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Increasing Server Room Temperature To Improve Data Center Energy Performance - APL, Expert en Data Centers

The document discusses how increasing the temperature in server rooms from the typical 22°C to the higher end of recommended ranges from 18°C to 27°C can improve energy efficiency in data centers. This is because less energy is needed for cooling at higher temperatures, allowing for free cooling solutions to be used more often. Proper airflow management through techniques like hot aisle/cold aisle configuration is also important to safely increase temperatures and optimize energy usage. Some data centers have achieved energy savings of over 20% by implementing these strategies.

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Sergio Garcia
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68 views

Increasing Server Room Temperature To Improve Data Center Energy Performance - APL, Expert en Data Centers

The document discusses how increasing the temperature in server rooms from the typical 22°C to the higher end of recommended ranges from 18°C to 27°C can improve energy efficiency in data centers. This is because less energy is needed for cooling at higher temperatures, allowing for free cooling solutions to be used more often. Proper airflow management through techniques like hot aisle/cold aisle configuration is also important to safely increase temperatures and optimize energy usage. Some data centers have achieved energy savings of over 20% by implementing these strategies.

Uploaded by

Sergio Garcia
Copyright
© © All Rights Reserved
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
Available Formats
Download as PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd
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13/10/2020 Increasing server room temperature to improve data center energy performance - APL, Expert en Data Centers

Published on 06 November 2018 In this section Data center energy consumption optimization

Increasing server room temperature to improve data center


energy performance

The temperature is still kept too low in the vast majority of data centers. However, according
to current standards, it could be increased by a few degrees to save energy in computer
rooms, increase cooling capacity without any extra investment, but not compromise IT
service continuity.

Data centre temperature: the guidelines have evolved


Cooling systems, essential for keeping servers in optimal operating condition, on average account for 30 to
50% of data center energy expenditure. For a long time, server room operators generally kept their facilities
at an ambient temperature of around 22°C, leading to air conditioning unit outlet temperatures of 15 to
16°C. In this scenario, lots of power was required for cooling, resulting in large energy bills.

Since 2015, ASHRAE (the American Society of Heating, Refrigerating and Air Conditioning Engineers) has
recommended rack level intake temperature ranges of 18 to 27°C, and a humidity level of 8 to 60%. For most
new devices, the recommended temperature ranges are as wide as 15 to 32°C, with a humidity level of 8 to
80%. In other words, for several years, we have known that data center temperatures can be increased,
without compromising IT service continuity.

What are the bene ts of increasing server room temperatures?


This increase in operating temperatures opens up new possibilities for data center operators. It makes higher
densities possible in server rooms without replacing air conditioning systems, and so without making
additional investments. It also enables big cuts in energy usage assuming the same IT capacity.

Increasing rack level intake temperatures also enables the use of free cooling or free chilling (systems which
use outdoor air to blow fresh air into the room or cool water instead of chilled water production units); these
systems offer much more attractive costs, especially in temperate regions like France. With a recommended
temperature of 25°C instead of 15°C in the server room, the periods of the year when free cooling can be
used without turning the air conditioning on are considerably extended. This generates substantial energy
savings and improves PUE (Power Usage Effectiveness). The same applies to free chilling, which can be used
more often during the year to cool the water coils, with recommended temperatures now being set at 15°C
Nous
rather utilisons
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13/10/2020 Increasing server room temperature to improve data center energy performance - APL, Expert en Data Centers

While direct and indirect free air cooling has become much more popular in recent years, especially in large
data centres, the fact still remains that it imposes structural constraints because of the need for space to
install the ducts that bring air into the rooms. It also demands a degree of expertise in order for it to be
operated properly. Deploying a free chilling solution often proves a more suitable response, especially when
renovating data centers equipped with a chilled water production unit. For example, in a data centre in Lyon,
ROI was achieved in less than two years by setting the supply air temperature in the room at 27°C and chilled
water temperatures at 15-20°C.

Controlling air ows: server room layout and containment


To increase the overall temperature of a data center you need to fully understand the speci c features of the
air conditioning systems and IT equipment hosted in the rooms, and to control the ows of air circulating in
the centre. You need to check the rack level intake temperature and not the ambient temperature in the
room, or even the air return temperature at the air conditioning units. Mismanaged air ows, even around a
single rack, can cause “thermal pollution” of the whole room. Hence the need to lay out a data center in cold
aisle/hot aisle con guration to ensure that cool air is channelled correctly to the servers and the hot air,
generated by heat loss from the computer equipment, does not mix with the cooling air. This entails
deploying containment and sealing systems so that air circulation can be managed effectively: panels to
cover unused spaces in a rack or perforated panels, cable grommets to limit air ow around cables, etc.

Warmer data centres? Yes, but not any old how!


Optimizing energy use in a data centre is often a complex business because, most of the time, sites need to be
upgraded while in operation, in compliance with continuity of service requirements. It requires a detailed
audit and design phase to take account of all the parameters of the data center: surface area, power of the
equipment, load ratio, physical infrastructures, cooling systems, air ows, environmental constraints (dust,
humidity levels, etc.).

In any case, implementing such a project, and the results in terms of energy savings, depend on the
characteristics and infrastructures of each site, the level of upstream steering (frequency of inspection,
performance indicators calculated, proximity of project teams, etc.) and on the downstream operations
policy adopted (process design, training, resources called upon, etc.).

By Nicolas Miceli, head of energy performance and innovation, APL

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13/10/2020 Increasing server room temperature to improve data center energy performance - APL, Expert en Data Centers

APL reports sales of 27 million Data center migration: no room


euro, up by 114% for improvising
APL, the data-center expert, announces its Data center migration requires careful
results for the nancial year ending preparation, at both organizational and
December 31, 2019: sales have more than technical levels, in order to limit or even avoid
doubled, ... service ...

Data centers: strategic choices Eco-design for digital services:


in preparation for digital and assessment of the
economic resilience GreenConcept program
The COVID-19 health crisis has Why is there so much discussion about
demonstrated, if proof were necessary, the pollution generated by digital services?
extent to which the continuing operation of According to research undertaken by
data centers, ... Ipsos/Sopra-Steria , the environment ...

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