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Efficient thermal management of data centers: immediate and long-term research needs.

Author(s) : BASH C. E., PATEL C. D., SHARMA R. K.

Type of article: Article

Summary

Power dissipation within computer rooms or data centres has been steadily increasing over the past decade. With the spread of CMOS technology into microprocessors and memory in the 1980s and 1990s, water-cooled mainframe systems were largely supplanted by lower power air-cooled systems. Data centre environmental cooling infrastructures correspondingly evolved into designs that recirculate hot exhaust air from the computer systems into air-conditioning units. The evolution of microprocessor fabrication technology has enabled the construction of high-power processors. In this article, the authors will highlight some of the primary challenges with cooling high-power density data centres. The authors will demonstrate that existing environmental infrastructures have inherent inefficiencies that can be very costly, and they will explore alternatives. Additionally, the use of numerical modelling to diagnose problems with data centre design and layout will be demonstrated, and limitations to its effective use will be discussed. Finally, the high-power densities involved have increased the need for a theoretical treatment of data centre thermophysics. Throughout the articvle, the focus is placed on future directions with the hope of instilling enthusiasm for further research and development.

Details

  • Original title: Efficient thermal management of data centers: immediate and long-term research needs.
  • Record ID : 2004-2403
  • Languages: English
  • Source: HVAC&R Research - vol. 9 - n. 2
  • Publication date: 2003/04
  • Document available for consultation in the library of the IIR headquarters only.

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