Share

IIR document

Experimental cabinet-boundary energy and exergy analysis of a cabinet-integrated direct-expansion refrigeration system for data center applications. 

Author(s) : TIKTAS A., ERKEK T. Ü.

Type of article: IJR article

Summary

Cabinet-integrated direct-expansion (DX) refrigeration is increasingly adopted for high-density server racks; however, its thermodynamic effectiveness remains insufficiently characterized because conventional coefficient of performance (COP) metrics do not resolve cabinet-side irreversibilities, airflow penalties, or humidity-driven latent effects. This study applies a cabinet-boundary moist-air exergy framework to a 10 kW split DX rack integrated system, defining the useful cooling product at the supply–return air interface and explicitly ac counting for cabinet fan power. Experimental evaluation of 24 steady-state cases, covering two refrigerants (R410A and R454B), two IT heat loads (6 and 9 kW), and inverter-driven part-load operation, yields COP values of 2.18–4.73 and cabinet-boundary exergy efficiencies of 0.35–0.75, revealing a pronounced non-monotonic COP–ηₑₓ relationship. Component-resolved analysis identifies the compressor and cabinet-integrated evapo rator as the dominant sources of irreversibility, accounting on average for approximately 50 % and 33 % of total exergy destruction, respectively. Elevated return-air humidity increases evaporator exergy destruction by 8–12 %, a penalty not captured by COP-based evaluation. A multi-objective Pareto–TOPSIS analysis identifies Case 22 (R454B, 9 kW, 4692 rpm) as the optimal compromise between energy efficiency and thermodynamic effec tiveness. The results establish cabinet-boundary moist-air exergy analysis as a physically grounded and experi mentally validated diagnostic framework for design and control optimization of rack-integrated DX systems.

Available documents

Format PDF

Pages: 18

Available

  • Public price

    20 €

  • Member price*

    Free

* Best rate depending on membership category (see the detailed benefits of individual and corporate memberships).

Details

  • Original title: Experimental cabinet-boundary energy and exergy analysis of a cabinet-integrated direct-expansion refrigeration system for data center applications. 
  • Record ID : 30034928
  • Languages: English
  • Subject: Technology
  • Source: International Journal of Refrigeration - Revue Internationale du Froid - vol. 187
  • Publication date: 2026/07
  • DOI: http://dx.doi.org/https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ijrefrig.2026.106924

Links


See other articles in this issue (35)
See the source

Indexing