GOING GREEN
By Bill Kleyman, Director of
Technology Solutions, EPAM
Systems
www.epam.com
Mapping the data centre’s path
to a greener future using
airflow management
I remember at the last Data Centre World conference I
was having numerous conversations about running a more
efficient and greener data centre. Then, on the expo floor, I
saw many solutions that can actually make it happen. Going
green is a movement that helps save both money and the
environment, so it’s an obvious route many people would like
to take, and airflow management helps you get there.
I’ve learned, however, that there are preconceived notions
that it’s too hard to deploy new airflow management
mechanisms. So, companies stick with what they have and
look for optimisation elsewhere. Well, there are actually
some really cool magnetic and even tool-less designs which
have made airflow management more like a Lego approach,
and therefore much easier to deploy.
A blossoming market
Before we go into talking about tool-less designs, it’s really
important to note that many organisations are already
investing in green technologies to support better data centre
economics, greater levels of efficiency, and to improve the
corporate image. Looking at the market in general, the airflow
management industry was valued at $419.8 Million in 2016.
However, according to MarketsandMarkets Research, the
market is expected to reach $807.3 Million by 2023, at a
CAGR of 9.24% between 2017 and 2023. What’s driving this
growth? The growing demand for green data centres globally.
Factors such as, an increasing number of data centres
worldwide and improving cooling efficiency and thermal
management in data centres, are driving the growth of the
airflow management market.
Let’s focus back on the data centre for a second. A recent
Transparency Market Research report points out the explosion
in the amount of data generated has led to the growth of
data centres globally. However, the major problem data
centre owners and operators face is the need for additional
cooling capacity as the present system doesn’t offer
adequate temperature at the IT equipment inlets. But in most
cases, the problem is not one of insufficient cooling capacity,
but of poor airflow management. Airflow management
involves directing and blocking off air conditioning and
exhaust air using devices such as raised perforated tiles and
grills, grommets, blanking panels, containment and more.
Without good airflow management, there’s no way you’ll
be able to deliver a greener data centre. So, what do you do?
Rip everything out and start over? Invest in really expensive
means to deliver better airflow management? Or, build a new
data centre entirely? Maybe the latter is a bit extreme only to
achieve better airflow results, but something will need to be
done to help your data centre ‘breathe’ easier. On that note,
some good news. In today’s data centre-dependent world,
leading partners are creating solutions to help resolve some of
the most complex airflow management challenges out there.
But, you’ll need to think outside the box to make this happen.
Improving airflow
Applying airflow management science to cooling and
efficiency, it’s critical to remember that there are services
which can help you analyse your cooling ecosystem on an
on-going basis. These types of approaches are specifically
designed with optimum airflow management as the
foundational science. Furthermore, they can be custom-
designed to generate energy savings, release stranded
capacity and improve system reliability. These types of
services offer a global perspective and understanding of the
importance of energy conservation while contributing to
operating expense reduction, increased density capabilities
and improved data centre reliability. The key point here is that
deploying one solution may only solve a part of your problem.
But, what if you’re not actually seeing the big picture? Doing
a cooling analysis will allow you to see your data centre
holistically and where to apply resolutions.
Approaching a new tool-less design, let me give you a
specific example; some companies offer sliding doors that
allow data centres to achieve aisle-end containment in just
minutes and without the need for contract labour. The tool-
less design allows for quick and easy installation, removal, and
re-installation – no drilling required. The sliding doors reduce
data centre operating costs by improving thermal efficiency
and reducing IT equipment intake temperatures, which
enhances both equipment life and reliability.
It’s time to try it
Now for my final and really important point. You’ll read all
about airflow management, the kinds of things it can do for
your data centre, and how it’ll all lead to a greener future.
However, these are just words unless you actually try it out.
The beauty with some of these designs is that it makes trials
and proof of concepts infinitely easier. Get a few of these
units and see how well they fit into your data centre. This is
the best way to really learn the design architecture behind
these solutions and how they can specifically optimise your
environment. You’re not looking at a data centre overhaul.
Rather, with a scientific approach, you’ll understand where
there are gaps in airflow management efficiency and where
these types of solutions can be applied. n
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