NEW DATA CENTER DESIGN BOASTS ‘WORLD’S MOST EFFICIENT COOLING SYSTEM’

October 24, 2012 By

A new kind of data center claiming to employ “the world’s most efficient cooling system” turns the traditionally unbearable “hot aisle” between server racks into a rather pleasant air-conditioned hallway, all the while using significantly less energy.

Integrated energy technology company Inertech and construction partner Skanska held a tour of their new data center design last week at Inertech’s headquarters in Danbury, Conn. During the tour, analysts and members of the media walked through a sample hot aisle, which runs between the rear walls of two rows of 60kW server racks filled with fully operating servers.

Though the temperature inside the server racks reached as high as 105 degrees Fahrenheit, which the tour guides proved by briefly opening the rear side of the rack, the aisle itself felt no different than the air-conditioned room where the companies had hosted lunch minutes earlier.

The impressive part, though, is how this feat was accomplished.

Cooling the air while keeping costs low

Dubbed eOpti-Trax, the system reduces energy usage through air circulation in the server aisles. A traditional method of data center cooling is based on the raised-floor design, through which an under-floor air distribution system pushes cold air up and into the server racks. Forcing cold air upward requires heavy use of fans, which consume high amounts of energy.

The eOpti-Trax cooling system works from the inside out. The rear side of the servers generates the most hot air, hence the name “hot aisle” for the area located behind it. In the eOpti-Trax system, the heat is absorbed in a 1.25-inch cooling coil lining the inside of the rear walls of the server racks. This coil operates without a compressor. The compressor system, which is common in traditional data centers, cools the air through an evaporation method, consuming massive amounts of water in the process.

The result is an air-conditioned hot aisle where data center engineers have long endured unbearable temperatures to access wiring and other equipment. The companies claim that tests have shown air can be cooled from 160 degrees Fahrenheit inside the server rack to 75 degrees in the hot aisle.

From there, the cooling system allows the air to distribute itself naturally throughout the hot aisle, employing just two fans to help draw the cooled air into the front of the server racks, or the “cool aisle.”

The companies claim the system requires just 0.5 watts of energy to cool a 300-watt server, compared to the 90 watts needed to cool the same size server with traditional chiller system. Additionally, eOpti-Trax uses estimated 80% less water than more common cooling systems.

As more companies feel the need to expand data centers, the cost benefits of energy efficiency will become more appealing. The question that remains is whether green technology is enough to persuade potential customers.

Interest is high, but barriers to adoption have been a major roadblock.

Data Center Talk updates its resources everyday. Visit us to know of the latest technology and standards from the data center world.

Please leave your views and comments on DCT Forum

Share on TwitterSubmit to StumbleUpon
Filed Under: Articles, Data Center Cooling, Data Center Design, Data Center Solutions Tagged With: ,

How to Calculate Data Center Cooling Requirements

July 16, 2012 By

Electrical equipments when operated over long hours produce heat, which must be removed to prevent the equipment from getting damaged. Sizing a cooling system requires an understanding of the amount of heat produced by the equipment contained along with the heat produced by the other heat sources.

The total heat output of a system is the sum of the heat outputs of the individual components. The complete system includes the UPS, Power Distribution, Air Conditioning Units, Lighting, and People. Fortunately, the heat output rates of these devices can be easily determined through simple and standardized rules.

The heat output of UPS and Power Distribution systems consists of a fixed loss and a loss proportional to operating power. Heat generated by lighting and people can also be readily estimated using standard values. The only information needed to determine the cooling load for the complete system are a few readily available values, such as the floor area in square feet, and the rated electrical system power.

A quick estimate using simple rules gives results that are within the typical margin of error of the more complicated analysis. The quick estimate also has the advantage that it can be performed by anyone without specialized knowledge or training.

The prior analysis ignores sources of environmental heat such as sunlight through windows and heat conducted in from outside walls. Many small data centers and do not have walls or windows to the outside, so there is no error resulting from this assumption. However, for large data centers with walls or a roof exposed to the outdoors, additional heat enters the data center which must be removed by the air conditioning system.

If the data center room is located within the confines of an air-conditioned facility, the other heat sources may be ignored. If the data center has significant wall or ceiling exposure to the outside, then a HVAC consultant will need to assess the maximum thermal load and it must be added to the thermal requirement of the complete system determined in the previous section.

The determination of cooling requirements for IT systems can be reduced to a simple process that can be done by anyone without special training. Expressing all measures of power and cooling in Watts simplifies the process.

For larger data centers, the cooling requirements alone are typically not sufficient to select an air conditioner. Typically, the effects of other heat sources such as walls and roof, along with recirculation, are significant and must be examined for a particular installation. The design of the air handling duct work or raised floor has a significant effect on the overall system performance, and also greatly affects the uniformity of temperature within the data center. The adoption of simple, standardized and modular air distribution system architecture, combined with the simple heat load estimation method could significantly reduce the engineering requirements for data center design.

 

Data Center Talk updates its resources everyday. Visit us to know of the latest technology and standards from the data center world.

Please leave your views and comments on DCT Forum

Share on TwitterSubmit to StumbleUpon
Filed Under: Data Center Cooling, Data Center Design, Data Center Management Tagged With: , ,

Data Center Cooling: Why is it Crucial?

June 18, 2012 By

Data centers house more than just servers; they house routers that help the servers communicate with each other. They consist of backup systems to ensure business continuity and data security. They also power the servers through many power distributions systems that are also placed within the data center itself. Not to mention the batteries and UPSs in the battery room.

To run a data center is not a child’s play. It is a highly complex system which needs to be in top notch working condition all the time. This is because if the data center fails to perform, you are bound to lose a lot of precious data and in turn, business and money.

Data centers need constant, uninterrupted power supply and air conditioning. Since data centers draw power continuously, they have a tendency to get heated up. Temperature rise in a data center beyond a certain pre-determined threshold can prove to be disastrous for the data center as it could lead to fire hazards and even explosions in some cases. It’s, thus, an important point to note that without the air conditioning, a data center can’t sustain; it is of utmost importance.

The cooling infrastructure of a data center is an organisation on its own. It includes chillers, compressors and air handlers. Together, these create an ideal computing environment and prolong the data center’s lifespan.

The cooling system:

Computer Room Air Conditioners (CRAC) — This is a refrigerant based cooling system, which is installed within the data center and is connected to external condensing units. This circulates air through a fan-system thus delivering cool air to the servers.

Computer Room Air Handler (CRAH) –This is a chiller based cooling system, which is installed on the data center floor and is connected to an external chiller plant. This too follows the fan system for delivering cool air to the servers.

In order to replace water that is lost during cooling of the equipment room, humidifiers are placed within the CRAC/CRAH.

Computer Room Air Conditioners/Air Handlers are a staple of data center design. They provide precise temperature and humidity control in the data centers. By maintaining 24x7x365 operation, CRACs provide recurrent heat exchange. It accepts heat energy generated by the IT equipment, cools it, and returns it back to the equipment.

Each data center has their own version of the cooling system because, at the end of the day, cooling requirements depend upon the nature of the data center. The systems are installed by taking various factors into consideration, such as room layout, installation densities and the location of the data center.

Let’s look at some cooling strategies which can improve the cooling systems of the data centers.

Choose wisely

While selecting server racks, make sure they have space efficient features and have the capacity to increase the packing density. Accessories like perforated doors, blanking panels etc improve the air flow efficiency in the data center.

Be Green

Getting an analysis done on power consumption, airflow types of equipments, efficiency of the servers etc will help you get a better look at your data center options and save up to 30% of your power. This can stabilise the temperature of the data center.

Understand your cooling needs

Using a basic cooling system for a high cluster network doesn’t make sense. Before investing in a cooling system for your data center, do your research and understand the type of cooling that will be suitable for your environment. Deploying liquid cooling units to the high cluster network prove to be efficient. They are temperature neutral and have a modular design. This will ensure uniform, effective cooling.

Monitor the environment around you

Set up devices which will give you constant readings on server room temperature, hot spots and will provide protection to mission critical applications. Doing so will allow the IT manager to respond quickly to any irregularities. These also provide data for the future equipment analysis.

After understanding the necessity of the cooling systems, many industries are now warming up to the improved cooling systems and are working towards improving them with new technologies and making them efficient.

Data Center Talk updates its resources everyday. Visit us to know of the latest technology and standards from the data center world.

Please leave your views and comments on DCT Forum.

Share on TwitterSubmit to StumbleUpon
Filed Under: Data Center Cooling Tagged With: , , , ,

CFD- Assessing Temperature Distribution in Data Centers

June 6, 2012 By

With global warming concerns getting real every passing day, temperature rise is one of the major concerns for the environmentalists. Same for business owners where maintaining a certain temperature is absolutely crucial for the sustenance of the business. Data center managers are one from the lot. They are constantly looking for techniques to maintain ideal temperature conditions of the data centers, even on the comparatively hotter days. Technologies like CFD are being implemented to optimize the data centers and design efficient ones at the same time.

What is CFD?

Computational Fluid Dynamics (CFD) is a technique which is used to model fluid flow using various numerical analysis techniques. The fluid flow is predicted through an iterative process and is based on factors like how the volumes interact with each other to attain a steady state model. Usually CFDs were used in airplane aerodynamic but of late, it has found a strong footing in data center facilities management.

Why CFD in Data Center?

CFD modeling software in data centers helps visualize the temperature distribution throughout the facility with the use of airflow models. Several SaaS solutions also aid in this process. These solutions analyses the data and puts it up in the cloud platform for comparison. What should be kept in mind is that all the solutions chosen should be provided as per the requirement of the data center.

The CFD modeling systems include various parameters like the geometric data of the floor, under- floor impediments, racks, cabinets and also the airflow. These data are complied and entered into the software for analysis. The software effectively creates a model which highlights the airflow within the data center including its temperature and pressure. Once the model is generated, the design of the data center is modified or in case of a new construction project, modeled upon. It is very important that the resultant matches the generated model. Doing so will ensure that there are no stray paths for the air to bypass and that the analysis is accurate.

As with any model, the more accurate the information supplied, the more useful the result. Careful attention to detail in both the modeling and construction of new spaces is necessary to insure that the end result matches the model. Un-sealed support column floor piercings, forgotten cutouts under racks, etc. are all insidious paths for air to bypass and potential sources for puzzling results.CFD is an excellent tool and once the model is generated, analyzing  CRAC failure analysis, potential equipment installations, layout changes, containment, etc. becomes a breeze.

Thing to Remember Before a CFD Analysis

CFD analysis should be done before making any kind of changes in the repent design of the data center. CFD results are dynamic in nature and to be consistently accurate, it needs to be maintained. Hence, whenever a change is put in action to the current design of that data center, the CFD model also should be updated. Updating the model will help the data center manager make appropriate decisions.

Another versatile tool ‘Real time monitoring’ implements the use of sensors to measure temperature, pressure, power and others to generate real time temperature maps of the data center. This tool along with CFD is an unbeatable combination which constantly evaluates the data center’s performance and enhances the efficiency margin considerably. While CFD analysis covers all the potential risks in the future, real time monitoring evaluates the instant changes in the environment, churning out data which would be useful when updating the CFD model.

An important point to consider is that both the analysis tools helps the data center manager narrow down the risk factors and eliminate irrelevant margins from the system. This increases the capacity and efficiency of the data center.

Data Center Talk updates its resources everyday. Visit us to know of the latest technology and standards from the data center world.

Please leave your views and comments on DCT Forum.

Share on TwitterSubmit to StumbleUpon
Filed Under: Articles, Data Center Cooling, Data Center Design, Data Center Management, Data Center Power, Data Center Solutions Tagged With: , ,

Telect’s New C degree Flow Manages Data Center Rack Temperature Effectively

June 4, 2012 By

The industry is raving about an efficient energy management tool aptly called the Telect’s new C degree Flow. This tool is an innovative capital saving solution for managing data center rack temperatures, thereby increasing efficiency.

“The C degree Flow™ strip is a simple solution to the complex problem of data center cooling,” says Paul Knight, Vice President of Product Development. ”We invented the plastic with data center best practices in mind. Not only can inlet temperatures of racks be seen, but temperatures across a rack can be increased by knowing where the cold air is going. Ultimately, increasing hot aisle temperatures results in increased cooling efficiencies and greater equipment capacities.”

This tool enables the technical personnel to easily evaluate the data center temperatures and quickly provide solution in case of inconsistencies.

Stephen Baker, Telect’s Communications and Brand Manager, adds, “The C degree Flow™ strip is indicative of Telect’s mission to simplify networks. The strip is simple to install and simple to use.”

Telect headquarters is located in Liberty Lake, Washington. It connects clients and businesses and provides them with unique copper, enclosures, fiber, power, racks, and services Telect believes in delivering focused and strategic plans to simplify networks and network components giving the clients the best service experience in the industry.

Data Center Talk updates its resources every day. Visit us to know of the latest technology and standards from the data center world.

Please leave your views and comments on DCT Forum

Share on TwitterSubmit to StumbleUpon
Filed Under: Data Center Cooling, Data Center Cooling, Data Center Solutions, Data Center Tools, Featured News, News Tagged With: , ,

Air Economizers Fundamentals

May 24, 2012 By

An air-economizer is ideal for a situation where cooling can be optimized without using an air conditioning system, thereby significantly reducing the energy expenditures from cooling by more than 60 percent. The goal of an air-side economizer is to cool the data center servers by taking advantage of the cool outside air.

This involves a phenomenon of mechanical cooling, depending on the source, which is estimated to consume around 33% – 40% of a facility’s incoming electricity. The outside air is brought into the building at regular intervals and distributed through a set of dampers and fans, to maintain the balance of natural air inside the data center. The servers, intake the cool air, transfer heat, and eject hot air into the room. The hot air generated by the data servers is sent out through an exhaust. If the outside air is cold, the economizer will mix the inlet and exhaust air, ensuring the resulting air cools down to the set temperature, and is recirculated at an optimal temperature for the working conditions.

The air-side economizer is normally integrated into a central air handling system with ducts for intake and exhaust of air. The setup comprises of filters to reduce the amount of infiltrating particulate matter or contaminants into the data center space. Because the data centers must be cooled 24/7, 365 days per year, the economizers even make sense in hot climates, where they can take advantage of cooler evenings or winter air temperatures.

In dry climate conditions, the controls should include redundant outdoor air humidity sensors to stop economization when the absolute humidity is too low. This will prevent unnecessary large, and expensive, humidification loads on very dry cold days.

Using a cold aisle / hot aisle partition-defined arrangement would considerably increase economizer savings, and in some cases creates a de facto heat exhaust which will save energy even when outside air temperatures are greater than 80 F. In case of small data centers located in mixed-use buildings, some energy savings may be brought about by maximizing the utilization of a house, office or support area system that is equipped with an economizer.

Over-specifying the space temperature and humidity tolerance would result in drastic reduction in economization savings, which at all costs should be avoided. Especially with respect to humidity, actual manufacturer requirements must be followed where 40 to 55 percent of the operating region is often found to be conservative.

The key objective of economizers is for all data center air handlers to have access to 100 percent outside air as well as return air. Apart from annual energy cost savings, there are other benefits such as lower run hours on cooling equipment and improved system redundancy. For good performance of air-side economizers, control systems are very important, and they need to be properly maintained. With proper attention to a few key design issues, economization offers even larger saving benefits to data centers.

An outdoor economizing system is best implemented at the starting stage of schematic design, where any essential architectural accommodations can be made at little or no additional cost. While this is typically easiest with a central air handling system, several Computer Room Air Conditioner (CRAC) manufacturers now coming up with economization packages.

Data centers in very temperate climates with no concern regarding space humidity control could use a standard economizer controls, which operates based only on the dry bulb temperature without considering the humidity factor.

However it is far more common that we encounter variations in humidity. We fix a minimum humidity set point in a data center, which is typically the most critical control parameter influencing the savings from economization. In practice, many large data center facilities have a minimum humidity set point of 30 percent RH without causing any harm to the device. The actual requirements of the installed computer equipment should be evaluated by setting the data center humidity control band, and a minimum humidity higher than the equipment’s minimum requirement.

Of course, nothing is perfect. The air-economizer approach for cooling has mostly been looked down upon because of its comparatively weak cooling power provided by the initial prototypes and conceptual systems. The reliability of the servers are under threat when the proper cooling demands are not fully met, and thus a good data center design will take that into account when considering air-economizers. The issues with server failures, the variations with humidity and temperature, and the inferior air quality are a few other drawbacks of air economizers. These can be countered with proper location choices with drier and more temperate climates. However, the availability of these optimal conditions can be hard to locate, because if the location is remote, then the data center cannot be used at an optimal efficiency.

Data Center Talk updates its resources every day. Visit us to know of the latest technology and standards from the data center world.
Please leave your views and comments on DCT Forum

Share on TwitterSubmit to StumbleUpon
Filed Under: Articles, Data Center Cooling, Data Center Management, Data Center Power Tagged With: , ,

How Can a Room Affect Data Center Cooling?

March 14, 2012 By

As data centers are increasingly focusing on lowering their PUE, more and more questions are being raised on how to bring down power consumption in a data center. Since cooling takes up a considerably large percent of the total power supplied to any data center, studies are being undertaken all over the world to churn out the most power-efficient cooling systems.

coolingIn the process, some have even raised questions on the room specifications affecting data center cooling. Some of the frequently asked questions include:  does the height of the room affect cooling? Does a larger room bring down the cooling requirements? Does a circular room demand lesser cooling? How can one even go about determining in advance how much cooling a room needs? These are some of the questions I would like to address in this article.

First things first; no, a larger room does not imply lesser cooling. On the contrary, in a spacious room, heat gets evenly distributed. Admittedly, the hot spots or heat concentration in the room can be reduced if the equipments are more freely disturbed. This is not necessarily a positive point considering that in a large room, there is more air to be cooled. That implies that you need CRACs of higher capacity which will draw in more air and in turn, draw more power to cool the air. Also, the distance the air has to travel in order to get cooled increases in a large room; the fans have to draw more power to deliver heated air to CRAC.

It is often suggested that you arrange your equipments in a more compact setting. Hot spots can be eliminated by passing blasts of cold air to the affected area. Since you are concentrating on specific regions of the computer room that are more prone to temperature rise and not the entire room, you are bringing down the volume of air that has to be cooled to maintain the desired temperature. Thus, you are also cutting down on power for cooling costs.

If you cannot help but have a large computer room, you can try moving all the equipments to one part of the server room and block the rest of the room and remove perforated tiles and neatly close all floor openings from the blocked part of the room.

As far as possible, do try and avoid structures that can block air pathway or change the direction of airflow. In air blast techniques, cool air is concentrated on the hot spots. Any change in the direction of the air destroys the purpose of this technique. If your data center has a lot of obstructing structures, you have to find your way around the obstructions. In such cases, you can strongly consider looking into in-row cooling solutions. Since these units can be placed as close to the hot spot as possible, they are an ideal solution to cluttered environments. Alternatively, you can look into buying air-diffusers and return-air fan products.

High ceilings are usually preferred while considering space for a data center. The minimum floor to ceiling distance is 9 feet. Any addition to that height is always welcome as it gives the data center professional more space on the top to accommodate overhead cabling and also provides a pathway for heated air to the CRAC units. It also maintains enough space between the rack and the overhead sprinklers.

Saying that high ceiling guarantees power-efficient cooling is slightly far-fetched. It also depends on how the rest of the room is laid out. If the hot aisles and cold aisles are properly distanced, and a 36-inch hot aisle and a 48-inch cold aisle is provided, cooling costs can come down drastically. If hot aisles and cold aisles cannot be accommodated in the data center, it is strongly advised to have a high ceiling.

If you ensure that you stop hot air and cold air from mixing with one another, more than half you battle is won. The coolability of the room is always high when the room is rectangular in shape with very few obstructions. So if your designer wants to insert pillars in your data center or make a circular room for aesthetic purposes, you know what to say.

 

Data Center Talk updates its resources everyday. Visit us to know of the latest technology and standards from the data center world.

Please leave your views and comments on DCT Forum.

Share on TwitterSubmit to StumbleUpon
Filed Under: Data Center Cooling, Data Center Design, Data Center Insights Tagged With: , , , ,

Economizers- An Introduction

February 15, 2012 By

Energy costs are becoming more and more expensive by the day. The need for an intelligent, economic design and planning is not only necessary from an environmental point of view; it is also beneficial from the business point of view. It not only helps in reducing the energy costs of the data center, it also extends the life of data center equipments and gives you enough time to plan ahead and adjust the budgets to invest in new equipments when it’s time for an upgrade.

Since ASHRAE has made it mandatory for data centers to use economizers in their cooling systems, there is an increased need to know more about the functioning and the types of economizers and which is more feasible to implement to suit your requirements. Through this article, we would like to address some of the basic questions about economizers.

Economizers provide what is referred to as “free cooling”. That means that they utilise the air from the surrounding when the conditions are favourable. This reduces or sometimes, even eliminates the need for air compression within the air conditioning units. This by itself can cut down cooling costs of a data center by a substantial amount. It is to be noted that the economizers can be used only when the weather is suitable. In areas with high levels of humidity and high temperature, it serves no purpose at all. Not just that, it is also seasonal. Economizers come in handy only during winters, spring and fall.

There are two types of economizers: fluid economizers and air economizers.

Fluid Economizers

Fluid economizers work side by side with an evaporative cooling tower and absorb heat from the room. It is generally used in a chilled water based cooling system. The chilled water is passed through a separate coil and is made to absorb the room heat so that the compressor’s load is reduced. This water then rejects the heat to outside cold air through heat exchange.

Air Economizers

This uses sensors to sense the temperature of the outside air. If it matches the required criteria, then a certain predetermined volume of air is blasted into the CRAC systems that reduces or eliminates the use of condensers. Since the temperature of the outside air is already low, the load to the condenser is drastically reduced. Suitable dampers have to be provided to maintain the pressure within the room. The outside air also needs an outlet; else the pressure is bound to rise.

The disadvantage with air economizers is that directly introducing outside air into the data center can be quite fatal. It might contain dust and humidity level also matters; air must be conditioned before it is passed into data centers. Of course, one can always use humidifiers or dehumidifiers as per the requirement but it reduces the saving achieved by the economizers. With fluid economizers, there is no need for conditioning air since there is no direct contact between data center equipments and the air from outside.

Depending on the location of the data center, one can save almost up to fifty percent of the cooling energy costs with fluid economizers. With an air economizer, one can achieve almost up to sixty percent cost cutting but with the implementation of a humidifier/ dehumidifier, the actual saving is slightly lower.

If one is planning to implement a fluid economizer in their data center, it is important to note that optimal efficiency can be achieved when the temperature is below 48° F and that for air economizer is between 41.9° to 59° F. In case the temperature is below 41.9° F, one will have to make use of humidifiers and if it is above 59° F, dehumidifiers are mandatory.

While installing air economizers, some alterations have to be made to the CRAC systems. The system will need two dampers: one for return air from the room and another for conditioned outside air to enter into the data center. Filters will have to be installed and has to be regularly maintained or replaced. A fan is installed in the system that will direct the airflow to and from the room. The fan also draws some energy as it is subject to pressure for filtering and routing airflow. This also adds to reduction in the cost saving. A stringent control system must be incorporated to check for air contamination, temperature etc. If the conditions are not favourable, the access should be either rectified or totally cut off.

Fluid economizers can be used in any climate where there is scope for heat transfer from the water to outside air, especially if the surrounding is slightly polluted. But the initial costs are slightly higher. If the company is able to afford to be slightly extravagant with the economizer plans, it’s best to adopt this system as the chances of risks is minimised.

Data Center Talk updates its resources everyday. Visit us to know of the latest technology and standards from the data center world.

Please leave your views and comments on DCT Forum.

Share on TwitterSubmit to StumbleUpon
Filed Under: Data Center Cooling, Data Center Solutions Tagged With: , , , ,

Scope for Evaporative Cooling in Data Centers

February 8, 2012 By

Is evaporative cooling a solution? The world has reached a time where there are some major energy shortage scares. Some may be rumours, but most of them very true. There are some critical applications which cannot be accomplished without the use of large amounts of energy. Data Centers are one and cooling them another. Cooling is an integral part of the data center, saving energy here can save carbon credits, a sizable amount on your electricity bill and on the long term a lucrative business. evaporative cooling

Traditional cooling for data centers always have been the HVAC units. Various techniques have been experimented upon over the years to improve the efficiency of the power guzzling HVAC units. Raised floors, load based temperature control and use of air economisers are a few. They have been implemented but haven’t been very successful in providing cooling efficiency. Evaporative cooling has never been a popular choice in precision cooling; an improved form may hold the key to cheap data center cooling

What is Evaporative Cooling?

In a short, evaporative cooling is water based cooling. It uses the evaporation of water as a cooling agent unlike HVAC units which use vapour compression or absorption refrigeration. Conceptually the heat is absorbed by the water which turns to vapour; water has a large enthalpy of evaporation. This is a worthy substitute to refrigeration based cooling, and requires a continuous water source to function effectively.

Geographic Importance

Evaporative cooling works great in climates that have low humidity and high average temperatures, like temperate deserts. Most data centers due to real estate constraints are located in isolated areas of temperate deserts, if there is a reliable source of water available, evaporative cooling is a very attractive cooling option. In the United States, places like Denver, Salt Lake City, Albuquerque, El Paso, Tucson, and Fresno have naturally suitable climates for implementing evaporative cooling systems.

Advantages
  • Very low installation costs, estimated to be half of that of HVAC units.
  • Low cost of operation, almost a fourth of that of HVAC units.
  • Increases air quality by increasing humidity in drier climates.
  • Overcomes air circulation issues due to high volumetric flow rate.
  • As compared to air compressors and blowers, a water pump in an evaporative cooling system consumes less power.
  • Low cost maintenance and expert technicians are not required for maintenance.
Dis-advantages
  • Higher the dew point, lesser the cooling, no controlled dehumidification
  • High air humidity accelerates corrosion, and may also cause condensation, a major drawback when it concerns electronic equipment.
  • Air quality is not suitable for people with respiratory disorders.
  • Require a constant supply of water, not very feasible in dry areas.
  • High mineral content in the water may cause deposits within the evaporative cooler requiring a higher frequency in maintenance.
  • Atmospheric odours cannot be controlled.
  • Corrosion within the evaporative cooler itself may need to be restrained with the help of a sacrificial anode.
Facing Facts

Evaporative cooling is an amazing option to cut cooling costs but not at the cost of sacrificing expensive electronic equipment. If the quality and reliability of electronic equipment is compromised, the very existence of a data center is futile. Traditional evaporative coolers are definitely not a solution but a hybrid solution where there is humidity and air quality control sounds promising. The quest for cost effective cooling does not end here!

For more industry specific information, visit http://www.datacentertalk.com.

Share on TwitterSubmit to StumbleUpon
Filed Under: Articles, Data Center Cooling, Uncategorized Tagged With: , ,

Data Center Cooling Accessory- Blanking Panel

January 30, 2012 By

So you decided to take our advice and revamp your data center to house the best airflow management systems. You got the best company to install hot aisle and cold aisle systems in your data center and you saw instant results. Power for cooling requirements suddenly dropped a great deal.  You are on your way to achieve the lowest possible PUE in your data center. All’s well that ends well? Yeah, I think not.

After a month, you suddenly note that the power used by your cooling equipments in one of the rows is rising again. Not at an alarming rate, but the rise is definitely notable. You inspect all the equipments for leakage and malfunction. But you come up with nothing. You are genuinely baffled. What went wrong?  Then you remember that you removed a server from that row last week. So what? Surely that cannot affect the airflow management system, right?

Wrong. Let me ask you a question. Did you replace the server you removed with another? No? Okay, did you block the empty void? No? Well, problem solved. Here’s what is happening in a nutshell. The void in the rack is providing a pathway for air from the hot aisle and the cold aisle to mix. As a result, the effective temperature of the air rises. Your cooling systems have to work overtime to provide the required cooling and maintain the temperatures in the aisles. Hence you note the rise in power consumption.

blanking panelIf you do not plan to replace the server immediately with another, here is what I suggest you do. Buy a blanking panel and fit it in the rack. A blanking panel acts as a closed window and completely cuts off the airflow pathway. This ensures that the cold aisle is devoid of hot air. They are a wonderful component to have in data centers insisting on energy saving. They even bring down the carbon footprint. They also reduce hotspots and bypass air thus keeping your data center at a cool temperature at all times.

You can take a look at a few blanking panel models that I took the liberty of looking up for you. You might want to try Hotlok blanking panels or Server-Rack-Online blanking panels. Yes, you are welcome.

 

Data Center Talk updates its resources everyday. Visit us to know of the latest technology and standards from the data center world.

Please leave your views and comments on DCT Forum.

Share on TwitterSubmit to StumbleUpon
Filed Under: Data Center Cooling Tagged With: ,
« Older Posts