Controlling server temperatures is a critical challenge for any data center.

Cooling Challenges

As in most data center facilities, Liquid Web’s data centers had long deployed an open-air area strategy for controlling server temperatures. Multiple server rows were spread throughout the vast facility and collectively cooled by a network of traditional metal ducts with air diffusers placed several feet apart along each duct. However, this set-up created hot and cold spots between the spaced diffusers, rather than the consistent, cool environment that each server rack required for peak performance.

Liquid Web facility managers were forced to fully utilize the 39 up flow air conditioning units in order to distribute the necessary airflow throughout the data center. Unfortunately, this approach wasted energy and was not effective in cooling the server racks, as airflow was rarely focused towards the load.

“While our existing infrastructure was able to effectively cool the data centers heat load, our facility was not operating efficiently when it came to air distribution and server rack cooling,” said Aaron Reif, data center project manager at Liquid Web. “After the initial focused-air distribution tests, our team was ready to retrofit the entire air distribution process with fabric ducts.”

As digital data usage grows exponentially every year, the costs to operate and cool numerous server racks is proportionally rising. Fortunately, Liquid Web was able to utilize the Property Assessed Clean Energy (PACE) program to partially finance the cost-savings retrofitting project. The PACE program allows for private lenders to fund energy efficient upgrades for buildings in a variety of categories, including heating, ventilation, and air conditioning. 

Download our whitepaper to learn more about customizable airflow in data centers.

A Retrofitted Layout

The first challenge was converting the open-air facility to a series of directed-air areas. The facility is divided into 8 sections of 12 server rows, each using clear curtain walls for air separation. These dedicated sections create focused micro-climates, which allowed for the targeted, controlled cooling of server racks.

Liquid Web’s engineers then turned their attention to air conditioning (A/C). Each of the original 39 A/C units, which ranged from 64KW-90KW, were removed. In their place, 22 A/C units each operating at 165 KW of cooling capacity were installed in the facility. Improving on the outdated loosely balanced A/C system, the retrofitted design operates as an N+1 redundancy environment, covering the 8 server sections seamlessly. In this setup, the network is built to have at least one independent backup A/C unit in the case of component failure. As the facility’s servers house and protect various company’s essential data, ensuring consistent temperature control and air distribution is paramount.

“The customization of the fabric duct nozzles solved our air distribution challenges,” said Reif. “Combined with the flexibility to decide the frequency of nozzles along each duct, the fabric ductwork system gave our team the ability to tailor the airflow for each server section.” 

Mounting of the duct was another key consideration in this project. Unlike heavy metal ductwork options, the light-weight fabric makeup of DuctSox made ceiling suspension possible. Using a custom hanging system, the fabric ducts are connected to the celling grid and positioned above the cold aisles in each server section allowing for air distribution as close to the load as possible.

“The fact that DuctSox were less expensive than alternatives and incredibly lightweight made this project installation possible,” continued Reif, “As our server demands continue to grow, we’re confident that this air distribution layout can adapt and expand with us.” The Liquid Web retrofitting project is set to be completed in early 2020. For more information about Liquid Web, visit the Liquid Web site. 

Check out our case studies for Involta-Northpointe and Involta-Cedar Rapids to see more custom data center cooling solutions.