia engineer
- Maxim Dumortier
- Electromechanical engineer
Integrated project
The objective is to apply all the concepts presented in the training through the analysis and implementation of an industrial case.
Content:
- Management of a data center project
- Simulation of a data center
- Reporting documents of a project
- Urbanization of a data center room
Teacher
- Dimitry Dhuyvetter
- Data Center Engineer IPS
- Valérie Seront
- Electrical engineer
FAQ
Q1. Are the courses exclusively online? What is the general organization of the master courses?
Classes are online. A lab week is organized in Mons (Belgium) once a year.
Q2. What is the typical workload for an online course?
As for traditional classes, it varies from one course to another, but don’t expect a course to be easier just because it’s online.
Q3. What does the online master’s degree cost?
The annual college fee is 3,500 euros.
The total cost for the master’s program (2 years) is therefore 7,000 euros.
Under specific conditions you can apply for a scholarship granted by iMasons. More information on https://imasons.org/scholarships/
Q4. Is accommodation for lab week included in the course fee?
No, it isn’t. We are currently developing a partnership with a local hotel, please contact us for more information.
Are included: lunch for the entire lab week and one social evening event.
Q5. What are the entrance requirements for enrolling?
The minimum entry requirements for the master’s program is usually a bachelor’s degree (or its equivalent) in an appropriate field. Application with a lower grade is possible, particularly if you can demonstrate aptitude and enthusiasm for the specific subject of our master’s degree.