How to improve cooling efficiency at your business Data Center

Determining Data Center Cooling Inefficiency and Improving Cooling Infrastructure

Table of Contents 1.

Executive Summary

2.

Introduction

3.

Opportunities of Improvements at Cooling Infrastructure

4.

Attributes of Overlooked AFM Improvements

5.

Benefits of Interpreting Cooling Inefficiency  Measuring efficiency for both types of IT infrastructures  Techniques to determine cooling system efficiency

6.

How to Analyze Your Cooling System Efficiency and Identify the Amount of Opportunity at Data Center  Factors affecting cooling efficiency  Improving Cooling Unit Efficiency 1. Manage unmanaged cables openings 2. Install Blanking Panels 3. Implement hot aisle/ cold aisle 4. Modifications at room level

7.

Other metrics to determining efficiency

8.

Conclusion

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Determining Data Center Cooling Inefficiency and Improving Cooling Infrastructure

Determining Data Center Cooling Inefficiency and Improving Cooling Infrastructure

Executive Summary The business world is consistently altering and evolving at a rapid pace that is pressurizing data centers to deliver more quality-oriented and upgraded technology. IT professionals are inventing newer technologies that are creating a more resilient data center environment. Transiting from old technology to newer ones can certainly uphold efficiency, but they can also transform the dynamics of data center cooling system.

Currently, most data centers are using cooling system unproductively, that means data centers are wasting energy by unnecessarily delivering high volume of cold air to the IT infrastructure than needed.

This white paper explains how airflow management can be the best practice in combating the serious cooling system issue and increase the machine’s competency.

Introduction The conventional approach of installing IT equipment in the server farm was to equip them facing in a similar direction. Although a systematic approach for maintaining the equipment, it brought about poor Airflow Management as it results inefficient supply of cold air to the data center and exhaust air. In order to achieve fine data center cooling and properly control AFM, low cooling units and extra cooling units were put into effect.

Generally, the cooling system within a data center is turned on even when the temperature (heat load) is relatively low. This results in improper airflow distribution that can arise issues related to power consumption, directly affecting IT expenditure and performance level.

Data center cooling system consumes ample of power and a well-developed AFM can promote improved cooling units, reduce wastage of energy and carbon footprint, which could further cut-down operational cost. Even though server densities increase considerably in the infrastructure, it does not require upgrading the cooling system as the heat load in the room is less than the cooling capacity. In addition, a well-managed data center also provides proper air distribution that let companies add servers without incurring additional IT cooling cost.

There are different patents designed to improve cooling efficiency, but before initiating any plan or investing in a hardware supply, you need to understand how well you are using your current resources. Measuring the cooling resources utilized in your data center can help in determining the effectiveness of the cooling system.

Opportunities of Improvements at Cooling Infrastructure The image below is explanatory as it describes statistics of many data centers and reveals that it has plenty of room for development, whether small or large. The surprising stat or the average cooling capacity determined was 3.9, which specifically states that the cold air distributed in the infrastructure was 3.9 times more than required. The calculation was performed based on cooling units that were on and the units that were put on standby mode were not taken into account.

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Determining Data Center Cooling Inefficiency and Improving Cooling Infrastructure

Figure 2 demonstrates the calculation performed for various data centers. The impact of inefficient cooling units is different on smaller server farm. The cooling efficiency calculated was low of the five largest infrastructures, which is it was lesser than the average count and considered comparatively better. However, the efficiency count was still higher than the needed cooling distribution.

Shown in the figure is the percentage of raised floor bypass open area. Calculating the overall percentage is simple.

Divide the bypass open area by total open area and you will get the answer. The percentage should be below 10%.

The hot and cold spots – the most crucial concepts within a data center - should be at minimum, which is zero to be precise. The percentage of these two concepts is determined by taking into account the number of cabinets equipping at least one of the IT equipment that requires cooling or air distribution at a specific temperature range.

Figure 3 explains the data on percentage of cabinets.

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Determining Data Center Cooling Inefficiency and Improving Cooling Infrastructure

Cooling units or systems consume energy largely than any other elements inside the facility. In such case, IT professionals need to ensure to ascend the ideal guidelines or initiate proper measure to avoid wastage of resources and save electricity. Since the IT cabinets are located on raised-floor bypass area over the perforated tiles, it promotes efficient airflow and effectively manages cooling resources.

Attributes of Overlooked AFM Improvements As mentioned at the beginning of this white paper that data centers are being pressurized to embrace advanced technology that can reduce operational costs, IT managers are adopting Airflow Management solutions. In order to blend the technology seamlessly with your strategy and draw complete advantage, interpreting the fundamentals of AFM is necessary as this can help with further analysis.

Figure 4 represents a drastic variation in the temperature consumption between the underside of the server rack and the upper side in an entirely contained cold area. The unsealed cable openings spread over the raised floor lets the filtered pass through the contained aisle that resulted in inadequate supply of air in the area. Adding to this, the conditioned air was flowing out, while the exhaust air was entering inside the cabinets due to the open spaces. This states that no matter how well the cooling of the infrastructures is, data centers needs to develop IT equipment temperature consumption. To resolve this technical issue, employing AFM fundamentals all over the location would be reliable. Once the basic level is covered, moving to the advanced stage that is containment cabinets can be turned into priority.

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Determining Data Center Cooling Inefficiency and Improving Cooling Infrastructure

Fan-assisted floor tiles is another crucial concept that needs to be addressed as it is a component that supplements the conditioned air and distributes it evenly in the adjoining IT equipment. Besides, the role of fan-assisted tiles is more than supplementing conditioned air. It is designed to perform so in order to curb excessive air from flowing out and reducing electrical load. Another solution would be sealing cable openings that would automatically control airflow. Other significant benefits of the component are that it promotes proper flow of conditioned air, reduces hot spots and raises cooling unit set points. Determining the cooling performance of data center lets you detect the potential and solve the cooling issues.

The following example explains the significant advantages of measuring productivity and developing AFM fundamentals. In a 10,000 sq. ft. data center there are approximately 180 cabinets consuming total electricity of 300 kW and utilized eight cooling units. Each cooling unit draws 70 kW power and one consumed 85 kW energy.

Considering this, the cost of electricity was $0.10/kWh and the cooling performance of the data center was 220% of the room’s heat load. This states that inefficient AFM strategies are indeed leading to cooling issues.

To improve cooling units, there are certain assisting proactive actions that were implemented such as sealing cable openings, installing blanking panels, rearranging the position of specific cabinets, rearranging the amount and placements of perforated tiles, securing open spaces between missing cabinets. Implementing this particular action on the site contributed in reducing hot spots and further enabled two cooling units to turn off, which likely led to cost-saving of nearly $20,000 per year.

Benefits of Interpreting Cooling Inefficiency Containment systems are designed to elevate the existing cooling infrastructure to make it more effective. It is an advanced form of Airflow Management and before shifting to the next level of technology, companies need to ensure completion of AFM fundamental implementation. Containment improves airflow in the infrastructure by entirely separating cold air from the hot exhaust air, providing better cooling to the IT equipment. While optimizing AFM, determining the performance of your cooling system is crucial as it can assist in prioritizing the development initiatives. Knowing cooling capacity while developing the IT site can contribute towards improving efficiency and PUE.

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Determining Data Center Cooling Inefficiency and Improving Cooling Infrastructure

In case of no improvements in AFM at room level, estimating the efficiency and figuring out your requirement for enhancing the utility will help you know your ROI and payback period. However, if massive improvements have already been implemented, then estimating the efficiency can help in determining the effectiveness of the application and its significant advantages for further enhancements.

Measuring your cooling unit performance is beneficial; as it helps you understand and define the stranded airflow in the IT infrastructure. Most of the data centers utilize cooling system inefficiently that leads to excess cold air supply in the site. Excessive cooling does not literally mean the equipment are consuming cold air sufficient for optimum performance. Due to improper airflow, IT equipment are unable to consume adequate cold air, which is temperature consumed is either above or below the average range.

Figure 5 explains the adequate amount of air supply required for the mission-critical equipment to function optimally. Lack of cold spots can be due to either poor AFM techniques or insufficient capacity. Finding and addressing the performance level of cooling systems can help understand in-depth the main cause of this technical issue.

The biggest cause leading to inadequate cooling conditions in IT infrastructure is bypass airflow. Bypass airflow is supply of cold air that does not productively distribute cooling to the IT load. Specifically, the cold air simply moves through the equipment and blends with the warm air before returning to the data center cooling units. In order to achieve optimized cooling system, reducing the effects of bypass condition becomes a necessity. One of the easiest approach to calculating bypass airflow is multiplying UPS load by 120 (120 is counted as an average number for CFM/kW of IT load). The result is the estimate airflow required in the CFM for the IT load. Compare the estimate with the airflow distributed by the running cooling units and the result will be excessive supply of conditioned air in the IT room. An alternate to this calculation is comparing the cold spot with the hotspot. When the exhaust air mixes with the cold air, it contaminates the air supply that results in considerable increase in air temperature.

Effectively managing cooling capacity offers an extensive range of benefits:       

Increased return in air temperature enhances productivity of cooling system Improvement in IT equipment reliability due to hot and cold aisle eradication Improved cooling system contributes to cost savings Increased cooling capacity promotes business growth and expansion Eliminates additional IT capital expenditure for building new data center or investing in new cooling units Decreased cooling load improves Power Usage Effectiveness (PUE) Reduces carbon footprint

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Determining Data Center Cooling Inefficiency and Improving Cooling Infrastructure

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Determining Data Center Cooling Inefficiency and Improving Cooling Infrastructure

Measuring efficiency for both types of IT infrastructures The basic facility provided by a server room is reliable and convenient distribution of airflow to the IT equipment.

Server rooms can be classified into two categories; one with cold spot/hotspot issues and one without. Defining or estimating the performance level of cooling system enables to interpret the root cause of cooling conditions that further helps in resolving the issues and promote efficiency. This also provides room for business growth as it cutdown operational cost and improves capacity. The reason for inappropriate cold spot can either be poor AFM or lack of cooling capacity. However, figuring out the efficiency of cooling units can be beneficial as it examines the amount of cooling supplied to the equipment and determines whether it is being properly utilized.

Techniques to determine cooling system efficiency The formula to calculating system efficiency is dividing the total running cooling unit in kW by 110% of the total IT load. To make it easier, take an example of 10 cooling systems, each with a capacity of 30 tons, out of the maximum only 7 units are turned on, then the sum of total running capacity is 739 kW. This was done by multiplying 7 by 30 and further multiplying the number with 3.52 constant. In order to convert tons to kW, consider multiplying tons by the constant number 3.52.

UPS output play a significant role while calculating the cooling unit efficiency as the IT load is equivalent to the UPS output of the server farm. Ascertain that the UPS output measured is only for the specific room and not the entire site. If the UPS supplies to additional rooms, subtract the count of energy consumption from the total UPS output.

How to Analyze Your Cooling System Efficiency and Identify the Amount of Opportunity at Data Center Server rooms with minimum or no redundancy, it is essential to implement AFM fundamentals so that it can work to make redundant capacity available at maximum level. In addition, more number of cooling systems will have to be installed, depending on the requirement. Improving AFM will further boost cooling system efficiency as it promotes appropriate IT equipment intake temperature, but there is no chance of turning off the cooling system or lowering fan speed.

Efficient cooling in server rooms is a result of running cooling systems being closely coupled to the heat load of the site. Besides, the intake temperature is within the average range and the necessary AFM fundamentals have been smartly integrated. One redundant cooling system for every 10 running cooling unit is sufficient and in case, one cooling unit goes down, other units can upkeep the required temperature on site. Unless your site is equipped with round the clock technicians for server administration, it is recommended not to turn off any of the cooling units in the room.

Rooms with redundant cooling system require have a certain extent of opportunity to cost savings via turning off cooling system. However, this is only reliable if AFM fundamentals have been thoroughly applied at the site. Server areas with medium efficiency range have a considerable scope to improving the environment, scaling IT load and reducing operational cost. Site with intense cooling issues have even greater opportunity to improvement and promoting cost savings.

Factors affecting cooling efficiency There are number of factors that affect cooling efficiency, but implementing certain ranges can improve the condition. One of them is room configuration that can significantly contribute in improving cooling capacity. The chances of inefficient is even more when there is a considerable number of cabinets facing in the same direction and

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Determining Data Center Cooling Inefficiency and Improving Cooling Infrastructure

a great amount of standalone components equipped at the area. Containment can be a great choice to maintain efficiency since rooms without containment are highly susceptible to lower redundancy than the rooms with containment. Containment enables appropriate airflow distribution and thus, containment can help achieve better level of utility.

With few amount of cooling units in the data center, chances of achieving the required level of efficiency would be relatively low since redundant cooling units are needed that are operating and not simply at the standby mode. To sum it up, the more number of cooling systems in a server room, the lower the inefficiency.

Improving Cooling Unit Efficiency Determining data center cooling performance reveals the potential issues with cooling units and provides room for improvements. Applying AFM techniques practically can be highly beneficial however, make sure to move from the initial to advanced stage of AFM. This specifically states that firstly implement the AFM fundamentals and then transit to the advanced level. Ensure to set a strong base that will enable in smoothly implementing the advanced techniques. At the stage of progression, keep scrutinizing the performance level of the cooling systems. The most crucial factor is to move from the initial stage to advance.

 Manage unmanaged cables openings Unsealed cable openings within the raised floor allow cold air to leak through the area that hampers efficient cooling to the IT equipment in the server room. Make sure to thoroughly identify all unmanaged openings and seal them so that the cold-air is distributed appropriately within the enclosure. In addition, look out for large openings such as Power Distribution Units often have large unsealed cable openings that can largely leak inside air out.  Install Blanking Panels Installing blanking panels block off free rack spaces that distributes cold air ideally through the servers. This further prevents hot air from recirculating within the cabinets. To save installation time and energy, consider utilizing panels that fit into place without any additional tools.



Implement hot aisle/ cold aisle

To prevent cold air from drawing hot air, seal all open spaces between and under the cabinets. Instead of arranging the racks one behind another, arrange it in a position that cold air aisle faces each other and the hot air at the back.

This will ensure that the hot air exhaust outside and not mixes with the cold aisle at the adjacent side. According to studies, configuring hot aisle/cold aisle can save up to 20% of energy use, directly resulting in decreased operation costs.



Modifications at room level

Implementing the aforementioned steps can result in improved reliability and promoting cooling efficiency.

However, to make configurations at room level, the AFM fundamentals needs to be keenly implemented. AFM fundamentals can help in achieving high-performance, but to cut-down IT expenditure cost certain high-level progression needs to be made to the cooling infrastructure. This includes adding more cooling units to the data center, turning off cooling units, reducing fan speed and so on.

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Determining Data Center Cooling Inefficiency and Improving Cooling Infrastructure

Other metrics to determining efficiency PUE is the most popular metric used to identify the energy efficiency of the entire data center infrastructure.

According to researches on PUE, the cooling infrastructure consumes the highest amount of data center energy and therefore, improving cooling unit productivity can directly lead to both energy and cost savings.

Conclusion Although PUE is a powerful metric to determining infrastructure efficiency, it does not identify the root cause of inefficiency. Thus, the metric mentioned in this white paper for measuring cooling unit issues stands so important and valuable. However, there are some precautions that needs to be taken into account while optimizing cooling infrastructure such as monitoring IT equipment thoroughly to avoid accidents at site due to excessive heating and frequent downtime.

About Web Werks: Web Werks is an India-based TIERIII & TIER IV Data Center Service Provider with 5 carrier neutral data centers in India and USA. Started in 1996, Web Werks has served several Fortune 500 companies with successful projects in the areas of Web Hosting, VPS Hosting, Colocation Services, Dedicated Servers, Cloud Platform and Disaster Recovery Services.

For more information contact: Web Werks India Pvt. Ltd. 91 8828335555 +91 9167016161 www.webwerks.in

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