CFD software aids data centre cooling

A Mentor Graphics Mechanical Analysis Division product story

Edited by the Engineeringtalk editorial team Jul 30, 2008

APC's system allows the user to model a wide range of data centre configurations and distill the results into simple algorithms that predict cooling performance for typical data centre layouts.

American Power Conversion (APC) is using Flomerics' Flovent computational fluid dynamics (CFD) software to develop the world's first real-time cooling calculator for data centre design.

The calculator computes a cooling performance metric called the capture index that assesses the local airflow around each rack and evaluates cooling performance and the scalability of cooling architecture.

As data centre cooling becomes more complicated and expensive due to the rapid rise in power densities of modern computing and communications systems, the ability to predict local temperature and airflow near equipment racks becomes critical.

Running computer simulations of the airflow and heat transfer throughout the data centre can provide a solution, but analysing the results requires time and expertise.

With Flomerics' Flovent CFD software, APC developed a much simpler approach that enables the user to model a wide range of data centre configurations and distill the results into simple algorithms that predict cooling performance for typical data centre layouts.

APC engineers calculated the capture indices for many thousands of rack and cooler layouts from Flovent simulations.

Based on these results, APC developed mathematical models that predict the capture index based on data centre layout without the need for a full 3D airflow simulation.

These models were then incorporated into APC software tools developed for designing and managing data centres such as InfraStruXure Designer and Capacity Manager.

"We are excited to partner with APC to help data centre designers and owners evaluate different arrangements of computing equipment and cooling systems in order to optimise their data centre design and ensure satisfactory cooling performance prior to equipment installation or reconfiguration", said Mike Reynell, Marketing Director, Flomerics.

"The Flomerics software development and engineering teams understand the value of the capture index to data centre cooling applications and were able to deliver the needed functionality".

The cooling calculator helps design and maintain data centres that deliver reliable performance while minimising cooling costs.

The user is able to quickly and easily lay out the physical arrangement of equipment in the data centre by dragging and dropping virtual racks and coolers.

Cooling calculations are then performed in real time and cooling performance is immediately indicted by a colour coding of racks based on the capture index.

"Our real-time cooling calculator based on Flomerics software brings important new benefits to APC Capacity Manager customers", according to Phil London, Vice President and Chief Technologist of Data Center Solutions, Services and Software at APC.

"Managers now can run predictive scenarios to make faster decisions about additions, changes and events, resulting in greater operational efficiency in data centres".