HVAC Cooling Systems for Data Centers

In HVAC Cooling Systems for Data Centers, you'll learn ...

• Key concepts and practices relating to data cooling technology
• Why data centers require highly specialized precision cooling, instead of standard comfort cooling
• Various cooling options for data centers and how to apply them effectively
• Air flow practices that improve conditions for IT equipment and reduce overall HVAC energy consumption

Overview

Preview a portion of this course before purchasing it.

Credit: 4 PDH

Length: 55 pages

The basic physics of a data center is that electricity is converted to heat. Equipment in the data center expends power, which generates heat… thus requiring air conditioning and ventilation equipment to keep the equipment cool and running well. If the temperature rises too high, equipment will begin to malfunction or become damaged as the internal components begin to swell and pull away from each other (or simply burn-up). The cooling system is also required to adjust the humidity of the air and to remove particles. Depending on the climate at a data center’s location, moisture may need to be added or removed. Similarly, the types and amount of particles to be removed from the air are determined by the location and external events.

Data center cooling is a highly specialized area that uses precision cooling equipment that differs from conventional comfort equipment. The combination of heat and the high sensitivity of electronic components in data center environments demand maximum availability and performance of the cooling equipment. Precision cooling systems have been designed specifically for this purpose.

This 4-hr course presents a detailed discussion on the key concepts and practices relating to data cooling technology, as well as air flow practices that improve conditions for IT equipment and reduce overall HVAC energy consumption.

This course is aimed at mechanical engineers, electrical engineers, HVAC consultants and engineers, architects, O & M professionals, facility managers, estimators and general audience. No specific prerequisite training or experience is required.

Learning Objectives

Upon completion of this course, participants will be able to:

• Determine data center space-planning and utility requirements based on current and future needs.
• Explain the fundamentals of heat gain, temperature and humidity requirements, pressurization, and filtration as they apply to data centers.
• Distinguish between comfort cooling and precision cooling.
• Describe raised-floor and overhead air-distribution schemes for data center cooling.
• Explain how airflow is managed in a data center to prevent hot-air and cool-air mixing and how containment can improve airflow management.
• Identify environmental implications, design and system pitfalls, and energy-efficiency optimization considerations.
• Describe key elements of data center cooling systems, including CRAC units, DX systems, chilled-water systems, and evaporative condensers.
• Explain the implications of equipment placement, installation, and decommissioning for cooling and energy efficiency.
• Describe free cooling and how it may be applied in various data center scenarios.
• Apply HVAC best practices to data center site conditions to improve energy efficiency.
• Identify benchmark energy-efficiency figures for an ideal data center.

Certificate of Completion

You will be able to immediately print a certificate of completion after passing a multiple-choice quiz consisting of 25 questions. PDH credits are not awarded until the course is completed and quiz is passed.