Crank Up the Data Center Heat

The data center industry is rapidly moving towards a future of high-density computing. This shift is accompanied by increased scrutiny and legislation around energy use and sustainability, as well as rising competition for available power. Running a data center as efficiently as possible is becoming less of a luxury and more of a necessity.

One relatively simple and common approach from an energy standpoint is to increase the supply air temperature to reduce the energy required for cooling. Research indicates that organizations can save 4% to 5% in energy costs for every 1°F increase in server inlet temperature. Raising air supply temperatures reduces the workload on the cooling infrastructure, resulting in less compressor power on chillers, less water in adiabatic systems, lower fan power on heat exchange with the outdoors, and more free cooling hours. It seems like an obvious choice. However, raising temperatures in the data center can have significant energy savings implications, but it can also lead to adverse effects on performance and resilience.

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The aim of this blog is to highlight considerations when raising temperatures and to explain how to use simulation to assess the impact on data center performance before adjusting the thermostat and cranking up the heat.

1) Raising hot spots: Raising supply temperatures to the data center will likely raise the air temperature arriving at the IT (computers inside the data center). Any existing hot spots will become hotter, putting IT at further risk of performance issues or shutdowns. Monitoring may not pick up these hot spots until IT performance begins to degrade and users/customers start to complain.

2) Increasing IT fan power draw: Raising temperatures at the inlet to IT will likely cause IT fans to ramp up, leading to increased fan power draw. This additional fan power increases electricity costs and adds more heat into the data center for the cooling system to manage.

3) Reduced resilience to failure: Raising temperatures can reduce the time available to react to failures and impact the performance of the IT systems. It's important to consider the impact on systems such as UPSs, batteries, or backup generators. Starting from a hotter initial condition means having less time to react and less buffer before IT performance is affected.

4) Reduced capacity: Raising the cooling system's air temperatures can impact future expansions. While running a hotter data center with existing capacity might work initially, future expansions of new IT hardware could put extra strain on the system, leading to thermal issues. Understanding future deployments can help in making informed decisions about short-term energy savings.

It seems like there's more to consider before raising the temperatures. Some operators have chosen to increase temperatures and monitor for any negative impacts gradually. This trial-and-error approach may not immediately raise concerns, but it makes the effects of failure and future changes less certain. So, what's the solution?

Fortunately, using Cadence Reality DC suite for simulation is really the only way to understand the impact of raising temperatures. Simulating the increase in supply temperatures will demonstrate how far you can safely push things, and the software will also reveal where your added risks lie. With the ability to simulate failures in your power and cooling system, Cadence Reality DC can show you the long-term impact on your data center performance as you wait for your generators to kick in.

Raising data center temperatures can ultimately provide significant savings, but it needs to be managed carefully to ensure no impact on current and future IT performance. Cadence Reality DC offers a proactive glimpse into the future of the data center, allowing you to maximize energy savings while minimizing risk at the same time.

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Learn More

• Why Your Data Center Needs a Digital Twin
• Cadence Reality Digital Twin Platform