What is the importance of data center cooling?

A Data Center or DC is a physical place where information processing takes place. DCs are made up of servers, databases, and networking and telecommunication technology which are, roughly speaking, compiled of specific software and programs that manage digital information.

 

A Data Center is designed to safeguard exactly what its name implies: data, and it offers security, more control over data, and a customizable infrastructure in accordance to the business needs. For a Data Center to be deemed a success, besides the requirements of the project infrastructure the servers will support, one of the most important things is reliable technologies and maintenance. Data Centers require an uninterrupted power source to support vital operations, which includes the storage of all manner of valuable data like private or confidential documents, company projects, or web hosting of different sites.

 

Any error or failure in the Data Center could cause the loss or leak of valuable information, or the websites using them to crash. Therefore, reliable tech and proper maintenance of Data Centers is essential.

 

What are Data Center risks?

Just like with any other infrastructure, it is importance to plan a risk management strategy to prepare for any possible mishap in the DC and, of course, to avoid them in the first place. When said infrastructure holds private, valuable and critical data, there is a lot at stake. According to The Forecast by Nuntanix, some of the risks that Data Centers face are:

 

  • Geographical. As for any building, location plays a key role for Data Centers, as they can be affected by natural disasters, such as heat waves, earthquakes, floods, and hurricanes. Some countries and regions are more prone to specific types of risky natural phenomena so depending on a DCs location, needs will vary wildly. Also, man-made constructions are a factor that is taken into consideration.
  • Water. Water is used in some refrigeration systems, especially those for cooling computing elements, but water is a great risk factor because if it seeps out, the smallest amount can cause irreversible damage to the components. Keeping refrigeration systems and other systems that use water in check, as well as ensuring that water cannot enter the building itself is a must.
  • Power outage. A power outage can be fatal, information and data may be lost if the power supply is interrupted, so it is common that dual power sources and backup generators are implemented to avoid such catastrophes and provide uninterrupted power.
  • Acoustics. Hard drives are very susceptible to vibrations, as constant high-frequency vibrations interfere with them and can compromise the storage system’s reliability, meaning data may be lost. To avoid this, soundproofing and acoustic suppression technologies are adopted to protect indoor spaces from outside noise and vibrations.
  • Heat and fire. Data Centers are a major fire hazard, as servers and other hardware tend to emit high quantities of heat while functioning non-stop. They are prone to power surges that can potentially cause fires. Minimizing the risk of heat and power surges protects valuable equipment, which is why air conditioning systems and advanced smoke detectors feature in all Data Centers. With it best avoiding conditions that increase the chance of heat related risks, unsurprisingly, countries with cooler climates are popular for building Data Centers.

 

Hitachi Air Conditioning and Data Center Cooling

 

 

Issues that bad cooling might cause in a data center 


All the elements that make up a Data Center (servers and infrastructure) generate heat and consume energy. Heat can be considered a common enemy of Data Centers around the world. Overheating of peripherals, processors, or any other component could end up causing system failure and data loss. The main challenge of any data center is to save energy while keeping the equipment at the right temperature.   

In a report by the International Energy Agencyv (IEA), it is highlighted that 1% of the world’s energy use comes from the expansion of Data Centers and data transmission networks. Globally, efforts are being made to minimize this energy consumption, or at least aim for the source of that energy to be greener. However, as Internet users and traffic increase, and advances continue to evolve, a combined effort from government and industry is required to continue the trend of improvement. Therefore, saving energy while keeping equipment at an adequate and constant temperature is one of the greatest challenges for Data Centers.

 

HVAC equipment and Data Center Facilities

As you may have guessed from the previous points, one of the key factors to avoid heat-related issues in a Data Center is having an efficient and highly effective ventilation and air conditioning system. Well-designed HVAC systems can benefit Data Centers in many ways: keeping servers cool, improving airflow between the aisles, isolating hot air from the servers, keeping humidity at an appropriate level… All these will result in lower Data Center down-time and more reliable servers.

There are many ways this is achieved through HVAC equipment, some solutions can be quite energy-consuming or costly, which is why thorough research on cost-effective and sustainable, energy-saving options is crucial. The use of efficient systems directly improves the functioning of servers, by reducing heat emissions and thus minimizing the buildup of excess heat.

 

Efficient solutions for the perfect expert cooling

There are several ways to keep a Data Center environment cool sustainably and economically. Here are some of the most common ones:

 

1. ENERGY-EFFICIENT ELEMENTS

Using energy-efficient computing elements in the infrastructure will not only save electricity consumption, but the system will also generate less heat, so that less energy is needed to cool the environment, reducing the chances of overheating. 

2. HOT AND COOL AISLES

Using the proper technique for placing the servers, taking advantage of the natural airflow in these devices (which expel heat from the rear) is an interesting method. “By arranging equipment in an alternating pattern of an aisle with a cold air intake and the next with a hot air exhaust, you can get more uniform air temperature throughout a server room,” and maintain the temperature more efficiently. Learn more about how you can implement this technique into your Data Centers.

3. HOT SPOTS

In addition to strategically positioning servers, it is necessary to identify the hot spots that may exist in the Data Center in order to modify the airflow and lower the level of heat in those areas. Also, in these cases, it is possible to apply intelligent speed controls in the ventilation of the equipment.

 

 

Why data centers need to be kept cool

 

Other factors that play a part in Data Center efficiency

  • Materials used for building. The use of green materials to build infrastructures reduces gas emissions. Using not only recycled or repurposed construction materials, but also incorporating green roofs and sunlight-deflecting shades will have a passive cooling effect.
  • Servers chosen. Not all servers consume the same amount of energy, choosing those that have built-in features for energy efficiency is highly beneficial; such features include: standby mode, low-power chips, solid-state hard drives… Also, incorporating renewable energy is strongly recommended whenever possible, whether it is through solar panels, windmills or geothermal power.


Hitachi Air Conditioning for Data Center cooling

The Hitachi Air Conditioning equipment that meets the needs of Data Centers in terms of cooling, efficiency and reliability is extensive throughout each range on offer, giving customers full system options.

The Hitachi Commercial Air Conditioning range, including PRIMAIRY, is ideal, particularly in tandem with the Hitachi Chiller range. And Hitachi VRF offers excellent solutions that adapt to Data Center office requirements.  To learn more about the range of Hitachi Air Conditioning solutions that are available, click here

 

by Hitachi Cooling & Heating