Data Center Airflow Management Strategies
Data center cooling is, at its essence, airflow
management. Air handlers supply cold air; servers expel hot
air. Don't allow them to mix and you've positioned your data
center for future success.
It sounds simple in theory. In practice, airflow in the
data center is largely unpredictable and erratic.
The challenge for data center professionals is one of
visibility. On top of your other responsibilities, how do
you proactively measure and manage something you cannot see?
42U is accomplished at airflow management best practices
and strategies including computational fluid dynamics (CFD)
analysis and on-site data center assessments.
Computational Fluid Dynamics
To evaluate airflow dynamics,
computational fluid
dynamics (CFD) software is particularly useful. Data center
operators receive a color-coded map that graphically
displays temperatures throughout the room-cold aisle, hot
aisle, and individual racks. The visual representation
provides actionable data for data center staff to better
manage the airflow within their facilities.
There are some qualifications to CFD analysis. Cooling
equipment doesn't always perform to spec. The data entered
into the software program could miss some key obstructions.
And the model itself could take considerable time to create.
For this reason, some users value onsite monitoring and
adjustments offered through 42U's Data Center Assessments.
Data Center Assessments
Airflow analysis is a hallmark of 42U's data center
assessments.
- A cost-effective, one-day study of your entire data
center.
- Airflow analysis includes: air volume, air velocity,
supply and return temperatures and humidity
- Evaluates air delivery spaces and plenums
RESULT: Based on our one day evaluation, our
analysis will recommend strategies to better manage airflow,
optimize cooling systems, and cut costs.
- A comprehensive, ongoing data center study
- Airflow analysis includes: Real-time thermal maps of
temperature, humidity, and pressure levels throughout
the data center
- Customizable wireless sensors for environmental
trending and ongoing data collection
RESULT: Imagine changing a floor tile and seeing
the impact in real-time. The Real Time Efficiency Benchmark
provides that convenience. Data center professionals receive
immediate feedback and feel empowered to take corrective
action.
Control airflow, Control Costs
One data center's internal study revealed roughly 35% of
the total supply air was lost to bypass airflow, which
escaped through cable cutouts under floormount PDUs. The
data center, before remediation, was forced to supply excess
airflow in order to meet the load. Excess airflow means
excessive costs. And these days, very few companies can
afford to be wasteful.
42U works in concert with clients to measure and, most
importantly, manage airflow. From CFD modeling and real-time
analysis, through product solutions like containment and
liquid cooling, 42U has the application expertise and
solutions experience. Contact us today for a free project
consultation.
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