Energy efficiency
Data centre contamination, energy wastage and its implications
Contamination, if allowed to accumulate on ICT equipment, can increase its power demand, creating energy wastage and excess CO2
emissions. Data centre
decontamination specialist 8 Solutions recently conducted an independently verified survey to investigate the extent of this problem and the potential for energy savings.
Data centre operators have long known they must prevent contamination reaching their sensitive data processing and communications equipment. Operating experience will quickly reveal how it can cause problems ranging from disagreeable aesthetics to catastrophic equipment failure and data loss if left unchecked. Equipment suppliers are equally as aware, and increasingly refuse to accept warranty claims for equipment damaged by contamination. However, data centres that run decontamination schedules to avoid such scenarios can be pleasantly surprised to find themselves generating profits from the exercise.
This opportunity arises by addressing contamination’s impairment of ICT equipment energy efficiency. And an apparently small change on a single server can significantly impact cost and carbon footprint when scaled to large 24/7/365 data centre operations. Accordingly, decontamination specialists 8 Solutions recently conducted a Power and Energy survey on a live data centre server to investigate the actual potential for saving. The results were given to the
University of Southampton’s Research Institute for Industry for further analysis, extrapolation and comment as well as authentication.
In 8 Solutions’ experience, contamination reduces energy efficiency for a number of related reasons. Dust collecting on electronics circuit boards, even if electrically and chemically inert, can cause heat build- up simply through its thermal insulating properties. Current CPU heatsink designs are also vulnerable, because they typically feature thin, closely spaced metal cooling fins.
These are susceptible to contaminant particle blockage, especially if the contaminant has significant fibre content. Fibres lodge across the fins, building a barrier that captures further particles until airflow can become entirely blocked.
This reduces the heat sink’s cooling efficiency as well as blocking any fan it carries. Restriction of intake and outlet vents can alter an equipment enclosure’s pressure curve, causing greater fan loading or reduced airflow. Energy efficiency is lost and more
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power consumed as the fans work harder to counteract elevated temperatures and overcome increased air flow resistance.
Therefore the survey’s basis was to measure and log the power consumption of the server ‘as found’ for a week, clean the intake fan area thoroughly, repeat the measurements for a second week and compare the results. These recordings showed an immediate small improvement after cleaning; they were then passed to Southampton University for review. The Review’s author, Professor Simon Cox, concluded that the cleaning exercise was highly effective. More in- depth conclusions appear later within this article.
The survey
The survey was conducted using a Dranetz-BMI EP1 0.1% accuracy power and harmonic analyser conforming to IEC61000-4-30, a TR2510A current clamp, a portable computer and breakout cables as required. The Table below shows the survey’s findings. The Comments that follow describe why the results had to be corrected.
Winter 2010
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