Feature
Implementing hot and cold air containment in existing data centres Discover cost-saving and efficiency benefits
Data centre containment strategies can greatly improve the predictability and efficiency of data centre cooling systems. Most existing data centres are constrained to certain types of containment strategies, however. But adopting either type of air containment approach, whether cold aisle or hot aisle, yields energy savings and other benefits such as higher availability.
The benefi ts of air containment Containment, in general, provides some important benefits for an existing data centre:
> Reliability will be increased by preventing hot spots. Containment can prevent the mixing between hot air and cold air, which can provide a lower uniform IT inlet air temperature for IT equipment to reduce hot spots.
> Rack power density can be increased by eliminating hot air recirculation. After containing and sealing holes to eliminate
hot air recirculation paths, rack power densities can increase without the threat of hot spots.
> Cooling capacity will be increased by increasing the ‘deltaT’ (i.e. the difference in temperature between the cold supply air and the hot return air) across cooling units. Cooling capacity can improve by 20 per cent or more.
> Cooling system energy savings will be increased with the ability to shut down cooling units that become redundant. This is the result of effectively separating hot and cold air streams using an air containment system.
Cold aisle or hot aisle … that is the question! As discussed in full in White Paper #153, ‘Implementing hot and cold air containment in existing data centres’, the Schneider Electric Data Center Science Center offers the following considerations, presented in the chart below.
Containment method Cold air containment
Row-cooled, cold aisle system
Ducted rack
Ducted, hot aisle system
Hot air containment
Row-cooled, hot aisle system
Low-cost option for data centres with existing row-based cooling. Thermally neutral to the existing room-based cooling system; cooling capacity can be shared with other racks within two rows; prepackaged solution can save deployment time
Rack air system Almost immune to the constraints of existing facility; easy to plan for any power density; isolated from the existing cooling
system; attenuates noise
If perimeter cooling units exist; higher upfront CapEx; need to move IT racks to insert row-based cooling units within row. High temperature in hot aisle may create uncomfortable work setting in contained area
If perimeter cooling units exist; highest fi rst cost because more cooling units needed; cooling capacity not shareable with other racks; more fl oor space
For more assistance with determining the best approach, download the complete White Paper #153 at
whitepapers.apc.com 4 | APC Uptime | NGA: 01 4483380-1 | GH: 054 987 9974 |
www.apc.com
In-row cooling units increase cooling capacity of existing CACS environment with perimeter cooling units; prepackaged solution
Easy to deploy for scattered HD racks; doesn’t require a hot aisle / cold aisle arrangement; can be deployed piece by piece to reduce CapEx; offers highest free cooling hours
Creates comfortable work environment in uncontained areas; cooling capacity can be shared with other racks within two rows; offers higher number of free cooling hours
Higher fi rst capital cost; need to move IT racks to insert row-based cooling units within row
May cause pressure imbalance inside of drop ceiling or between nearby racks; increased labour time; longer deployment time for each rack
High temperature in the hot aisle may create uncomfortable work environment in contained area, longer deployment time for each rack
Pros
Cold air system Easy and cost effective for raised fl oor applications; fastest deployment time of all containment types
Cons
Fewer of free cooling hours; creates uncomfortable working environment in uncontained areas
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