Evaluation of Data Center Airflow and Cooling Effectiveness

1. Evaluation of Data Center Airflow and Cooling Effectiveness Steven Christian Curtin University Supervisors: Dr. Andrew King Dr. Ramesh Narayanaswamy Department of Mechanical Engineering, Curtin University

2. Introduction to Problem Data center is a facility used to accommodate computer systems and the associated components, such as telecommunication and storage systems [1]. There has been increasing number of data center built nowadays, with various sizes from small data centers to big data centers.

3. Typical Data Center

4. Typical Data Center [2]

5. Introduction to Problem • Most of the computer’s electrical power consumption is dissipated into heat • Good data center cooling performance is important • Cooling load of the Computer Room Air Conditioning units (CRAC) increases • A data center usually includes redundant backup power supplies and redundant air conditioning [1]

6. Approach Several physical or engineering concepts used when constructing the model: • Mass conservation • Energy conservation • Fluid mechanics • Heat transfer

7. Common Data Center Cooling Mechanism [3]

8. Approach • The project was started with basic data center modeling using Computational Fluid Dynamics (CFD) OpenFOAM 2.2.2. The simulation at this stage was done using laptop. • After finish with the basic data center, the final data center was modelled and then simulated using CFD OpenFOAM 2.1.1 in Epic Supercomputer.

9. Basic Data Center Layout

10. Final (Espoo) Data Center Layout [4]

11. Basic Data Center Temperature Profile at 0 mm Height

12. Basic Data Center Temperature Profile at 622.33 mm Height

13. Basic Data Center Temperature Profile at 1244.67 mm Height

14. Final Data Center Temperature Profile at 0 mm Height

15. Final Data Center Temperature Profile at 663.67 mm Height

16. Final Data Center Temperature Profile at 1327.33 mm Height

17. Final Data Center YZ Plane Velocity Profile at X = 8600 mm from Origin

18. Conclusions • Some hot air recirculation occur from racks outlet back to the racks inlet • In general, both the basic and final model data center are properly designed in terms of temperature distribution since the racks inlet temperature is still within ASHRAE’s recommended magnitude between 20 - 25 oC (293 – 298 K) [5] [6] • No reliability issue of computer components due to hot spots

19. Acknowledgements Thank you for the supports from: • iVEC in terms of funding and facility (Epic) • Curtin University • Dr. Andrew King from Curtin University • Dr. Ramesh Narayanaswamy from Curtin University • iVEC staffs: • Dr. Valerie Maxville • Mr. Chris Bording • Dr. Daniel Grimwood

20. References [1] Hassan, N.M.S., M.M.K. Khan, and M.G. Rasul. 2013. “Temperature monitoring and CFD analysis of data center.” Procedia Engineering 56: 551-559. doi: 10.1016/j.proeng.2013.03.159 [2] High Performance Data Centers. A Design Guidelines Sourcebook. 2006. Pacific Gas and Electric Company [3] CISCO. 2011. Data Center Power and Cooling. Data Center of the Future [4] Lu, Tao, Xiaoshu Lü, Matias Remes, and Martti Viljanen. 2011. “Investigation of air management and energy performance in a data center in Finland: Case study.” Energy and Buildings 43: 3360–3372. doi:10.1016/j.enbuild.2011.08.034.

21. References [5] ASHRAE. 2004. “Thermal Guidelines for Data Processing Environments”. Atlanta: American Society of Heating, Refrigerating and Air-Conditioning Engineers, Inc. [6] ASHRAE TC 9.9, 2008, ASHRAE Environmental Guidelines for Datacom Equipment