Precision air conditioners in the server room: types and validity of their choice

One of the types of industrial premises is a server room, which houses important technical objects that are 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 generate 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, a server room requires compliance with strict regulations regarding certain air parameters (humidity, dustiness). If they are not maintained year-round, expensive electronic equipment will fail. Therefore, properly designed air conditioning of server rooms is one of the first tasks to be faced during their arrangement.

Is it possible to use a split air conditioning system in a 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, household and semi-industrial split systems of higher power are most often installed: wall, channel and column (sometimes ceiling). Additionally, a duplicate climate system is provided in the event of a breakdown of the main one in the form of 50% or 100% replacement. To this we have to add low temperature kits for cooling in the winter and introduce many more elements that increase the likelihood of failure of the entire system.

Main disadvantages

A few more disadvantages in air conditioning server rooms with split systems are:

• inaccurate temperature maintenance;
• excessive dehumidification of the air, from which unnecessary electrification occurs;
• the appearance of excess dust (this is very dangerous for servers) due to a weak fan and an ineffective filtration system;
• decrease in efficiency due to energy consumption for condensation of released moisture;
• quick development of the resource with round-the-clock and year-round work.

A split system usually does not provide for the ability to operate with such a load, therefore, the capacity limit is exhausted after a year at 50% redundancy and after two at 100%.

Advantages of precision air conditioners for server rooms

A more expensive, but at the same time more reliable option is considered to be the installation in server rooms of precision air conditioners related to professional climate control 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 air conditioners for server rooms has such advantages as compared to semi-industrial splits, such as:

• precise temperature control (+ 1 ° C) and moisture control (+ 2 ° C);
• year-round uninterrupted operation;
• operation in extreme heat and frost;
• combination with dispatch control and management systems.

Some precision server room air conditioners are capable of operating 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 a split-system type. If we take into account the cooling method, then there are 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.

From a well-known company UNIFLAIR there is a precision cabinet with an energy-saving mode of operation, which can consume electricity in half less than others due to the use of free cooling without a refrigeration cycle and turning on compressors.

The standard precision machine consists of a frame with automation, heat exchangers, filters, fans, refrigeration circuit elements and power electrics. From above it is covered with panels that protect it from external influences. If the presence of an outdoor unit is provided, then it can be executed in the form of a compressor-condensing unit or an external air-cooled condenser.

The principle of operation of installations of this type is not very complicated:

• the air is taken by the device either from the room or outside;
• cools inside;
• it is given the required percentage of moisture;
• then it is released outside into the room.

The air intake can be from the bottom or from the top.

Selection of an air conditioner for a server room according to the method of room cooling

How to install an air conditioner in a server room and by what parameters is it selected?

Depending on the area of ​​the server room, the number of electronics and its heat release, specialists provide 3 cooling options:

• the whole area in general;
• each row of servers separately;
• each server cabinet or rack individually.

General cooling of the server room

The first method seems to be quite effective - the server room can be conditioned by any precision device or even a semi-industrial split. 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 streams, there is a decrease in efficiency and an increase in electricity consumption to normalize the required temperature. Only small rooms can be cooled using the general cooling method.

Zonal cooling of server cabinets with air conditioner

Air conditioning of server cabinets in rows is considered more reasonable, that is, processing occurs zonal. Each unit is responsible for cooling a specific area with servers. This can be done using a special built-in cooler in the rack, or using a server cabinet with an air conditioner included. The plus is that separate fans are not needed here, and energy efficiency is not reduced at all.

We are talking about climate control in server rooms and data centers using inter-row or in-row air conditioners, which can be installed in an existing ACS. They supply air directly to the servers. Unlike cabinet units, the flow is blown out onto the grates of server installations or into a cold aisle.

More efficient 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 maximum effect, the server cabinet with air conditioning must be completely sealed - not even the slightest loss of cold should be allowed.

If a decision is made to use a built-in cooler, then in addition to it, an outdoor condensing unit will be required.

Individual air conditioning of cabinets and racks

What kind of air conditioning is needed for a separate server rack or cabinet? As a rule, modular systems or high-power monoblock units are used for individual cooling of each server installation. They can be easily mounted on a server cabinet door or on a wall. Models are available for rack mounting or top cabinet mounting. Heated and cooled air moves in a separate space inside, without leaving outside.

The efficiency and energy efficiency of a precision air conditioner for a server rack are very high, and the capacity potential is used without losses, therefore this type of air conditioning in server cabinets is considered the most rational.

The downside is that the price of this type of equipment is much higher than that of the other refrigeration units described above. But the need to install a modular air conditioner in a rack occurs quite rarely and only in large rooms with powerful equipment that generates a huge amount of heat.

Selection and installation of air conditioners in server rooms are always very important stages of design and installation work. Only experienced specialists will be able to do everything without mistakes and material losses, since the described type of service requires complex engineering solutions.