Experimental Measurement And Simulation Of Large Data Center

Data centers are facilities that house computer servers, data storage systems, and telecommunications equipment. The current trends towards miniaturization of electronic devices, greater functionality, and increased processing speed result in a steady increase in heat dissipated per unit surface area or unit volume of electronic components. This has present demanding terms for the indoor climate of data center.To ensure these computer systems function reliably, they must be adequately cooled. Air conditioning (AC) systems are needed for meeting the current demand for cooling and humidity levels. However, the use of Air conditioning implies higher energy demand. Indoor climate management of data centers with rather high internal heat dissipation that are capable of operating in cold and energy saving is a challenging task.In this paper, the numerical models of a representative data center employing overhead supply are constructed using a commercial CFD code, experimental data was used to construct and present a comparison between test results and numerical simulations to validate the modeling. Then temperature and velocity distribution over various virtual planes in the whole domain were analyzed and other three schemes were presented to optimize the current cooling scheme and reach energy saving. The investigation can offer guidance for thermal management of data center.First, the parameters, such as velocity and temperature of supplied cold air and some chose inner monitored points, heat dissipation of telecommunication equipments and heat loss of the building envelops, were investigated through physical measurements to present us approximately profiles of the temperature and the airflow pattern in the room. The rusult shows, heatload varied significantly for different locations, while the velocity of supplied cold air varies between 0 and 10.8 m/s, and temperature between 12 and 14.4℃. The temperature of the surrounding points for racks varies between 1.9 and 5.4℃.Second, a commercial CFD model was constructed and measured parameters were used to simplify the numerical model and decide boundary conditions. Experimental validation of CFD simulations has been conducted by comparing experimental results with a numerical model. and the average discrepancy of temperature and velocity were observed to be within ±2.3℃and±1.8m/s, respectively. The agreement is generally good or excellent, The investigation can offer guidance for thermal management of data center.Last, three improved measurements were presented and the results of this case study where layout change was made by virtue of numerical modeling to avail efficient use of air conditioning resources. The result shows, we can change the volume of cold air delivered to some diffusers to optimize the temperature field and save energy, However, adjusting the layout hot air outlet was for the best, stagnation zones for air velocity less than 0.5 m/s is cut off obviously and most temperature field below 20℃.