Cooling Data Centers With Raised-Floor Plenums

摘要

Will high-heat-density-load applications damage information-technology equipment? How small shortcuts can create big problems. Data-center loads continue to rise, especially in high-performance data centers (e.g., those containing blade servers or supercomputers). Loads in excess of 20 KW have been measured in a single standard 42-unit computer rack. Larger loads already exist, and there are predictions of significant increases. Increases in highly concentrated loads would result in cooling challenges in terms of both capacity and precise-ness. They also would raise questions about cooling limits when raised-floor plenums are used, as well as whether air should be used at all.