Early Containment Planning in Data Center Webinar

800-834-4969 | www.chatsworth.com An Employee-Owned Company

Early Containment Planning in the Data Center

Samuel Rodriguez, RCDDSenior Product Manager – Cabinet and Thermal Management Systems

Chatsworth Products Inc.


Average power allocation for 12 benchmarked data centers (LBNL 2007a).

Average Data Center Power Allocation

Thermal Trends in the Data Center

How Can You Dramatically ReduceYour Costs Starting Today?


• Many data centers use 20 – 50% of the total electrical supply just for cooling

• Looking at technology and components, cooling is becoming more critical as densities continue to increase

• Typical data centers operate in the range of 50 – 200 watts per sq ft (0.09 m); industry trends show that these values could DOUBLE in the future!

• What can we do given current carbon footprint concerns and potential costs associated with implementing an efficient energy efficient system?

Current Status


Cooling Methods

Traditional Hot/Cold AisleDesigned around TIA-942 and ASHRAE

standards

Close Coupled Cooling (In-Row, Overhead)

Cooling is moved to heat, producing equipment shortening delivery and return air paths

Hot Aisle Containment (HAC) Hot aisle is enclosed, usually at the rear edge of the cabinets and sides

Cold Aisle Containment (CAC)Similar to HAC, except containment is usually at the front edge of the cabinet and includes a

roof across the cabinet rows

Passive Cooling Containment Similar to HAC/CAC but dramatically different


• What design elements of my facility impacts containment?• Overhead cabling and power distribution• Overhead return air plenum• Raised floor vs. concrete floor

• Fire suppression considerations• Wet sprinkler vs. gas • Ability to expand existing system

• Performance goals• Mitigate hot spots• Increase density • Add economization • Maximize thermal efficiency• Maximize long-term return on investment

Major Considerations for Efficient Data Center Cooling


Traditional Hot Aisle/Cold Aisle

UPS

• Oversupply required• No airflow strategy• Hot / chilled air mixing occurs • No economization options• Lowest thermal performance


Close-Coupled Cooling

• Cooling placed in the rows• Reduces airflow delivery and return paths• Reduces cabinet count per row• Requires fire suppression changes with aisle roof• Smallest volume of ride through air capacity


Hot Aisle Containment

UPS

• Requires clear path from cabinet to ceiling• High temperature in hot aisle during servicing• Complete isolation prevents mixing• Facilitates all economization techniques• High ride through air capacity


Cold Aisle Containment

UPS

• Complete isolation prevents mixing• Aisle roof reduces interference with room structures• Fire suppression must be added to aisle • Facilitates all economization techniques• Smaller ride through air capacity


Passive Cooling

UPS

• Complete isolation prevents mixing• Facilitates all economization techniques• Least cost to deploy (1 cabinet at a time)• High ROI• Comfortable work environment


Limitations of Various Systems

Isolation Strategy Major LimitationsTraditional Hot/Cold Aisle • No air management

• Economization options limited as return air temperatures are too low

Close Coupled Cooling • Only allows water side economization• Reduces aisle space for equipment• Reduces ride-through air capacity

Hot Aisle Containment • Requires unobstructed path to plenum• Hot work environment during service• Deploy by complete POD

Cold Aisle Containment • Requires fire suppression changes• Smallest ride through air capacity• Deploy by complete POD

Passive Cooling • Requires overhead return plenum• Requires clear path for vertical duct


Containment Comparison Summary

Traditional HA/CA

Close Coupled Cooling



Passive Cooling Vertical Exhaust

Ducted End of Row Doors

Initial Cost * * High Efficiency * * * * Highest ROI * * * Facilitates Economization * * * * Ride Through Air Reserve * * Fire Suppression * * * * Flexibility to Deploy * * Allows Increased Chilled Water Setpoint * * * * Reduces Overall Cooling Requirements * * * Room Comfort * * * Quantity Cabinets/Row * * * * *


Conclusions Summary



Passive Cooling Vertical Exhaust

Ducted

Initial Cost * High Efficiency * * * Highest ROI * * * Facilitates Economization * * * Ride Through Air Reserve * * Fire Suppression * * Flexibility to Deploy * Allows Increased Chilled Water Setpoint * * * Reduces Overall Cooling Requirements * * * Room Comfort * Quantity Cabinets/Row * * *

Good

Better

Best

• A range of data center architectures were studied to determine thermal performance/cooling cost impact

– Hot Aisle/Cold Aisle (no containment strategy)– End of row doors– Complete Hot Aisle Containment with Vertical Exhaust Ducted Return

• Six 45U high-performance cabinets in a 3x3 configuration were used for all tests

• For all test cases, the loading conditions were constant– 72kW total IT load via TTV load banks– 12kW IT load per cabinet– 1200 CFM of airflow per cabinet

• All energy exchanges were measured to determine total system efficiency and airflow leakage

– Chilled water to CRAH– CRAH to Cabinet Supply– Cabinet Exhaust to CRAH

• Various airflow return conditions were also tested– Room return – Ceiling return– Airflow supply vs.demand was balanced (positive room pressure)

Containment Strategy Lab TestingContainment Strategy Lab Testing

800-834-4969 | www.chatsworth.com An Employee-Owned Company 15

Legacy Chiller Plant and CRAH Conditioned Air Delivery

Containment Strategy Yearly Cooling Cost per Cabinet ($/Cab)

Hot Aisle Containment with Vertical Exhaust Duct

$1,579

End of Row Doors Ceiling Return $1,786

End of Row Doors Room Return $2,246

Legacy HA/CA Ceiling Return $2,251

Legacy HA/CA Room Return $2,257

Cost Per Containment Strategy


Data Center Solutions


Contact Information

Sam RodriguezRCDD

Senior Product Manager for Cabinets and Thermal Management Products

Content support provided by:

Steven R. BornfieldSenior Data Center ConsultantChatsworth Products Inc.


Technology

Early Containment Planning in Data Center Webinar