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CLimate control
Air conditioning is one of the most important topics when constructing or rebuilding a data center. On the one hand, air conditioning is important for data safety since overheating is one of the most frequent reasons of server failure. On the other hand, air conditioning has an enormous influence on the regular operating costs of a data center.
Therefore air conditioning should be carefully planned and adapted optimally to the conditions in the data center.
Nowadays data centers have an enormous power density which would not have been reached some years ago. Air conditioning concepts have changed correspondingly. They became more efficient and powerful. This means, that with a change of server structure, e.g. introduction of Blade-Servers, there should always be a new conceptual design of Air conditioning. With air conditioning concepts of past times, today’s data centers can hardly be cooled economically and fail-proof.
Not only is there an optimal air conditioning solution for all data centers, it is important to adapt the concept to the given factors. In order to do so, a wholistic situative overview is needed. Among other issues, the following points are important:
Size and construction design of the data center Position of the data center with the building or compounds Power density of the data center Investment budget Desired regular operating costs savings or desired cost savings compared to the status Quo Possibility of extension, modularity Desired level of the failure safety
Highest possible energy efficiency and cooling capacity is offered by an air conditioning system, which delivers cold air as close as possible to the heat source, that is the rack or the server, and consequently separates warm air from supplied cold air.
Therefore air conditioning should be carefully planned and adapted optimally to the conditions in the data center.
Nowadays data centers have an enormous power density which would not have been reached some years ago. Air conditioning concepts have changed correspondingly. They became more efficient and powerful. This means, that with a change of server structure, e.g. introduction of Blade-Servers, there should always be a new conceptual design of Air conditioning. With air conditioning concepts of past times, today’s data centers can hardly be cooled economically and fail-proof.
Not only is there an optimal air conditioning solution for all data centers, it is important to adapt the concept to the given factors. In order to do so, a wholistic situative overview is needed. Among other issues, the following points are important:
Highest possible energy efficiency and cooling capacity is offered by an air conditioning system, which delivers cold air as close as possible to the heat source, that is the rack or the server, and consequently separates warm air from supplied cold air.
The most direct form of cooling is the rack based cooling method, which supplies cold air directly into a closed rack and also absorbs in the warm air. High efficiency is also reached by the hot and cold compartmentalization solutions. The compartmentalization of a data center with hot and cold aisle is often combined with in row climatization units which are positioned in line with the servers where cold air is provided into the cold aisle and warm air is absorbed in the hot aisle.
A preliminary stage to this is cooling through raised floors where the warm and cold air, however, are not separated consistently. Cold air is provided by a precision Air conditioning unit and is conducted into the raised floor. It streams everywhere, where ventilation slits are provided. This means, the cold air is streamed specifically to servers, but mixes with warm exit air after the leaving the raised floor. Therefore raised floor air conditioning without compartmentalization is not as efficient as other systems.
The more optimized a system is, the more expensive it is at procurement. In data centers with low power density high efficient solutions are not even needed. A simple room Air conditioning unit which cools with cold air or with special cryogen is mostly sufficient.
In any case it is important to use equipment specially designed for IT-application, keeping both temperature and atmospheric humidity in optimal range and is also fit for uninterruptable use. The Primary requirements of the equipment manufacturer are key to this. Particularly the increase of the equipment’s tolerance of swaying atmospheric humidity permits to try new approaches in energy-saving air conditioning technology. The cooling of data centers onto lower temperatures is not advisable since this leads to unnecessarily high operating costs.
A preliminary stage to this is cooling through raised floors where the warm and cold air, however, are not separated consistently. Cold air is provided by a precision Air conditioning unit and is conducted into the raised floor. It streams everywhere, where ventilation slits are provided. This means, the cold air is streamed specifically to servers, but mixes with warm exit air after the leaving the raised floor. Therefore raised floor air conditioning without compartmentalization is not as efficient as other systems.
The more optimized a system is, the more expensive it is at procurement. In data centers with low power density high efficient solutions are not even needed. A simple room Air conditioning unit which cools with cold air or with special cryogen is mostly sufficient.
In any case it is important to use equipment specially designed for IT-application, keeping both temperature and atmospheric humidity in optimal range and is also fit for uninterruptable use. The Primary requirements of the equipment manufacturer are key to this. Particularly the increase of the equipment’s tolerance of swaying atmospheric humidity permits to try new approaches in energy-saving air conditioning technology. The cooling of data centers onto lower temperatures is not advisable since this leads to unnecessarily high operating costs.
The production of the cold air can be carried out on a technical way, however, for costs and environmental reasons it is worthwhile to consider the use the cool outdoor air. In Germany, at required room temperatures of above 20 degrees centigrade, most times of the year outdoor air can at least be partly used. The most consistent use of outdoor air is carried out at the direct free cooling. To use this cooling system certain conditions have to be met which, which should be considered already at planning stage of a data center.
Concluding, it can be said that air conditioning of a data center is one of the most important factors for the stability and safety of ongoing operations. Therefore it should be planned professionally and arranged individually to ensure optimal safety at lowest possible running cost. In addition, the air conditioning should always match the overall plan and data center construction should be finetuned with desired air conditioning.
We would be pleased to advice you on all topics concerning the air conditioning engineering and introduce you to the different air conditioning solutions. Together we can determine, which solution is optimal for you and tune the cooling concept to your data center. Don’t hestitate to ask us, we’ll take care of IT
innovIT - CARES ABOUT IT
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Concluding, it can be said that air conditioning of a data center is one of the most important factors for the stability and safety of ongoing operations. Therefore it should be planned professionally and arranged individually to ensure optimal safety at lowest possible running cost. In addition, the air conditioning should always match the overall plan and data center construction should be finetuned with desired air conditioning.
We would be pleased to advice you on all topics concerning the air conditioning engineering and introduce you to the different air conditioning solutions. Together we can determine, which solution is optimal for you and tune the cooling concept to your data center. Don’t hestitate to ask us, we’ll take care of IT
innovIT - CARES ABOUT IT