Airflow Management

[SDeblat]

The Department of Energy cites airflow management as the most effective way to increase energy efficiency and reduce operating costs in data centers.

[KenB]

Welcome to the forums and thanks for your post. Here is a link for those interested in more info: http://www1.eere.energy.gov/femp/program/dc_energy_consumption.html



Ken

[mike2011]

Hi Ken,
I visited this link. Its really nice. Specially that pie chart has really explain the use in a very descriptive manner. Its really nice site.

[cernst]

of the presentations I've seen about data center power consumption, they say cooling can claim 40-50% of total power consumed. So it just makes sense if optimized airflow reduces the effective load on the cooling system...you save power...which is big savings if your power rates are high. KC has low rates, but it still adds up.

[emad]

Yes, colling costs eat away a high percentage of datacenter costs.

That's one of the sole reason why virtualization technology has become so popular, by reducing the number of physical server requirements and thus reducing cooling requirements.

[Nicolas - Modul'Data Center]

Hi emad,

You're right but don't forget that with virtualization you decrease the number of servers but the remaining servers works more and so are hotter than before..

Nicolas
www.modul-data-center.com
www.ipenergy.fr

[bell]

yes but virtualization just ensures that an equipment is used to its max capacity instead of idling when not in use. note that you are not overloading the system.u are just using it more effectively. so the whole "virtualization produces more heat" issue might just be debatable

[sweetgreen]

it's true. effective airflow management reduces or even completely eliminates the need for excessive bypass airflow to address hot spot problems and it even addresses recirculation problem. but if you are focusing on containment in hot and cold aisles, u shud take care to address pressure difference issues that may arise in the hot and cold aisles.