Introduction
Data center managers have two primary goals: to meet scalability requirements and to minimize operating costs. Both of these goals are directly affected by thermal management, which in turn is related to airflow management. In many cases, data center managers believe that adding more cooling will solve overheating problems. Even when cooling is set at the peak of its capacity, this is usually not a viable solution: while it helps cool the data center, it can also lead to a spike in electricity bills.
A simpler and more effective approach is data center airflow management. The easier it is for air to move through the equipment in the data center, the more it can dissipate as much of the equipment's heat as possible.
Reducing Air Leaks
Ensuring a sealed space is crucial. In simpler terms, it's like making sure there are no holes or gaps where the air can escape, just like when you want a room to stay cool with an air conditioner in the summer.If there are leaks around cable cutouts, it can cause the air to bypass and mix cold and hot air, which can make the cooling system less efficient. It's crucial to find and fix these leaks, even if some are unavoidable, to improve how well the air flows. This is a key step in making sure that the cooling system works as effectively as possible.
Focusing Cool Air
Unlike cooling homes for consistent comfort, data center cooling requires a more precise approach tailored to the specific equipment. Instead of uniformly distributing cold air throughout the entire data center or directing it vaguely towards servers and heat-producing devices, it is essential to direct the cold air specifically to the targeted equipment that needs cooling.
Arranging Server Racks and Cabinets in Hot/Cold Aisle
Racks and cabinets should be positioned so that the front of one row faces the front of the next row. This creates a cold aisle. The next aisle will be hot-the back of one row will face the back of the next row.This configuration directs the maximum amount of cold air to the aisles behind server cabinets, making the most of the air. Forward aisles receive less air as they dissipate less heat.
Placing Server Racks and Cabinets Properly
When installing equipment, ensure the intake ports face the front of the cabinet. For devices with lateral airflow, use rack-mounted side-to-side air distribution units to move cold air from the front to the intake ports on the side of the equipment. Proper cable management should prevent hindrance to airflow. Ventilated doors can further facilitate airflow, and fans can be added to increase air circulation.
Implementing Aisle Seals
Just having equipment is not enough. Without extending racks and cabinets to the ceiling, hot air can pass over the top of rows, mixing with cold air from the next aisle. Aisle seal systems create a physical barrier, ensuring all air passes through servers, preventing it from entering the blank space above. Essentially, it boxes cold air in the cold aisle, allowing hot air to rise to the exhaust ports, either venting outdoors or into the ceiling ventilation system. Aisle seals can improve cooling efficiency by up to 30%.
Conclusion
By following airflow management practices, constantly adjusting and recording data, you can optimize airflow in your data center and thus reduce energy consumption. Be sure to keep track of what works and what doesn't work for your organization on a regular basis, as this information will cause any possible changes.