Data center design using improved CFD modeling and cost reduction analysis

2011 ◽  
Author(s):  
Travis Mikjaniec ◽  
Andy Manning ◽  
Derrick Small
Keyword(s):  
Data Center ◽  
Cost Reduction ◽  
Cfd Modeling

Rack Level Modeling of Air Flow Through Perforated Tile in a Data Center

2012 ◽  
Author(s):  
Vaibhav K. Arghode ◽  
Pramod Kumar ◽  
Yogendra Joshi ◽  
Thomas S. Weiss ◽  
Gary Meyer
Keyword(s):  
Data Center ◽  
Body Force ◽  
Air Flow ◽  
The Body ◽  
Physical Models ◽  
Cfd Modeling ◽  
Computational Time ◽  
Force Model ◽  
Flow Through ◽  
Tile Surface

Effective air flow distribution through perforated tiles is required to efficiently cool servers in a raised floor data center. We present detailed computational fluid dynamics (CFD) modeling of air flow through a perforated tile and its entrance to the adjacent server rack. The realistic geometrical details of the perforated tile, as well as of the rack are included in the model. Generally models for air flow through perforated tiles specify a step pressure loss across the tile surface, or porous jump model based on the tile porosity. An improvement to this includes a momentum source specification above the tile to simulate the acceleration of the air flow through the pores, or body force model. In both of these models geometrical details of tile such as pore locations and shapes are not included. More details increase the grid size as well as the computational time. However, the grid refinement can be controlled to achieve balance between the accuracy and computational time. We compared the results from CFD using geometrical resolution with the porous jump and body force model solution as well as with the measured flow field using Particle Image Velocimetry (PIV) experiments. We observe that including tile geometrical details gives better results as compared to elimination of tile geometrical details and specifying physical models across and above the tile surface. A modification to the body force model is also suggested and improved results were achieved.

Creating a Calibrated CFD Model of a Midsize Data Center

2015 ◽  
Author(s):  
Zachary M. Pardey ◽  
James W. VanGilder ◽  
Christopher M. Healey ◽  
David W. Plamondon
Keyword(s):  
Data Center ◽  
Real Data ◽  
Measured Data ◽  
Cfd Modeling ◽  
Design Stage ◽  
Cfd Model ◽  
Modeling Techniques ◽  
Room Model ◽  
Tile Flow ◽  
Level Of Agreement

Calibrating a CFD model against measured data is the first step to successfully utilizing this technology for change-management and the optimization of an existing data center. To date, there has been very little published on this calibration process; more focus has been placed on the use of CFD at the design stage and the development of modeling techniques and solvers. Further, few studies which feature comprehensive comparisons of CFD-predicted and measured data have been published for real data centers, and many that have, demonstrated only modest agreement at best. This study provides another such comparison — for a 7,400 ft2 (687 m2), 138-rack, raised-floor facility. The goals of the study are to benchmark the level of agreement that can be practically obtained and also to investigate the level of modeling detail required. Additionally, specific practical advice covering both CFD modeling and experimental measurements is provided. A plenum-only CFD model is compared to measured tile airflow rates and a room-model, which uses measured tile flow rates as boundary conditions, is compared to temperatures measured at each rack inlet. The level of agreement is among the best published to date and demonstrates that a CFD model can be adequately calibrated against measured data and is of value for ongoing data center operation.

Cfd Modeling of the Distribution of Airborne Particulate Contaminants Inside Data Center Hardware

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Kaustubh Adsul ◽  
Satyam Saini ◽  
Pardeep Shahi ◽  
Amirreza Niazmand ◽  
Pratik Bansode ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Data Center ◽  
Cfd Modeling ◽  
Airborne Particulate ◽  
Particulate Contaminants

Energy-Efficient Air Cooling of Data Centers at 2000 W/ft2

2009 ◽  
Author(s):  
Magnus K. Herrlin ◽  
Michael K. Patterson
Keyword(s):  
Energy Efficiency ◽  
Data Center ◽  
Energy Efficient ◽  
Data Centers ◽  
High Heat ◽  
High Density ◽  
Cfd Modeling ◽  
Air Cooling ◽  
Capital Costs ◽  
Design Considerations

Increased Information and Communications Technology (ICT) capability and improved energy-efficiency of today’s server platforms have created opportunities for the data center operator. However, these platforms also test the ability of many data center cooling systems. New design considerations are necessary to effectively cool high-density data centers. Challenges exist in both capital costs and operational costs in the thermal management of ICT equipment. This paper details how air cooling can be used to address both challenges to provide a low Total Cost of Ownership (TCO) and a highly energy-efficient design at high heat densities. We consider trends in heat generation from servers and how the resulting densities can be effectively cooled. A number of key factors are reviewed and appropriate design considerations developed to air cool 2000 W/ft2 (21,500 W/m2). Although there are requirements for greater engineering, such data centers can be built with current technology, hardware, and best practices. The density limitations are shown primarily from an airflow management and cooling system controls perspective. Computational Fluid Dynamics (CFD) modeling is discussed as a key part of the analysis allowing high-density designs to be successfully implemented. Well-engineered airflow management systems and control systems designed to minimize airflow by preventing mixing of cold and hot airflows allow high heat densities. Energy efficiency is gained by treating the whole equipment room as part of the airflow management strategy, making use of the extended environmental ranges now recommended and implementing air-side air economizers.

Improved Computational Fluid Dynamics Model for Open-Aisle Air-Cooled Data Center Simulations

2013 ◽  
Vol 135 (3) ◽  
Author(s):  
Waleed A. Abdelmaksoud ◽  
Thong Q. Dang ◽  
H. Ezzat Khalifa ◽  
Roger R. Schmidt
Keyword(s):  
High Power ◽  
Data Center ◽  
Large Scale ◽  
Source Model ◽  
Cfd Modeling ◽  
Small Data ◽  
Cfd Model ◽  
It Industry ◽  
Cfd Models ◽  
Tile Flow

There is a need in the IT industry for CFD models that are capable of accurately predicting the thermal distributions in high power density open-aisle air-cooled data centers for use in the design of these facilities with reduced cooling needs. A recent detailed evaluation of a small data center cell equipped with one high power rack using current CFD practice showed that the CFD results were not accurate. The simulation results exhibited pronounced hot/cold spots in the data center while the test data were much more diffused, indicating that the CFD model under-predicted the mixing process between the cold tile flow and the hot rack exhaust flow with the warm room air. In this study, a parametric study was carried out to identify CFD modeling issues that contributed to this error. Through a combined experimental and computational investigation, it was found that the boundary condition imposed at the perforated surfaces (e.g., perforated tiles and rack exhaust door) as fully open surfaces was the main source of error. This method enforces the correct mass flux but the initial jet momentum is under-specified. A momentum source model proposed for these perforated surfaces is found to improve the CFD results significantly. Another CFD modeling refinement shown to improve CFD predictions is the inclusion of some large-scale geometrical features of the perforated surfaces (e.g., lands/gaps) in the CFD model, but this refinement requires the use of grids finer than those typically used in practice.

Transient Analysis for Contained-Cold-Aisle Data Center

2012 ◽  
Author(s):  
Sami A. Alkharabsheh ◽  
Mahmoud Ibrahim ◽  
Saurabh Shrivastava ◽  
Roger Schmidt ◽  
Bahgat Sammakia
Keyword(s):  
Steady State ◽  
Temperature Distribution ◽  
Data Center ◽  
Transient Analysis ◽  
Operating Conditions ◽  
Cfd Modeling ◽  
Base Case ◽  
Air Temperatures ◽  
Air Supply ◽  
Final Steady State

The objective of this paper is to conduct a transient analysis for a contained-cold-aisle data center using Computational Fluid Dynamics (CFD) modeling. Containing the cold aisle reduces the inherent challenges of predictability and energy consumption of data center cooling systems by separating the hot and cold air streams. Transient analysis is crucial to further show the benefits of this methodology and investigate the potential drawbacks. In this work, we investigate the effect of variable power and flow rate in time on a raised-floor data center with specific geometry. First, a base case numerical model is established. Then, we conduct a transient analysis for the uncontained base case and the three containment configurations. The containment configurations under consideration are ceiling-only, doors-only, and fully-contained cold aisle. We hold a comparison between different geometrical configurations of the containment system under certain transient operating conditions. Computer Room Air Conditioning (CRAC) failure and change in IT-demand are chosen to represent conventional transient scenarios in a data center. The transient analysis shows overshoots of cabinet inlet air temperatures beyond the final steady state, which cannot predicted through a simple steady state analysis. In addition, the uniform temperature distribution inside the cold aisle is affected by the change in air supply and level of containment. The temperature distribution in the cold aisle changes with time. Guidelines can be recommended based on the conclusion of this study.

scholarly journals Hyper Converged Systems Applied (HSA) Methodology to Optimize the Process of Technological Renewal in Data Centers

2019 ◽  
Vol 8 (2S11) ◽  
pp. 4052-4056
Keyword(s):  
Data Center ◽  
Cost Reduction ◽  
Data Centers ◽  
It Services ◽  
Energy Data ◽  
Critical Areas ◽  
It Architecture ◽  
Team Experience ◽  
High Level

This paper proposes to improve the process of technological renewal in data centers with the implementation of hyperconverged systems, through the virtualization of physical equipment, networks, storage and systems, to achieve cost reduction in critical areas such as: maintenance, consumption of energy, data center space and the optimization of the resources necessary for the administration and specialization of the IT team. The proposed methodology HSA (Hyperconverged Systems Applied), considers the planning and implementation of an integral IT architecture that combines software with high-level servers that can host systems capable of providing support and continuity of IT services, to design, implement and manage the technology in an orderly manner, reducing management efforts and increasing the organization's ability to support new projects. According to the results obtained with the application of the HSA methodology, it was reduced the size of virtualized systems by an average of 33.33% and the amount of non-virtualized technology by an average of 44.33%, depending on the cases evaluated was increased the level of IT team experience at 56.67% when managing more technology with less staff

Improved CFD modeling of a small data center test cell

2010 ◽  
Author(s):  
Waleed A. Abdelmaksoud ◽  
H. Ezzat Khalifa ◽  
Thong Q. Dang ◽  
Roger R. Schmidt ◽  
Madhusudan Iyengar
Keyword(s):  
Data Center ◽  
Test Cell ◽  
Cfd Modeling ◽  
Small Data

Online Learning-Based Server Provisioning for Electricity Cost Reduction in Data Center

2017 ◽  
Vol 25 (3) ◽  
pp. 1044-1051 ◽  
Author(s):  
Jian Yang ◽  
Shuben Zhang ◽  
Xiaomin Wu ◽  
Yongyi Ran ◽  
Hongsheng Xi
Keyword(s):  
Online Learning ◽  
Data Center ◽  
Cost Reduction ◽  
Electricity Cost

CFD Modeling of the Distribution of Airborne Particulate Contaminants Inside Data Center Hardware

2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
Satyam Saini ◽  
Kaustubh K. Adsul ◽  
Pardeep Shahi ◽  
Amirreza Niazmand ◽  
Pratik Bansode ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Data Center ◽  
High Performance ◽  
Phase Particle ◽  
Cfd Modeling ◽  
Air Cooling ◽  
Ambient Conditions ◽  
Particle Modeling ◽  
Free Air ◽  
Discrete Phase ◽  
Particulate Contaminants

Abstract Modern-day data center administrators are finding it increasingly difficult to lower the costs incurred in mechanical cooling of their IT equipment. This is especially true for high-performance computing facilities like Artificial Intelligence, Bitcoin Mining, and Deep Learning, etc. Airside Economization or free air cooling has been out there as a technology for a long time now to reduce the mechanical cooling costs. In free air cooling, under favorable ambient conditions of temperature and humidity, outside air can be used for cooling the IT equipment. In doing so, the IT equipment is exposed to sub-micron particulate/gaseous contaminants that might enter the data center facility with the cooling airflow. The present investigation uses a computational approach to model the airflow paths of particulate contaminants entering inside the IT equipment using a commercially available CFD code. A Discrete Phase Particle modeling approach is chosen to calculate trajectories of the dispersed contaminants. Standard RANS approach is used to model the airflow in the airflow and the particles are superimposed on the flow field by the CFD solver using Lagrangian particle tracking. The server geometry was modeled in 2-D with a combination of rectangular and cylindrical obstructions. This was done to comprehend the effect of change in the obstruction type and aspect ratio on particle distribution. Identifying such discrete areas of contaminant proliferation based on concentration fields due to changing geometries will help with the mitigation of particulate contamination related failures in data centers.

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