The current research investigates the effects of numbers and arrangements of
the cooling units on the thermal and energy management of in-row cooling
architectures of data centers. Three different configurations with different
numbers of cooling units; namely one rack between each two cooling units
(Configuration A), two racks between each two cooling units (Configuration
B), and three racks between each two cooling units (Configuration C), are
numerically investigated. A scaled physical module of data center rack is
experimentally constructed and tested for model validation. Two thermal evaluation indices (Supply Heat Index SHI and Index of Mixing IOM) and two
energy efficiency metrics (Beta Index β and Energy Utilization Index ηr) are
used to investigate, evaluate, and compare the thermal management and
energy efficiency of the three configurations. The results show that the three
configurations have good thermal homogeneity and the same good values of
the thermal and energy efficiency metrics at the intermediate racks. However,
problems of hot air circulations with hot spots and bad performances indices
were noticed at terminal racks of the racks array. The energy utilization index
is in the optimal range (about 2) for the intermediate rack and drop to 1.5 for
the terminal racks. Economic study shows that configuration B has the minimum capital cost and configuration A has the minimum needed white area
with a capital cost very close to that of B. Accordingly, configuration B is economically recommended, and configuration A is recommended for limited
white area |
