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Air Management 101 for Data Centers

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Air Management .

In the data center, it's easy to overlook airflow. But good airflow management is one of the key ways to keep energy costs in check. A according to a study by Pacific Gas and Electric, poor airflow management can reduce a CRAC unit's capacity by up to 50 percent.

The utility offers several suggestions for improving airflow management. First, make sure hot air is removed immediately as it exits equipment, rather than mixing with incoming cooling air. Use strict hot aisle/cold aisle configurations.

Hot/cold aisles can be configured in a variety of ways. But the idea is the same — to segregate incoming cool air from outgoing hot exhaust air. The arrangement is more efficient because it keeps intake air temperature down. And it can also allow for more efficient fan control setups, the utility says.