Achieving Ultra-Low Energy Consumption in Data Center Mechanical Systems Through Indirect Airside Economization

Author(s):  
Dan Comperchio ◽  
Sameer Behere

Data center cooling systems have long been burdened by high levels of redundancy requirements, resulting in inefficient system designs to satisfy a risk-adverse operating environment. As attitudes, technologies, and sustainability awareness change within the industry, data centers are beginning to realize higher levels of energy efficiency without sacrificing operational security. By exploiting the increased temperature and humidity tolerances of the information technology equipment (ITE), data center mechanical systems can leverage ambient conditions to operate in economization mode for increased times during the year. Economization provides one of the largest methodologies for data centers to reduce their energy consumption and carbon footprint. As outside air temperatures and conditions become more favorable for cooling the data center, mechanical cooling through vapor-compression cycles is reduced or entirely eliminated. One favorable method for utilizing low outside air temperatures without sacrificing indoor air quality is through deploying rotary heat wheels to transfer heat between the data center return air and outside air without introducing outside air into the white space. A metal corrugated wheel is rotated through two opposing airstreams with varying thermal gradients to provide a net cooling effect at significantly reduced electrical energy over traditional mechanical cooling topologies. To further extend the impacts of economization, data centers are also able to significantly raise operating temperatures beyond what is traditionally found in comfort cooling applications. The increase in the dry bulb temperature provided to the inlet of the information technology equipment, as well as an elevated temperature rise across the equipment significantly reduces the energy use within a data center.

Author(s):  
Madhusudan Iyengar ◽  
Roger R. Schmidt

The increasingly ubiquitous nature of computer and internet usage in our society, has driven advances in semiconductor technology, server packaging, and cluster level optimizations, in the IT industry. Not surprisingly this has an impact on our societal infrastructure with respect to providing the requisite energy to fuel these power hungry machines. Cooling has been found to contribute to about a third of the total data center energy consumption, and is the focus of this study. In this paper we develop and present physics based models to allow the prediction of the energy consumption and heat transfer phenomenon in a data center. These models allow the estimation of the microprocessor junction and server inlet air temperatures for different flow and temperature conditions at various parts of the data center cooling infrastructure. For a case study example considered, the chiller energy use was the biggest fraction of about 41% and also the most inefficient. The room air conditioning was the second largest energy component and also the second most inefficient. A sensitivity analysis of plant and chiller energy efficiency with chiller set point temperature and outdoor air conditions is also presented.


2009 ◽  
Vol 131 (2) ◽  
Author(s):  
Madhusudan Iyengar ◽  
Roger Schmidt

The increasingly ubiquitous nature of computer and internet usage in our society has driven advances in semiconductor technology, server packaging, and cluster level optimizations in the IT industry. Not surprisingly this has an impact on our societal infrastructure with respect to providing the requisite energy to fuel these power hungry machines. Cooling has been found to contribute about a third of the total data center energy consumption and is the focus of this study. In this paper we develop and present physics based models to allow the prediction of the energy consumption and heat transfer phenomenon in a data center. These models allow the estimation of the microprocessor junction and server inlet air temperatures for different flows and temperature conditions at various parts of the data center cooling infrastructure. For the case study example considered, the chiller energy use was the biggest fraction of about 41% and was also the most inefficient. The room air conditioning was the second largest energy component and was also the second most inefficient. A sensitivity analysis of plant and chiller energy efficiencies with chiller set point temperature and outdoor air conditions is also presented.


Author(s):  
Dan Comperchio ◽  
Sameer Behere

Data center energy consumption can be divided into three broad categories: Information Technology (IT), Electrical, and Mechanical. An efficient data center uses the least amount of non-IT energy, which is typically divided between the mechanical and electrical systems. Mechanical systems generally contribute a large portion of the non-IT energy use by providing cooling from compressor-based equipment [1,2] and because of this, strategies to reduce compressor energy consumption can lead to significant mechanical system energy savings. The most efficient way to reduce compressor energy is through elimination or significant reduction in annual runtime. This is possible with the use of integrated airside or waterside economizers. This paper demonstrates the impacts of economization in data centers through data collected from four operating facilities over the course of implementing various economizer improvement projects. System architectures include water-cooled centrifugal chiller plant with waterside economization, direct expansion air handling units (AHU) with airside economization, air-cooled centrifugal chillers with integrated waterside economization, and direct expansion computer room air conditioners (CRAC) with evaporative cooling and waterside economization. A systematic and methodical comparison of the baseline and post-conditions is discussed, comparing expected to observed economizer operating conditions. The comparison of multiple real-world scenarios revealed a range of variances in expected operation of economizer sequences to actual observations, indicating a need for close monitoring of system performance by data center operators to fully realize economizer benefits within facilities.


2020 ◽  
Vol 9 (3) ◽  
pp. 490
Author(s):  
Iman Al-Ayouty

Subsidizing electricity and non-electrical energy products has affected manufacturing output in Egypt, especially given the structure of Egypt’s manufacturing sector which leaning heavily towards capital- and energy-intensive products. This effect is captured in a production function estimated for the twenty industries making up Egypt’s manufacturing sector over the period 2002-2016. With homogeneous parameters, the estimated output elasticity of energy is 0.28. With panel member parameter heterogeneity, the output elasticity of energy is positive and statistically significant in ten manufacturing industries. Negative and statistically significant elasticity is however found in refined petroleum products, fabricated metal products, and electrical machinery and equipment. This indicates suboptimal energy use. Elasticity is also negative, though statistically insignificant, in: textiles, basic metals, and “other manufacturing”. Except for “other manufacturing”, industries of negative elasticity are all energy-intensive.  Moreover, refined petroleum, fabricated metals and basic metals are pollution-intensive. A priority policy measure is to remove subsidies from energy inefficient and polluting industries as opposed to mere ‘across-the-board’ removal. Keywords: energy consumption; manufacturing industries; energy- and pollution intensive; Egypt


Author(s):  
Burak Kantarci ◽  
Hussein T. Mouftah

Cloud computing aims to migrate IT services to distant data centers in order to reduce the dependency of the services on the limited local resources. Cloud computing provides access to distant computing resources via Web services while the end user is not aware of how the IT infrastructure is managed. Besides the novelties and advantages of cloud computing, deployment of a large number of servers and data centers introduces the challenge of high energy consumption. Additionally, transportation of IT services over the Internet backbone accumulates the energy consumption problem of the backbone infrastructure. In this chapter, the authors cover energy-efficient cloud computing studies in the data center involving various aspects such as: reduction of processing, storage, and data center network-related power consumption. They first provide a brief overview of the existing approaches on cool data centers that can be mainly grouped as studies on virtualization techniques, energy-efficient data center network design schemes, and studies that monitor the data center thermal activity by Wireless Sensor Networks (WSNs). The authors also present solutions that aim to reduce energy consumption in data centers by considering the communications aspects over the backbone of large-scale cloud systems.


2020 ◽  
Vol 12 (8) ◽  
pp. 3140 ◽  
Author(s):  
Pei Pei ◽  
Zongjie Huo ◽  
Oscar Sanjuán Martínez ◽  
Rubén González Crespo

Presently, energy is considered a significant resource that grows scarce with high demand and population in the global market. Therefore, a survey suggested that renewable energy sources are required to avoid scarcity. Hence, in this paper, a smart, sustainable probability distribution hybridized genetic approach (SSPD-HG) has been proposed to decrease energy consumption and minimize the total completion time for a single machine in smart city machine interface platforms. Further, the estimated set of non-dominated alternative using a multi-objective genetic algorithm has been hybridized to address the problem, which is mathematically computed in this research. This paper discusses the need to promote the integration of green energy to reduce energy use costs by balancing regional loads. Further, the timely production of delay-tolerant working loads and the management of thermal storage at data centers has been analyzed in this research. In addition, differences in bandwidth rates between users and data centers are taken into account and analyzed at a lab scale using SSPD-HG for energy-saving costs and managing a balanced workload.


2020 ◽  
Vol 142 (2) ◽  
Author(s):  
Oluwaseun Awe ◽  
Jimil M. Shah ◽  
Dereje Agonafer ◽  
Prabjit Singh ◽  
Naveen Kannan ◽  
...  

Abstract Airside economizers lower the operating cost of data centers by reducing or eliminating mechanical cooling. It, however, increases the risk of reliability degradation of information technology (IT) equipment due to contaminants. IT Equipment manufacturers have tested equipment performance and guarantee the reliability of their equipment in environments within ISA 71.04-2013 severity level G1 and the ASHRAE recommended temperature-relative humidity (RH) envelope. IT Equipment manufacturers require data center operators to meet all the specified conditions consistently before fulfilling warranty on equipment failure. To determine the reliability of electronic hardware in higher severity conditions, field data obtained from real data centers are required. In this study, a corrosion classification coupon experiment as per ISA 71.04-2013 was performed to determine the severity level of a research data center (RDC) located in an industrial area of hot and humid Dallas. The temperature-RH excursions were analyzed based on time series and weather data bin analysis using trend data for the duration of operation. After some period, a failure was recorded on two power distribution units (PDUs) located in the hot aisle. The damaged hardware and other hardware were evaluated, and cumulative corrosion damage study was carried out. The hypothetical estimation of the end of life of components is provided to determine free air-cooling hours for the site. There was no failure of even a single server operated with fresh air-cooling shows that using evaporative/free air cooling is not detrimental to IT equipment reliability. This study, however, must be repeated in other geographical locations to determine if the contamination effect is location dependent.


Author(s):  
N. Fumo ◽  
V. Bortone ◽  
J. C. Zambrano

Data centers are facilities that primarily contain electronic equipment used for data processing, data storage, and communications networking. Regardless of their use and configuration, most data centers are more energy intensive than other buildings. The continuous operation of Information Technology equipment and power delivery systems generates a significant amount of heat that must be removed from the data center for the electronic equipment to operate properly. Since data centers spend up to half their energy on cooling, cooling systems becomes a key factor for energy consumption reduction strategies and alternatives in data centers. This paper presents a theoretical analysis of an absorption chiller driven by solar thermal energy as cooling plant alternative for data centers. Source primary energy consumption is used to compare the performance of different solar cooling plants with a standard cooling plant. The solar cooling plants correspond to different combinations of solar collector arrays and thermal storage tank, with a boiler as source of energy to ensure continuous operation of the absorption chiller. The standard cooling plant uses an electric chiller. Results suggest that the solar cooling plant with flat-plate solar collectors is a better option over the solar cooling plant with evacuated-tube solar collectors. However, although solar cooling plants can decrease the primary energy consumption when compared with the standard cooling plant, the net present value of the cost to install and operate the solar cooling plants are higher than the one for the standard cooling plant.


Author(s):  
Milton Meckler

What does remain a growing concern for many users of Data Centers is their continuing availability following the explosive growth of internet services in recent years, The recent maximizing of Data Center IT virtualization investments has resulted in improving the consolidation of prior (under utilized) server and cabling resources resulting in higher overall facility utilization and IT capacity. It has also resulted in excessive levels of equipment heat release, e.g. high energy (i.e. blade type) servers and telecommunication equipment, that challenge central and distributed air conditioning systems delivering air via raised floor or overhead to rack mounted servers arranged in alternate facing cold and hot isles (in some cases reaching 30 kW/rack or 300 W/ft2) and returning via end of isle or separated room CRAC units, which are often found to fight each other, contributing to excessive energy use. Under those circumstances, hybrid, indirect liquid cooling facilities are often required to augment above referenced air conditioning systems in order to prevent overheating and degradation of mission critical IT equipment to maintain rack mounted subject rack mounted server equipment to continue to operate available within ASHRAE TC 9.9 prescribed task psychometric limits and IT manufacturers specifications, beyond which their operational reliability cannot be assured. Recent interest in new web-based software and secure cloud computing is expected to further accelerate the growth of Data Centers which according to a recent study, the estimated number of U.S. Data Centers in 2006 consumed approximately 61 billion kWh of electricity. Computer servers and supporting power infrastructure for the Internet are estimated to represent 1.5% of all electricity generated which along with aggregated IT and communications, including PC’s in current use have also been estimated to emit 2% of global carbon emissions. Therefore the projected eco-footprint of Data Centers into the future has now become a matter of growing concern. Accordingly our paper will focus on how best to improve the energy utilization of fossil fuels that are used to power Data Centers, the energy efficiency of related auxiliary cooling and power infrastructures, so as to reduce their eco-footprint and GHG emissions to sustainable levels as soon as possible. To this end, we plan to demonstrate significant comparative savings in annual energy use and reduction in associated annual GHG emissions by employing a on-site cogeneration system (in lieu of current reliance on remote electric power generation systems), introducing use of energy efficient outside air (OSA) desiccant assisted pre-conditioners to maintain either Class1, Class 2 and NEBS indoor air dew-points, as needed, when operated with modified existing (sensible only cooling and distributed air conditioning and chiller systems) thereby eliminating need for CRAC integral unit humidity controls while achieving a estimated 60 to 80% (virtualized) reduction in the number servers within a existing (hypothetical post-consolidation) 3.5 MW demand Data Center located in southeastern (and/or southern) U.S., coastal Puerto Rico, or Brazil characterized by three (3) representative microclimates ranging from moderate to high seasonal outside air (OSA) coincident design humidity and temperature.


2020 ◽  
Vol 244 ◽  
pp. 118551 ◽  
Author(s):  
Eric Alberto Ocampo Batlle ◽  
José Carlos Escobar Palacio ◽  
Electo Eduardo Silva Lora ◽  
Arnaldo Martín Martínez Reyes ◽  
Maurish Melian Moreno ◽  
...  

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