There are two options for installing a containerization system in an already operating turbine building (I will tell you about the installation of isolation systems in turbine halls under construction in the next part). In the first case, we isolate the cold, and in the second - the hot corridor. Each option has its own characteristics, pros and cons.
Cold aisle containment
Principle of operation: perforated plates installed in front of the front door of the cabinet are used to supply cold air to the corridor. Hot air "splashes" into the total volume of the room.
Installation of racks: to isolate the cold aisle, cabinet air conditioners are located around the perimeter of the room and blow cold air under the raised floor. In this case, the cabinets are in a row facing each other.
Pros:
- relatively low cost
- ease of scaling: the cabinet air conditioner can be installed in any free space around the perimeter of the turbine hall.
Cons:
- complexity of scaling: within several corridors, there may be problems with the uniformity of air supply to different rows,
- in the case of highly loaded equipment, it is difficult to increase the local supply of cold flow, since for this it is necessary to install additional perforated raised floor plates,
- not the most comfortable working conditions for the staff due to the fact that the entire room is located in a hot zone.
Design features:
- you need an additional margin for the installation of a raised floor and an additional area for installing a ramp at the entrance,
- since the container is insulated along the inner perimeter of the corridor, the racks require insulation of the front front and a plug-plinth for the rack in the front.
Suitable for: small server rooms, or machine rooms with a low load (up to 5 kW per rack).
hot aisle
Principle of operation: in the case of isolation of a hot corridor, inter-row air conditioners are used, blowing a cold stream into the total volume of the room.
Rack installation: cabinets are installed in rows, back to back. At the same time, air conditioners are installed in the same row with cabinets in order to minimize the length of the air flow and thereby increase the performance of the refrigeration supply system. Hot air is thrown into a closed container and then returned to the air conditioner.
Pros:
- a reliable, high performance solution that can be used with high-load racks as well as in rooms with low ceilings, since neither a raised floor nor an overhead plenum is required for its installation,
- easy scalability due to the fact that each corridor is independent,
- comfortable stay of staff in the room.
Cons:
- price: in this option, more air conditioners are needed, while each container needs its own backup air conditioner,
- inter-row air conditioners take up space that could be used for server cabinets,
- scaling difficulties: adding air conditioners is possible only if additional connection points are provided in advance.
Design features:
- the room does not require additional headroom,
- the container itself is isolated along the outer perimeter of the corridor,
- cabinets require insulation of the front edge and a cap-plinth, as well as insulation of all cabinet roofs,
- for end cabinets of the corridor, insulation of the sides of the cabinet and the plinth along the outer perimeter is required.
Suitable for: small and medium server rooms with a high load (up to 10 kW per rack).
A special case: cabinet containerization systems with a closed cooling circuit.
Principle of operation: air conditioners are installed next to cabinets or inside them, forming a single closed hot and cold zones. In this case, air exchange takes place inside the cabinet (or a small group of cabinets).
Pros:
- a high-performance solution that is used with loaded racks or in a room not intended for accommodating IT equipment (the container also functions as a protective shell for IT equipment),
- Can be used in rooms with low ceilings.
Cons:
- the high cost of the solution eliminates the possibility of mass placement of cabinets,
- limited scalability: a separate air conditioner is required for each set to provide redundancy,
- complication of the fire extinguishing system: each closed cabinet turns into a separate compartment that needs its own set of monitoring sensors and a local fire extinguishing system.
Design features:
- the room does not require additional headroom,
- The design of the cabinet provides for a completely closed circuit, including with the possibility of IP protection.
Suitable for: those who need to place highly loaded computing systems (up to 20 kW per rack).
Source: habr.com