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Thermal Management & Planning Cooling /Air flow in the Data Center
THERMAL EQUILIBRIUM
Thermal & Vapour Barrier
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THERMAL EQUILIBRIUM
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LETS BIFURCATE THE PROBLEM Low & medium density cooling Focus on Air flow management
High density cooling Focus on using chilled water as the medium of cooling
CURRENT SITUATION
This typically requires a lower air handler temperature set point and/or additional air handlers to keep the equipment cool, which requires increasing the energy consumption being used.
Now that the room is balanced with cold air, the air handlers set points can be raised to save on energy costs. In some cases, air handlers can even be shut off or removed.
STEP ONE
Before
A Below-Floor CFD Analysis Includes Before and After: CFM Readings Cable Cutout Leakage Lowest/Highest Flowing Tiles Velocity/Vector/Pressure Readings Deliverable
After
Below-Floor CFDs show us how the air flows from the Computer Room Air Conditioner (CRAC) through the subfloor plenum up into the ambient room.
STEP TWO
Air Balancers
By balancing the subfloor pressure, we manage it and can properly deliver air to the heat load. Air balancers are strategically placed, using our intellectual properties, to enhance and balance static pressure
RESULTS FROM INSTALLED Air Balancers Every perforated tile within the data center will produce a significantly higher plume of air. Each perforated tile will provide greater cooling. Helps eliminate hot spots Increased air stratification
STEP THREE
Air Plumes Before FlowLogix
Between 100 600 CFM is leaked through a cable cutout opening; this causes loss of CFM and a decrease in static pressure The mixing of hot and cold air increases energy consumption.
STEP FOUR
Increase Return Air Temperature A 30 ton nominal, down-flow, chilled water Air Handler might have a sensible capacity of 27 tons when operated at 22C but only 23 tons when operated at 20C. Eighteen percent more capacity at the higher operating temperature! From a cost viewpoint, it might be possible to eliminate one in five Air Handlers.
Short-cycling airflow Uneven plumes of air from perf tiles Bypass airflow
Short-cycling eliminated
RESULTS
Based on CFD analysis and corrective action thereof
Average reduction in data center energy costs ranging from 23% - 42% Drops of cold aisle temperature ranging from 3 11 degrees Elimination of hot spots Increased static pressure in the subfloor Moving 95% +/- of available conditioned air delivered to the heat load
BYPASS AIRFLOW
A comprehensive study performed by Upsite Technologies Inc. concluded that 60% of the air supplied in traditional data centers is wasted due to bypass airflow Significant efficiencies and cost savings can be realized by eliminating bypass airflow.
RECIRCULATION
Hot air exhaust circulating back into its own intake can cause device thermal overload. Typical manufacturer inlet temperature threshold for device operations is 35C. Exceeding manufacturers operating device threshold can lead to unplanned computing system outages and data loss.
TEMPERATURE STRATIFICATION
Significant gradient of air temperatures beyond ASHRAE TC9.9 places devices at risk of thermal overload Maintaining inlet temperature gradients within the ASHRAE recommended range significantly saves energy
TEMPERATURE BOUNDARIES
ASHRAE Technical Committee 9.9 has provided a standard as a statement of reliability Manufacturers specification is an allowable range within which the products can run effectively
Manufacturer Specification
(64.4 - 80.6)F
(50 - 95)F
HCS is a scalable, flexible and proven design that can be adapted to existing infrastructures as capacity demands increase - No stranded supplemental cooling assets
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ARCHITECTURAL VIEW
Warm return air Warm return air
Yields a savings greater than 30% reduction in the energy consumed in a typical legacy datacenter CRAC cooling system
Enclosure without Blanking Panel and common outlet for Hot and Cold Air through Top Mounted Fan
IN SUMMARY
Focus on air flow for addressing thermal issues in DC Follow air containment options for enhancing performance of existing & upcoming DC Thermal planning using Computational Fluid Dynamics (CFD) & deploy corrective actions and do a periodic audit Energy saving proposition
~65oF ~45oF
50
IN SUMMARY
For higher density racks use chilled water cooling solution
IN SUMMARY
What is measured is managed Monitor environment parameters for corrective action & resource optimization
CONCLUSION
Proper Air flow management below and above false floor for effective cooling & hence optimization of energy & resources for low & medium density DCs Plan thermal management through audit & simulation using CFD techniques Use Chilled water based system for high density cooling requirement in DCs Monitor environment parameters for corrective action & resource optimization