1. Free Air Cooling for Data Centres
Certified Data Centre Design (CDCDP®) - Professional Unit
Power Regulations
Free Air Cooling for Data Centres
George Salinas, AIA, CDCDP, CDCEP, CDCMP
Instructor, CNet Training
© CNet Training 2016
© CNet Training

2. Free Air Cooling for Data Centres – Demands and Constraints
Power
Uptime demands
Higher power density usage
Cooling
Capacity
Energy Consumption (>50%?)
Networking
Bandwidth
Connectivity
Space
Availability & operational cost P P C C S S N N
With the continual advances in technology and increased business demands to remain competitive, the four physical constraints (power, cooling, space and IT connectivity) of many Data Centres are coming under intense pressure. For many, cooling is becoming the leading concern, also impacting some of the other physical constraints.

3. Do we have the right solution?
Free Air Cooling for Data Centres – Data Density Drives Cooling
Do we have the right solution?
Increasing
Power density
Increasing
Bandwidth
As the power density of cabinets increases, more demands are being placed upon cooling systems

4. Free Air Cooling for Data Centres – Environmental Conditions
What are your operating parameters of the Data Centre and why?
Control of the environmental conditions has become a major Data Centre concern as increased IT processing power has put more and more demands upon the traditional cooling systems. Many Data Centres simply fail to identify the correct environmental conditions in-line with operating parameters of the IT equipment. The audit should confirm that the environmental conditions are meeting the designated parameters. Even when the optimal operating parameters have been selected the removal or reduction of bypass and recirculation.

5. Free Air Cooling for Data Centres – Not A Cascade System!
It is worth remembering that the cooling system is a series of loops, each transferring heat to the next. The diagram helps visualise what is happening at each stage.
Remember that not all loops need to be present, for example:
Introducing of “Free air-cooling” removes the need for the middle three loops
Introducing a water-side economiser removes the need for the condenser loop
What is the effect of allowing the temperature in the Data Centre to rise?
Heat naturally flows from hot to cold, ‘Helping’ it along with pumps and fans uses energy

6. Free Air Cooling in Data Centres – Historical Beginnings
Certified Data Centre Design (CDCDP®) - Professional Unit
Power Regulations
Free Air Cooling in Data Centres – Historical Beginnings
History
Free cooling in use for over 15 years
Has been limited to certain geographical regions
Use of free air cooling is
commonly referred to as
“economiser mode”
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7. Free Air Cooling in Data Centres - Why?
Certified Data Centre Design (CDCDP®) - Professional Unit
Power Regulations
Free Air Cooling in Data Centres - Why?
Cooling can equate to >50% of the data centre energy costs
Data centres are deploying more IT equipment, increasing temperatures
Energy prices are rising
ASHRAE now recommends environmental temperatures up to 270C
Vendors now recommending temperatures of up to 340C
Reduces wear and tear on CRAC/CRAH units
Free air cooling significantly reduces energy and operating costs vs mechanical refrigeration
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8. Free Air Cooling in Data Centres – Is It That Simple?
Certified Data Centre Design (CDCDP®) - Professional Unit
Power Regulations
Free Air Cooling in Data Centres – Is It That Simple?
More complex than opening a few doors:
High humidity levels (excess moisture in the air can lead to the erosion of some metals)
Dry air can lead to issues like build up of static electricity
Filtration is required to remove air particles that can cause problems in the data centre
Smoke detection will be required at the air intake
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9. Free Air Cooling in Data Centres – Available Hours Annually
Certified Data Centre Design (CDCDP®) - Professional Unit
Power Regulations
Free Air Cooling in Data Centres – Available Hours Annually
It is vital to evaluate the amount of usage hours that you will get to accurately establish the Return on Investment (ROI)
When assessing the implementation of air-side economisers, how many hours you would be able to run on free-cooling will be crucial in the design. The Green Grid is offering tools on its website that help you get an indicative answer on available hours of cold air, depending on the geographic region your Data Centre is located.
Source: The Green Grid
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10. Free Air Cooling in Data Centres – Operational Concept
Certified Data Centre Design (CDCDP®) - Professional Unit
Power Regulations
Free Air Cooling in Data Centres – Operational Concept
Free air cooling introduces external air to the Data Centre
Reduces energy usage for cooling
Reduces burden on the cooling system
Improves internal air quality
Uses filters known as MERVs (Minimum Efficiency Reporting Value) which range from 0-21, industry recommends a 13)
Air-side economisers are simple, effective systems that significantly reduce cooling energy usage and improve indoor air quality. They increase HVAC system energy efficiency such that most energy codes require them in many commercial applications. The air-side economiser is integrated into a central air handling system, with ducting for both intake and exhaust; its filters reduce the amount of particulate matter (or contaminants) brought into the Data Centre.
With Data Centres needing to be cooled 24 x 7, 365 days per year, air-side economisers may even make sense in hot climates, where they can take advantage of cooler evening or winter air temperatures.
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11. Certified Data Centre Design (CDCDP®) - Professional Unit
Free Air Cooling in Data Centres – Air Flow
Power Regulations
External air can be introduced when ambient temperature is low enough
Can be mixed with circulating air as required
Can provide some backup if cooling plant fails
Latest research suggests humidity is less of an issue
Particulates can be managed by filters
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12. Certified Data Centre Design (CDCDP®) - Professional Unit
Free Air Cooling in Data Centres – Configuration Modes
Power Regulations
There are 19 fundamental types of economizer modes, and of these, 15 can realistically be used in a production data center (all six types that use air and nine types that use water). The other four types that use water were not considered because they bring condenser water directly into the data center which increases fouling in equipment.
Source: Schneider Electric
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13. Certified Data Centre Design (CDCDP®) - Professional Unit
Free Air Cooling in Data Centres - Conclusions
Power Regulations
Data centre attitudes to free-air cooling are changing due to increasing energy costs and sustainability policies
Standards such as ASHRAE Standard , regulations and carbon reduction commitments, are recommending data centres to lower energy use
A move to higher operating temperature opens more opportunities to countries not otherwise benefitting
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14. Free Air Cooling in Data Centres - Summary
is a strategic advantage!

15. Certified Data Centre Design (CDCDP®) - Professional Unit
Power Regulations
Free Air Cooling in Data Centres
Thank You
George Salinas, AIA, CDCDP, CDCEP, CDCMP
Instructor, CNet Training
© CNet Training