Cold aisle containment refers to a construction design for data centers where the cooling air and exhaust air of server racks are separated. It is also known as ‘Cold Aisle Containment’. This design is a cooling strategy aimed at optimizing the efficiency of cooling systems in the data center. This is achieved by separating the cold air needed for cooling the servers from the (warm) exhaust air.
Functionality and structure
In the data center, the server racks are arranged in rows so that the front sides of the racks face each other in a so-called cold aisle. The cold air is generated by cooling systems and directed through a raised floor, located beneath the server rooms, into the cold aisle where it flows through the air outlets at the bottom of the racks.
The containment of the cold aisle is achieved using aluminum profiles and solid ceiling and wall panels positioned along the cold aisle. This construction prevents the mixing of cold and warm air.
Benefits
- Improved cooling performance: The hardware is cooled more efficiently as the cold air is directed straight to the servers.
- Increased energy efficiency: The targeted separation of air flows reduces energy consumption for cooling.
- Environmental protection: The lower energy consumption also improves the CO2 footprint.
Background
Traditional cooling methods cooled the entire room and led to an inefficient mixing of warm and cold air. These methods were sufficient when energy costs were low and rack density was low, but are no longer economical today due to high energy costs and environmental requirements. Thus, cold aisle containment is a modern solution to eliminate inefficiencies.
Component of a Green IT strategy
The Green IT concept refers to environmentally friendly and resource-conserving information technologies. The implementation of cold aisle containment significantly reduces energy consumption in data centers. This leads to a reduction in CO2 emissions and thereby supports companies’ sustainability goals.
Summary
Cold aisle containment is an essential element of modern cooling strategies in data centers, enabling increased efficiency and a reduction in operating costs and CO2 emissions through the separation of cold and warm air. It contributes significantly to the Green IT concept by minimizing energy consumption and thus making a positive contribution to environmental protection.
