Environmental Control in Data Center

In order for data center to perform optimally throughout the lifespan, it is necessary to maintain temperature, humidity and other physical qualities of air within a specific range.

Air Flow

Why do we need efficient air flow?

• Improve computer cooling efficiency
• Preventing recirculation of hot air exhausted from IT equipment
• Reducing bypass airflow

  

Overheating often results in reduced server performance or equipment damage. Atmospheric stratification requires setting cooling equipment temperatures lower than recommended.

The various control measures can be classified into:

Temperature

Recommended: 70-75⁰ F / 21-24⁰ C

In environments with a high relative humidity, overcooling equipment can expose equipment to the high amount of moisture that in turn allows the growth of salt deposits on conductive filaments in the circuitry.

Rack Hygiene

To ensure that the air from the cold aisle reaches equipment intakes and prevents leakage of exhaust air into the intake area, data centers implement blanking plates and other fittings around the edge, top, floor or the rack direct air intake. Effective airflow management prevents hot spots, with is common in the top spaces of the rack and allows the temperature of cold aisles to be raised.

Aisle Containment

Containments are used to prevent cool/exhaust air mixing within server rooms. In general, cabinets face each other so that cool air reaches the equipment at the set temperature. Containments are implemented by physical separation of hot and cold aisles, using blanking panels, PVC curtains or hard panel boards. The strategies of containments depend on

• Server Tolerance
• Ambient Temperature Requirements
• Leakage from data centers
• Access Floors

A raised access floor allows under-floor cable management as well as air flow. Access floors design can be classified into:

• Low profile floors (under 6 inches in height)
• Standard/ traditional access floors (over 6 inches)

Data center equipment is very sensitive and susceptible to damage from excessive heat, moisture and unauthorized access. IT WatchDogs provide a full line of environmental sensors that deliver exceptional protection and alerting functions without requiring any proprietary software installations of update subscriptions.

In short, data center environmental control is a practice that aims at creating a conducive environment inside a data center in order for keeping its content safe and secured.