AirContain Cold Aisle
Cold Aisle Containment: Flexible Solutions for Retrofit Sites
Cold Aisle Containment (CAC) is often the easiest and most practical containment solution for existing or retrofit data centers. As long as your site utilizes either underfloor or overhead supply air, containing the aisle is highly achievable.
Common CAC Implementation Methods
1. Horizontal Ceiling Panels: A widely used approach involves installing horizontal ceiling panels across the tops of the server cabinets.
Visibility: Clear panels are often used to ensure high light transmission within the aisle.
Fire Safety: Melt-away panels are a common safety feature, designed to fall away before fire suppression is released.
2. Vertical Panels: Another effective method uses vertical panels that extend from the top of the server cabinets up to the drop ceiling.
This works best when ceilings are not excessively high and if both hot and cold aisles have fire suppression coverage.
For sites with high ceilings, AirContain's self-supported containment with partial-height panels is highly effective. These panels are engineered to prevent most air recirculation over the cabinet tops without needing to reach the full ceiling height.
AirContain Systems: How We Deliver Massive Energy Savings
Effective containment is the foundation of efficient data center cooling. This increased control allows the data center manager to accurately choose the temperature supplied directly to the servers.
The Problem of Over-Cooling
The ASHRAE 9.9 standard recommends a maximum server air intake temperature of 80.6∘F (27∘C) for mission-critical applications. Without containment, most Computer Room Air Conditioning (CRAC) units must be set as low as 55∘F (13∘C). Even with this extreme setting, the air is only around 60∘F (16∘C) by the time it reaches the cold aisle. This over-cooling is necessary solely to counteract the hot exhaust air spilling back into the cold aisle.
Achieve Optimal CRAC Set Points
By implementing an Air Contain hot or cold aisle containment solution, you can drastically adjust the CRAC set points much higher. A common rule of thumb is that for every 1-degree increase in the set point, there is a 3-4% decrease in cooling costs.
Based on this principle, here is a conservative example of the potential cost savings:
Metric Details Annual Cooling Costs $350,000 Set Point Increase10∘F Estimated Savings (30%)$105,000
Frequently Asked Questions
What is air containment?
Air containment separates hot and cold air in data centers for improved cooling efficiency and reduced energy costs.
How do your systems work?
Our systems utilize custom-engineered solutions to optimize airflow, ensuring maximum thermal efficiency in server environments.
What services do you offer?
We provide design, fabrication, installation, and ongoing service for hot and cold aisle containment systems tailored to your needs.
Are your solutions scalable?
Yes, our systems are built for scalability, allowing for future expansion as your data center needs grow and expand.
What are custom enclosures?
Custom enclosures are precision-fit panels designed to optimize airflow around your server racks for enhanced cooling.
How do you ensure compliance?
Our solutions comply with modern data center standards, ensuring optimal performance and energy efficiency in your facility.