Re: Computer room cooling

[DrFranken <midrange@xxxxxxxxxxxx>]

Good data centers strictly enforce Hot aisle Cold aisle.  Then they also 
verify air flow on switches and routers etc move in the correct 
direction and that all spaces are filled. If some stuff blows heat 
forward and other rearward that can create a 'heat loop' that then 
overheats both pieces.

We see many rooms where fans are running blowing air all over. Mostly 
this is bad because it simply homogenizes the air mixing the hot and the 
cold. Thus the available air to cool the servers is warmer than it could 
be and the air going to the CRAC is cooler than it could be. Thus heat 
removal is not as effective as it could be.

For facilities with raised floor it's important to remove old tapes, 
manuals, cables and other 'crud' from below the floor. Also plug holes 
that allow cold air to escape where it should not with pillows or 
brushes. Place vented tiles where it will direct the cool air to the 
Front (INTAKE side) of the equipment. Do not allow ANY cold air to reach 
the outlet (hot) side of the racks. Remember the goal is not to put cold 
in, it's to get HOT(Heat) out. If possible place return air ducts above 
the hot side of the racks allowing the hottest air to get to the CRAC.

It's pretty amazing how much more efficient CRAC is when air-flow is 
proper!

The 'magic heat gun' looks so awesome that I already ordered one. :-)

        - Larry "DrFranken" Bolhuis

www.frankeni.com
www.iDevCloud.com
www.iInTheCloud.com

On 1/30/2014 9:15 AM, rob@xxxxxxxxx wrote:

> Man, one of those laser temperature guns like below:
> http://www.harborfreight.com/non-contact-infrared-thermometer-with-laser-targeting-69465-8905.html
> Really shows you where your computer room hot spots are.
>
> I really think it would be more efficient if we ducted our racks.
>
> I should probably also be concerned that the breaker boxes on the loading
> dock shows a few breakers well over 80o when the ambient temperature
> surrounding them is under 60o.
> These breakers control HVAC units on the roof.  Another concern about
> these is that when they blow they don't blow their individual breaker.
> They blow the breaker which feeds their breaker box.  Which also happens
> to feed our computer room UPS.  See my concern?
> This breaker is a special one you will never see in a home application.
>
>
> Rob Berendt