Type
Text
Type
Thesis
Date
2008-12-01
Keywords
data centers | cooling methods
Language
en_US
Source
This work is sponsored by the Stony Brook University Graduate School in compliance with the requirements for completion of degree.
Identifier
http://hdl.handle.net/11401/70846
Publisher
The Graduate School, Stony Brook University: Stony Brook, NY.
Format
application/pdf
Abstract
As the power density continues to increase in Data Centers, the need for effective and efficient cooling methods becomes more necessary. Various industry leaders have developed technologies as a solution to the problem of cooling. These proposed solutions aim to improve air-flow management within a data center. By identifying the technologies that allow for better cooling performance, data centers will have an opportunity to reduce cooling costs. This comparative study uses a CFD tool to identify which existing technology provides the best opportunity to reduce the cost of cooling at densities ranging from 2kW per cabinet to 16kW per cabinet (67kW/sq. ft of the data center to 499kW/sq. ft. of the data center). The cooling technologies studied in this work include Hot Aisle / Cold Aisle, Kool-IT, In Row Cooling with Hot Aisle Containment, Cold Aisle Containment, Overhead Cooling, and Cabinets Ducted to Hot Air Plenum. The ASHRAE recommendation (TC9.9) for server inlet temperature is taken into iv consideration as a requirement of what is considered adequately cooled equipment. In this study, only data centers are air cooled were considered, while the air is cooled using a heat exchanger that is fed chilled water from a vapor compression refrigeration cycle. Opportunities for cutting cooling costs lies in two key areas: one is to increase the temperature of the chilled water, and the other is to reduce the fan power used to circulate air in the room. It is found that Hot Aisle / Cold Aisle, which has been the industry standard for 15 years, is no longer a viable solution as power densities increase. We found that while many cooling technologies are an improvement over Hot Aisle / Cold Aisle, the Kool-IT technology and Cold Aisle Containment yield the most significant improvements in effectiveness and efficiency.
Recommended Citation
Wu, Kwok, "A Comparative Study of Various High Density Data Center Cooling Technologies" (2008). Stony Brook Theses and Dissertations Collection, 2006-2020 (closed to submissions). 57.
https://commons.library.stonybrook.edu/stony-brook-theses-and-dissertations-collection/57