One of the types of industrial premises is the server room, which houses important technical facilities responsible for the company's communication with the outside world and its information base. These include computers, servers, telecommunications equipment and other electronics. All these devices emit a large amount of heat, which, if not removed, will create conditions detrimental to the normal functionality of the entire equipment.
In addition, regardless of its size, the server room requires compliance with strict regulations regarding certain air parameters (humidity, dustiness). If they are not supported year-round, then expensive electronic equipment will fail. Therefore, properly designed air conditioning of server rooms is one of the first tasks facing in their arrangement.
Can I use split air conditioning in the server room
What climate systems are used for these purposes, and what does this choice depend on?
In small rooms with a limited amount of computer equipment, most often they put household and semi-industrial split systems of greater power: wall, channel and column (sometimes ceiling). In addition, a duplicate climate system is provided in case of a breakdown of the main one in the form of 50% or 100% replacement. To this we have to add low-temperature cooling kits in winter and introduce many more elements that increase the likelihood of a breakdown of the entire system.
Main disadvantages
A few more shortcomings in air conditioning of server rooms with split-systems are:
- inaccuracy in maintaining temperature;
- excessive drainage of air, from which unnecessary electrification occurs;
- the appearance of excess dust (this is very dangerous for servers) due to a weak fan and an inefficient filtering system;
- lower efficiency in connection with the energy consumption for condensation of the released moisture;
- fast resource development during round-the-clock and year-round work.
A split system usually does not provide for the possibility of functioning with such a load, therefore, the working capacity limit will exhaust itself in a year at 50% redundancy and two at 100%.
Advantages of precision air conditioners for server rooms
A more expensive, but at the same time more reliable option is the installation of precision air conditioners in server rooms related to professional climate equipment. They are one of the types of cabinet units and are ideal for rooms where it is important not only to keep the set temperature with maximum accuracy, but also to give the air a certain percentage of humidity.
The main part of precision server air conditioners differs in such advantages compared to semi-industrial splits, such as:
- precise temperature control (+ 1 ° C) and humidity control (+ 2 ° C);
- year-round uninterrupted work;
- operation in extreme heat and frost;
- combination with systems of supervisory control and management.
Some precision air conditioners for server rooms are able to operate with thermometer values outside the building from + 60 ° C to -60 ° C.
The classification of precision instruments is very diverse and depends on many aspects. There are models with a monoblock design and the type of split system.If we take into account the cooling method, then we distinguish systems with the evaporation of freon and systems with water and air cooling of the condenser, with air cooling and a glycol circuit, with a double cooling system and others.
At a famous company UNIFLAIR There is a precision cabinet with an energy-saving mode of operation, which can consume electricity half as much as others due to the use of natural cooling without a refrigeration cycle and the inclusion of compressors.
The standard precision unit consists of a frame with automation, heat exchangers, filters, fans, elements of the refrigeration circuit and power electrics. Above it is covered with panels that protect it from external influences. If an outdoor unit is provided, then it can be made in the form of a compressor-condenser unit or an external condenser with air cooling.
The principle of operation of installations of this type is not very complicated:
- air is taken by the device either from the room or from the outside;
- inside it cools;
- he is given the required percentage of moisture;
- then it is released outside into the room.
Air intake can go from below or from above.
Selection of air conditioning for the server by the method of cooling the room
How to install the air conditioner in the server room and by what parameters is it selected?
Depending on the area of the server, the amount of electronics and its heat dissipation, specialists provide 3 cooling options:
- the whole area in general;
- each row of servers separately;
- each server cabinet or rack individually.
General server cooling
The first method seems quite effective - the server room can be air-conditioned with any precision device or even a semi-industrial split. The air is discharged either simply into the room, or by means of a false floor construction directly to the server equipment.
But in this situation, there are many disadvantages, the main of which is the uneven divergence of the cooled air. Due to the mixing of warm and cold flows, there is a decrease in efficiency and an increase in the consumption of electricity to normalize the required temperature. Only small rooms can be cooled by general cooling.
Zone cooling of server cabinets with air conditioning
More reasonable is the air conditioning of server cabinets in rows, that is, processing takes place zonally. Each unit is responsible for cooling a specific area with the servers. This can happen either with the help of a special built-in cooler in the rack, or through a server cabinet with air conditioning in the kit. The plus is that there are no need for separate fans, and energy efficiency is not reduced at all.
We are talking about climate control in the server and data centers using inter-row or inter-row air conditioners, which can be installed in an existing SCR. They supply air directly to the servers. Unlike cabinet devices, flow blowing occurs on the grates of server installations or in a cold corridor.
More productive air conditioning of a number of server cabinets and racks occurs when the hot and cold air corridors are isolated from each other. Also, to achieve the maximum effect, a server cabinet with air conditioning should be completely sealed - even the slightest loss of cold must not be allowed.
If a decision is made to use a built-in cooler, then in addition to it, an outdoor compressor and condenser unit will be needed.
Individual air conditioning for cabinets and racks
What air conditioning is needed for a separate server rack or cabinet? As a rule, for individual cooling of each server installation, modular systems or monoblock installations of high power are used. They are easily mounted on the door of the server cabinet or on the wall. There are models for mounting on a rack shelf or on the top cabinet lid. Heated and cooled air move in a separate space inside, without going outside.
The efficiency and energy efficiency of a precision air conditioner for a server rack is very high, and the power potential is used without loss, therefore this type of air conditioning of server cabinets is considered the most rational.
Minus - the price of this type of equipment is much higher than the rest of the above refrigeration units. But the need to install a modular air conditioner in a rack is quite rare and only in large rooms with powerful equipment that generates a huge amount of heat.
Selection and installation of air conditioners in the server are always very important stages of design and installation work. Only experienced specialists will be able to do everything without errors and material losses, since the described type of service requires complex engineering solutions.
