They type of containment system selected for a data center should be based on specific business requirements and architectural limitations.
It is possible to cool a 30 kW rack with air in a system that uses containment with good seals and low leakage. Whatever method of containment is chosen, it must isolate hot from cold air within the data center. This reduces the volume of air delivered to cool equipment, which leads to a number of improved efficiencies and, typically, improves cooling costs.
Effective seals help to:
- Prevent interior air recirculation and bypass airflow within the cabinets
- Support minimal pressure variations in the room by allowing the cooling system air handlers to be adjusted
- Maximize efficiency of energy use
- Control the reduction of fan speeds to closely match the volume of air demand from servers
- Provide the lowest operating cost in terms of energy savings
When selecting a containment solution, be sure to take seal performance into account. Containment vendors typically describe system seal performance in terms of leakage (typically a percentage based on particular volume of airflow to each cabinet under a specific operating pressure). When comparing these values, be aware that conditions may not match. The volume of airflow should be the maximum sustainable volume across the entire room at the planned static pressure during operation.
To learn more about effective seals for your containment system, watch the video or download a complimentary white paper.
Brittany Mangan, Digital Content Specialist