If you want your data center to survive, then it is imperative that you put the proper time and money into its cooling systems. This is one of the primary concerns when it comes to data center management. Without proper cooling, your data center is bound to overheat or collect moisture, both of which will cause equipment to malfunction. In order to keep your data center efficient and cost-effective, we have provided a list of the best practices for cooling your data center.
Hot Aisle/Cold Aisle
This is a popular trick that just about any data center maintenance service will advise you to look into. In fact, 80% of data centers employ or are looking into installing hot or cold aisle containment systems to keep servers at the correct temperatures and reduce energy use, according to Energy Star.
If you arrange your racks in a line so they are facing the opposite direction, this will cause the heating and cooling vents to face each other, therefore creating alternating aisles of hot and cold air. This data center cooling method helps recycle internal air which is an effective cooling technique. However, this method can be energy-intensive for data centers located in warmer regions like Phoenix for example.
Water and Liquid
There are two popular data center cooling methods that use liquid. These are typically very cost-effective because air conditioning is less efficient and uses more energy, meaning that it is almost always more expensive.
One popular cooling method includes chilled-water cooling systems. These systems pump cool water through tubes running alongside your servers, which will chill servers without getting them wet. There is also the option of immersion cooling. The term “liquid” is used because the servers are not submerged in water, but rather, in a non-conductive dielectric fluid. Either one that you choose is guaranteed to cut energy costs.
Free Cooling
This is a simple, yet effective, method for data center energy management. However, it will only work in cold climates. This is because it uses outside air to cool the data center. The primary issue with this method is that the money saved on air conditioning will have to be spent on air filtration. The dust and debris that come with outside air pose a risk to your servers, but these filtration systems are still often cheaper than only using air conditioning.
These are typically the most recommended cooling methods for data center supplies, and you could even combine them to create a cooling system that works best for your location and budget. Contact us at (602) 786-7201 or at https://www.ldpassociates.com/contact to request one of our LDP Associates to assist you with your data center cooling needs.