Thermal modelling and airflow studies give you the information you need to plan for, and deploy the best cooling solution for new and existing data centres.
By optimising airflow management, you increase your data centre’s energy efficiency and reduce your operating costs.
CFD simulation of temperature distribution in 3D (east-west section)
It’s important that you select the most effective cooling solution for your data centre in order to achieve the most cost-effective outcomes for space and power usage.
The mechanical cooling solution used for airflow management in your data centre, and how it’s configured, can influence effective data centre operations, which in turn affects your business operations.
Optimised airflow management safeguards your computing assets and ensures their reliability. It influences energy usage and efficiency, reduces waste and helps you to manage growth.
As computational fluid dynamic (CFD) simulation is used to model detailed distribution of air velocity, pressure, and temperature, Frame’s data centre designers use it for thermal modelling and airflow studies.
This means being able to make better decisions about the cooling solutions for your data centre, optimising the positioning of ICT equipment as well as minimising the waste caused by overcooling.
The best outcomes for data centre cooling solutions
We assist you to meet the challenges by employing the right tools from the best-suited vendors.
By using CFD simulation software, we’re able to build a thermal model and comprehensively study airflow in your data centre.
Then we work with you to determine the best cooling solution to deliver the results you expect.
- improve ICT equipment reliability and reduce downtime
- optimise airflow distribution and cooling resources, and increase system cooling capacity
- reduce operating costs
- reduce energy consumption and increase energy efficiency
- improve responses to cooling failures
- reduce design, construction and installation expenses
- make informed decisions about cooling hardware and airflow management strategies.
CFD simulation in 3D, showing temperature distribution at selected planes across the data centre
Our focus is on ensuring the proposed solution meets your requirements and, more importantly, is the most effective and efficient system for your environment.
Objectives focused
Our approach is engineered to achieve your operations and strategic objectives, addressing your requirements for scalability, availability, manageability and reliability.
Risk aware
We identify the likelihood and consequences of risks and refine them to the point where you’re given a high level of certainty for a successful outcome.
Fully documented
Your thermal model and airflow study comes in a package of detailed documentation, including all drawings and specifications.
Sustainable
As a result, Frame is able to assist you to meet your sustainability goals by choosing the most efficient airflow management and cooling solution to attain a data centre that is realistically and demonstrably green.
Get the clarity you need to plan for, and deploy the best cooling solution for your data centre
Speak to one of our consultants to find out how Frame’s data centre services can make a difference to your business.
Why airflow management is so important in your data centre
Compared to temperature, airflow is a more critical metric for good mechanical design in data centres. Poor airflow can adversely affect temperature.
Airflow management has an impact on two critical data centre resources: space and power. Space is consumed by the plant and equipment required to deliver cooling, and power likewise.
The science of airflow management links the airflow strategy with the equipment that needs the air, where it’s needed, and the flow paths for the air. So the power usage required to run the system can be controlled and minimised by effective airflow design.
CFD simulation of temperature distribution and air velocity at 1.2 m above floor level (floor plan view)
Frame uses CFD simulation because it’s predictive
In the contemporary data centre, optimised airflow can be achieved by a variety of cooling solutions. There are many approaches.
Sensors, thermal imaging and real-time measurement can be used. However, only after a layout is changed or a new cooling solution is procured and installed can these techniques provide the new temperatures and hot spots.
No matter how well planned and designed, there’s a large element of trial and error involved. And that’s costly and ineffective.
So what about using CFD simulation to study airflow and build a thermal model of your data centre?
The detailed information generated by CFD software can also be acquired with sensors and thermal imaging. Both give you similar information for an existing data centre, although CFD simulation provides more comprehensive detail.
But only CFD simulation is predictive.
Only a model generated by CFD simulation can give data centre and facility managers the information they need to:
- study what-if and failure scenarios
- analyse the impact of changes in the layout
- plan for upgrades
- assess new cooling solutions
- design new data centres.
Get the clarity about temperature and airflow in your data centre that a CFD simulation can provide
Speak to one of our consultants to find out how Frame’s data centre services can make a difference to your business.
