DATA CENTER

ESSENTIALS
Introduction to the components that support a
data center and how they work together

Part M1: Mechanical >

Cooling Systems
Introduction
 Data Center Mechanical Intro: Agenda

White Space
• ASHRAE
Air • Psychrometric chart
Conditions

• Air and water paths

Heat rejection • Ducts and pipes

Data Center
• Computer room air conditioners
cooling • In-row coolers
equipment

Facility • Chillers
cooling • Cooling towers
equipment • Pumps
Terms to Understand
Term Definition
ASHRAE American Society of Heating, Refrigeration,
and Air-conditioning Engineers
Psychrometric Chart Engineering chart for the properties of air
RH Relative Humidity
DP Dew Point; temperature at which RH is 100%
and water condenses out of the air
CRAC Computer Room Air Conditioning unit
CFM Cubic feet per minute; typical measurement
of the movement of air volume
GPM Gallons per minute; volume of the movement
of a liquid (water)
DATA CENTER
ESSENTIALS
White space air conditions
 Data center air properties
Air is often measured by
people by ‘feel’; usually just
hot or cold

For IT equipment, parameters Temperature

– “Dry Bulb” Humidity –
in numbers are much better Quality –
“Wet Bulb”
than ‘feel’ Particulates/
moisture
Pollutants
content
The properties of air can vary Dew Point –
widely and can be measured saturation
Mass
a number of different ways temperature
Enthalpy
Air
Properties
Kinematic
Density
viscosity

Expansion
Specific heat
coefficient
Thermal
conductivity
 Psychrometric Chart
Shows relationships of
air properties

As air changes, process 3 types of temperatures:

paths can be drawn
•Dry bulb
•Wet bulb

Moisture content
•DP

Dry bulb (typical thermostat temperature)

If two points are known, the
others can be determined
 IT equipment air condition targets
ASHRAE TC 9.9 Temperature Table

• Defines the inlet supply temperature to the IT equipment

• Last release: 2011; update: 2016

Dry Bulb Limits Moisture Content Limits Dew Point Elevation Rate of
Class (°F) (°F DP, % RH) (°F) (ft) Change
Low High Low High High High (°F/hr)
Recommended
59.0°F DP /
- 64.4 80.6 41.9°F DP
60% RH
Allowable
A1 59 89.6 20% RH 80% RH 62.6 10,000 9
A2 50 95 20% RH 80% RH 69.8 10,000 9
10.4°F DP /
A3 41 104 85% RH 75.2 10,000 9
8% RH
10.4°F DP /
A4 41 113 85% RH 75.2 10,000 9
8% RH
B 41 95 8% RH 80% RH 82.4 10,000 -
C 41 104 8% RH 80% RH 82.4 10,000 -
 Inlet conditions + Psychrometric Chart

ASHRAE IT equipment inlet

temperatures on a
Psychrometric Chart

Computer equipment can

operate in areas that people
would find uncomfortable
DATA CENTER
ESSENTIALS
Heat Rejection
Cooling Requirements

kW heat to be
IT equipment produces removed to 1 ton =
heat in watts, often prevent the IT 12,000 BTU/h =
discussed as kW equipment from 3.5 kW
overheating

Hot air
exhaust
Server
CRAC Cabinet Cold air
unit
supply
Heat Rejection Path
Air cooling Water cooling
• Server to air • Air to cooling coil
• Air to cooling coil • Chilled water to condenser water
• Condenser water to atmosphere
Air Cooling

Hot Aisle / Cold Aisle Configuration

Air heat rejection
Air cooling
• Ducts from outside sources can provide cooling
• Operates without a central cooling plant (no chillers or cooling towers)
 Water heat rejection
Water cooling
• Chillers remove heat from the chilled water to the condenser water
• Chilled water supports the CRAC units and other cooling coils
• Cooling tower reject the heat to the atmosphere
• Pumps and piping convey the water
Chilled water supply
Condenser
Water
Supply

Chilled
Condenser water
Water return
Return

Chiller
Activity: Multiple Choice
A cabinet is estimated to have a maximum power consumption of 12 kW;
what is the minimum amount of cooling needed?
A. 3 tons
B. 4 tons
C. 5 tons
D. 6 tons
B – 12 kW / 3.5 kW per ton = 3.4 tons; 4 tons would be the minimum
amount of cooling.
A CRAC unit chilled water cooling coil:
A. Moves heat from the data center air to the chilled water
B. Moves heat from the chilled water to the condenser water
C. Moves heat from the condenser water to the atmosphere
D. Moves heat from the server to the data center air
A – The CRAC unit moves the heat from the data center
air to the chilled water via a cooling coil.
DATA CENTER
ESSENTIALS
White Space Cooling Equipment
CRAC units

Computer Room Air Conditioning (CRAC) units

Most common
for raised floor
data centers
Down flow CRAC units

CRAC units providing air down to a raised floor plenum

IT Equipment
Cabinets

Down flow CRAC

Other air cooling units
Unitary equipment with internal compressors

Smaller loads, smaller rooms

Outdoor mounted condenser
CRAC unit

Ceiling mounted
CRAC unit
In-row cooling units

Cooling units are mounted

between racks

Pull air from the hot aisle and

supply the cold aisle

Liquid cooling source is needed

on the raised floor
DATA CENTER
ESSENTIALS
Facility Cooling Equipment
Chillers
• Centrifugal
Water- • Screw
cooled • Scroll
• Absorption
Water cooled

Air- • Screw
cooled • Scroll

Typical tonnage ranges: 100’s to 1000’s

Air cooled
Cooling Towers

Return
Condenser
Water

Chiller

Cooling tower
Pump
Supply
Typical tonnage ranges match chillers Condenser
Water
Pumps

Components
• Base & supports
• Motor & shaft
• Impeller & housing

Sets of pumps circulate

fluid in each piping loop

Typical tonnage ranges match chillers

Activity: Multiple Choice
Pumps operate to:
A. Circulate air
B. Remove heat
C. Circulate water
D. Generate power
C – pumps circulate liquids through piping systems, including water.

A chiller operates to move heat:

A. Directly to the atmosphere
B. From server chips
C. From one water system to another
D. From the data center air to the chilled water
A & C – an air-cooled chiller can send heat to
the atmosphere; a water-cooled chiller moves
heat from one liquid system to another.
End of Presentation

DATA CENTER
ESSENTIALS
Part M1: Mechanical >
Introduction