Low-Cost Ways to Improve Rack Cooling Performance

Two Low-Cost Ways to Improve Rack Cooling Performance

With higher-density loads generating more heat in data centers, having an up-to-date cooling strategy to cool equipment efficiently is essential.

Problem is, many data center managers are not even aware of two of the biggest culprits behind data center cooling inefficiency. Oversized cable openings in raised floors and unused vertical spaces in the racks may look harmless-but they're not! Unmanaged cutouts allow a significant portion of conditioned
air to escape instead of flowing through perforated floor tiles. And unused vertical spaces create an unrestricted recycling of hot air that causes equipment to heat up immediately.

Fortunately, APC by Schneider Electric has effective solutions for addressing both of these challenges.

Eliminate bypass airflow with KoldLok® Raised Floor Grommets
Up to 80% of valuable conditioned air does not reach the air intake of IT equipment due to unsealed floor openings. This lost air, known as bypass airflow, contributes to hot spots, cooling unit inefficiencies, and increased infrastructure costs. KoldLok® Raised Floor Grommets seal floor openings and help optimize cooling infrastructure. They can be installed without disconnecting existing cabling, and include a penetrable seal-dual brush strips-that allows re-cabling and automatic resealing.

• Eliminates 92 to 100% of air loss
• Increases static pressure and airflow through perforated floor tiles
• Delivers cool air where it is intended
• Bleeds off static charge buildup

Eliminate hot air recirculation with Airflow Management™ blanking panels

Unused vertical space in rack enclosures allows an unrestricted recycling of hot air that causes equipment to heat up unnecessarily. Many data center managers, believing that inadequate cooling capacity is the problem, respond to overheating by installing additional cooling units. This wastes capital and increases operating expenses.

A better solution is the installation of Airflow Management™ blanking panels, which eliminate hot air exhaust recirculation by occupying unused rack space. In controlled tests, servers located just above unused and open vertical rack spaces experienced an inlet temperature reduction of more than 20ºF when Airflow Management™ blanking panels were added. A modular, toolless design allows for quick and easy installation.

For more information about KoldLok® grommets and Airflow Management™ blanking panels, as well as APC's other products, click here.