Data Center Design and Airflow Management (Insight into Increasing Performance and Efficiency)

Abstract

The formation of hot spots in data centers is usually caused by the inability to properly distribute the airflow and not for the lack of capacity by the cooling system. Airflow management is essential to reduce the energy consumption of a data center. Designing an efficient facility requires the development of an appropriate configuration that will provide the best possible techniques for air management. This can be accomplished by designing the right air conditioning infrastructure, developing a strategic layout arrangement, and controlling the rack density. Guidelines were developed to help achieve a maximum return temperature and a larger ∆T that can increase the effectiveness of the cooling unit’s heat exchangers, lowering operational costs. Eliminating the mixture of hot and cold air represents a viable option for reducing the PUE of the data center, as well as increasing the lifespan of the IT equipment. Key Terms - Air Management, Containment, High Density, Targeted.