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A Tool for Simulating Cooling Performance of Data Centers
A critical issue with High Density DCs is the production of high heat loads within a limited floor area.
Building energy codes are causing companies to re-think DC thermal management: (Standard 90.1) requires efficient cooling ;
systems must use airside economizers; includes all commercial buildings DCs
Save Energy Now aims to reduce energy use in U.S. data centers 10% by 2011
Compliance with various standards such as ASHRAE TC9.9 and LEED
Drivers Impacting DC Thermal Management
75% of medium-to-large enterprises are implementing “high density” computing platforms. - this number will approach 100% by 2010 . – IDC
Data centers are experiencing high heat load densities
Pressure to optimize cooling schemas, equipment layout, and HVAC deployment
Effective ventilation and cooling is critical to ensure uninterrupted operation
The environmental conditions are controlled by numerous factors, these include: Layout and open area of perforated tiles Location and characteristics of the cooling units Layout and heat loads of server racks Presence of obstructions Complex air flow and thermal dispersion
Optimizing DC Thermal Management is Complex
The following are some of the techniques for improving thermal management of DCs:
Modify layout and/or open area of the perforated tiles Change locations of cooling units/add new cooling units Include Return ceiling plenum - use of Chimney racks Incorporate hot aisle/cold aisle containment systems
Managers of these facilities are turning to airflow modeling for cooling optimization
Airflow modeling allows engineers to consider several design options in the minimum amount of time – eliminating “best-guess” approach to design.
Strategies for Improved DC Thermal Management
Airflow modeling enables optimization of cooling management of DC: Evaluate several options to determine optimum solution Reduce capital expense and running cost Save time on commissioning Reduce data center TCO
Strategies for Improved DC Thermal Management
TileFlow predicts the temperature distribution and airflow pattern throughout the data center, including the under-floor supply plenum and the space above.
TileFlow can model the most complex DCs.
Introduction to TileFlow
Customized user interface and solution technique
Robust models and algorithms
Unparalleled ease of use
Unmatched solution speed
Thoroughly validated
A two-hour training session is adequate to get started
Distinguishing Features of TileFlow
Attractive displays of airflow and temperature distribution
Animations of air movement and temperature traverses
• Rack temperatures at top of racks from CFD analysis.• In the current layout, many servers inlet temperatures were measured above 90 degrees (with some over 100 degrees). Viridity’s on-site visual inspection of the datacenter confirmed these temperature calculations.
ASHREA recommends for inlet temperatures for servers in category 1 datacenters remain below 98 degrees.
Viridity can extract EnergyCenter polling and modeling information and incorporate the results into a CFD tool.
Using PDU based even distribution of power and consequential heal do not uncover as many potential areas of concern
Using CFD tools like TileFlow with actual consumption information allow you to better predict air flow