By: Raj Kapoor P.E.

Ron: The fan and pumps use cube of power rule for air and water they provide and or circulate in data center. Ambient climatological conditions vary in 24 hours, say in Texas in summer from 50 Degree F to 102 degree F or even more in some places. The load on the data center equipment also varies from 15% to 50% in tier IV data center and from 30% to 95% in Tier I and Tier II data centers. Real good controls to adjust air and water volumes by using VFD’s as well as modulating chillers with full throttle use of cooling tower to extent allowed by chiller manufacturer can result in lots of energy saving. From 1992 data center to present day data center, if we are not using less than half of the energy (not comparing to Holland), then we need to look at it closely. We need to benchmark each data center and should keep it in top 10% for lowest energy use for the area. Free water side or air side cooling or non-refrigerated cooling should be first thing to look at. Containment of aisles, use of 6sigmaDC program to very air and water quantity as 24×7 operational tool with ambient temperature input is the best option to reduce PUE. I can take any data center, audit and bring them in top 10% data center of the region for lowest energy use.