DATA CENTRE COOLING
Keeping data centres cool
Climate regulation is vital to the running of a reliable server and storage system. Andie Chessun, HygroMatik’s national sales manager and FETA’s Humidity Group chairman, advises on the issues surrounding the building and operating of data centres and discusses the importance of climate control.
T
o meet the rising demand for data processing and storage capacity, big companies are investing in facilities to deliver web-based services to an increasing number of users. At these facilities the provision of the correct indoor temperature conditions and air humidity is imperative for maintaining equipment and operations.
Getting heated
The equipment in data centres produce signifi cant amounts of heat which get released into the room. Irrespective of the size of the facility, cooling is a major worry for most data centre operators. The concern is two-fold; one in terms of stopping the equipment from overheating and secondly in regards to controlling the signifi cant amount of energy needed to accomplish this. When we consider worldwide data centre power consumption is estimated to account for 2-3% of the earth’s total electricity usage, the need for energy saving solutions becomes apparent.
An ambient temperature of 18-21°C and a relative humidity of over 45% is needed for most servers and storage systems to operate reliably. Air conditioning is absolutely essential to achieve this. Traditionally, Computer Room Air Conditioners and Close Control Units have been the most widely used solutions to cool and humidify data centres. However, continuous technological developments and a focus on energy saving has seen things change. Nowadays, adiabatic humidifi cation systems are generally favoured as the easiest and most cost-effi cient way of regulating humidity and room temperature for data centre needs.
Adiabatic systems improve equipment effi ciency by leveraging water evaporation to reduce the temperature of the air. The availability of high and low pressurised water systems create a humidifying mist whereby the fi ne atomisation of water droplets produce a cooling eff ect. A simple adjustment to the airfl ow of the cooler controls the temperature.
The systems greatly reduce energy demands as they do not require an external or dedicated energy source to convert water into vapour for humidifi cation. Data centres are provided with the most energy effi cient air conditioning solution which in turn reduce running costs and off er the least environmental impact.
Beating the electrostatic discharges
The relative humidity of air decreases as a room heats up which means it can fall below the desired level. If the air is too dry, the risk of static electricity is increased which means the provision of suffi cient air humidifi cation in the server rooms is necessary to counter the development of electrostatic discharges.
38 November 2019
www.acr-news.com
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