A Compact Thermal Model for Data Center Analysis using the Zonal Method

Abstract

Modeling the thermal environment for data centers, including prediction of airflow and temperature distributions, is generally an extremely time-consuming process using full-scale CFD analysis. Reduced order models are necessary in order to provide real-time assessment of cooling requirements. The use of a coarse-grained zonal model is being investigated as a predictive tool, and this article details the development and implementation of a three-dimensional, pressurized zonal model. To construct and validate the zonal model, a basic data center configuration was analyzed using a finite volume software package. The calculated flow fields provide the spatial flow coefficients required in the zonal model, which is based on the power law method (PLM). A physically-based mapping between the controllable spatial mass flow rate and temperature distribution was obtained. Good agreement (within 10% average relative error) was obtained between the zonal model predictions and the CFD results. These preliminary results show promise that zonal models may yield an effective real-time thermal management design tool for data centers.

Acknowledgments

This research was funded by the Small Scale Systems Integration and Packaging Center (S3IP) at Binghamton University. The S3IP is a New York State Center of Excellence and receives funding from the New York State Office of Science, Technology and Innovation (NYSTAR), the Empire State Development Corporation, and a consortium of industrial member companies.