The Late Night Top 10 - Energy Saving Measures for your Data Center

1. The Late Night Top 10 -Energy Saving Measures for your Data Center

2. Energy Efficiency in Data centers • LBNL benchmarking and case studies • California Energy Commission • Pacific Gas & Electric Company • NYSERDA • DOE • DOE energy assessments • EPA report to Congress • Resources • Letterman Top 10 opportunities

3. Benchmarking energy end use

4. Data Center Research Roadmap A “research roadmap” was developed for the California Energy Commission and outlined key areas for energy efficiency research, development, and demonstration

5. IT equipment load intensity

6. Overall power use in Data Centers Courtesy of Michael Patterson, Intel Corporation

7. Data Center performance differences

8. Performance varies The relative percentages of the energy actually doing computing varied considerably.

9. IT equipment percentage to total Ave. 0.49 Higher is better

10. HVAC system effectiveness We observed a wide variation in HVAC performance

11. Benchmarking leads to best practices The ratio of IT equipment power to the total is an indicator of relative overall efficiency. Examination of individual systems and components in the centers that performed well helped to identify best practices.

12. Best practice topics

13. Design guidelines for 10 “Best Practices” were developed in collaboration with PG&E Guides available through PG&E’s Energy Design Resources Website

14. Design guidance A web-based training resource is available http://hightech.lbl.gov/dctraining/TOP.html

15. Late night top 10 opportunities Staying up late worrying about your data center’s energy use? Lets see what David Letterman would come up with.

16. Number 10: Efficient Lighting/ Lighting Controls • Lighting represents a small % of power use in a data center • Lights are typically on 24x7 • Staff is rarely present in data centers • Reducing lighting intensity also saves HVAC energy • Lighting controls are well proven

17. punch line Computers don’t need lights!

18. Number 9: Use Premium Efficiency Motors • Data center systems operate 24x7 • Premium efficiency motors can save several % over less efficient models • Newer motors are even more efficient than premium motors of several years ago

19. Check motor efficiency MotorMaster is a good resource

20. Punch line A penny saved is a penny earned!

21. Number 8 Variable Speed Everything • Power and flow related by cube law • Small reductions in flow result in large energy savings • No data center needs full capability all the time • Operating multiple fans or pumps at slower speeds is often a good strategy

22. punch line Thank you cube law!

23. Number 7 Efficient chilled water plant • Chiller efficiency dominates but pumps, fans, system effects contribute • kW/ton

24. punch line How low can you go?

25. Number 6 • Many power conversions take place in a data center from end to end • Each conversion loses some power – converted to heat • Optimizing or eliminating conversions has a short pay back Electrical power conversion

26. 5V Internal Drive PWM/PFC Switcher Unregulated DC To Multi Output Regulated DC Voltages Bypass 12V External Drive 3.3V I/O 12V 1.5/2.5V In Out DC/DC Memory Controller AC/DC 1.1V-1.85V 12V DC/DC m Processor Battery/Charger Rectifier Inverter 3.3V SDRAM 3.3V Graphics Controller Voltage Regulator Modules AC/DC Multi output PS Data Center power conversions PDU

27. Research into power conversion losses Power Supplies in IT equipment Uninterruptible Power Supplies (UPS)

28. punch line AC – DC – AC – AC – DC – DC

29. Number 5 Virtualization • Typical servers’ processors are busy 10% or less on average • Consolidating can eliminate many servers • Older less efficient equipment can be removed • Immediate decrease in electrical and HVAC load • Quick pay back

30. punch line Take your IT person to lunch!

31. Number 4 Air side efficiency • Air management – a huge opportunity • Efficiency of air handlers varies • W/cfm a key metric • ΔT is also a key metric • Avoid mixing of cold and hot airstreams • Eliminate simultaneous humidification/dehumidification

32. Fan energy savings – 75% If there is no mixing of cold supply air with hot return air - fan speed can be reduced

33. punch line Just like oil and water, air shouldn’t be mixed

34. Number 3 Free cooling • In many climates, compressor-less or reduced use of compressors is possible for much of the year • Air economizers are feared because of contamination or loss of humidity control • Some jurisdictions are requiring air economizers in data centers • Water side economizers (heat exchange with cooling tower) is a good option

35. Air economizer study • Eight centers were monitored with particle counters • Three were successfully using air economizers • Measurements taken inside and outside the centers • Humidity was monitored

36. Air Quality Guidelines • Limited literature connecting pollutants to equipment failure • ASHRAE • Design Considerations for Data/Com Equipment Centers • Guidelines for particles, gases, humidity • Industry Sources: Telcordia GR-63-CORE/IEC 60721-3-3 • Designed for telephone switching centers • Based on research over 20 years old • Primary concern: current leakage caused by particle bridging – hydroscopic salts in combination with high humidity

37. Contamination limits IBM Standard EPA 24-Hour Health Standard EPA Annual Health Standard and ASHRAE Standard

38. Outdoor measurements IBM Standard EPA 24-Hour Health Standard EPA Annual Health Standard and ASHRAE Standard

39. Indoor measurements IBM Standard EPA 24-Hour Health Standard EPA Annual Health Standard and ASHRAE Standard

40. Indoor measurements

41. Data center w/economizer

42. Humidity measurements ASHRAE Allowable Upper Limit ASHRAE Recommended Upper Limit ASHRAE Recommended Lower Limit ASHRAE Allowable Lower Limit

43. Findings • High concentration of water soluble salts in combination with high humidity can cause failures • ASHRAE guidance is drastically lower than one manufacturer’s standard • Particle concentration in data centers is typically an order of magnitude lower than ASHRAE limits • Economizer use can increase particle concentration to ASHRAE limits • A modest improvement in filtration would provide equal conditions to centers not using economizers • Humidity control is easily attainable

44. Punch line What part of free is not appealing?

45. Number 2 Environmentalconditions • ASHRAE Thermal Guidelines define conditions at the inlet to the IT equipment • Often, operating temperatures are much less than recommended • Often humidity is more tightly controlled than recommended

46. Temperature guidelines – at the inlet to IT equipment ASHRAE Allowable Maximum ASHRAE Recommended Maximum ASHRAE Recommended Minimum ASHRAE Allowable Minimum

47. Humidity guidelines – at the inlet to IT equipment ASHRAE Allowable Maximum ASHRAE Recommended Maximum ASHRAE Recommended Minimum ASHRAE Allowable Minimum

48. Air Isolation Concepts • Better isolation of hot and cold aisles will improve temperature control and allow air system optimization • Airflow (fan energy) can be reduced if air is delivered without mixing • Air system and chilled water systems operate more efficiently at higher temperature differences • Temperatures in entire center can be raised if mixing is eliminated. It may be possible to cool with tower water rather than use of chillers.

49. Isolation scheme – cold aisle isolation

50. Isolation scheme – hot aisle isolation