Server airflow leakage imperils data center aisle containment strategies

A recent white paper from Tate Access Floors, Inc. details the ramifications of server airflow leakage in data centers employing aisle containment cooling systems.

The paper contends that server airflow leakage is an undeniable fact of contention when examining the potential operation efficiencies associated with a given facility's aisle containment strategies. A study by Tate determines that many servers will leak cold air into the hot air stream at a rate 23% to 135% of their designed flow rate. This leakage can have a real-world impact on the annual energy cost to operate a data center.

Fortunately there exists a simple, non-cost prohibitive solution that can be deployed in nearly any data center that will ensure the correct amount of air is delivered to IT hardware. The paper explains how Tate's pressure sensing automatic airflow dampering platform can significantly reduce energy usage, while increasing the energy efficiency of the data center and reducing the annualized PUE of the space.

Download the white paper here.

See also:Design considerations for data center cold, hot aisle containment