AlfaTech Big Book: Data Centers

E N G I N E E R I N G S E R V I C E S

CFD / WIND ANALYSIS

previous projects, AlfaTech has been able to advise on proposed equipment placement, building arrangements, recirculation concerns, fresh air flow, and other elements to create an optimized design. Interior CFD models can be used to model airflow within a data center. Particularly when an underfloor air plenum design strategy is used, an airflow model can assess the floor height, the impact of underfloor obstructions, and the placement of air handling systems. In addition, indoor CFD models can assess the flow of air at the server rows to address hot spots, hot air recirculation, dead zones, and proposed phasing strategies. Through the use of CFD, AlfaTech can help clients optimize their design to ensure proper performance and operation of the completed design.

In order to complete a design for advanced facilities, there are often requirements to validate the design approach using computational fluid dynamic (CFD) models. CFD models can simulate a variety of design conditions for both interior and exterior airflow conditions. AlfaTech has developed modeling techniques for both interior and exterior airflow modeling scenarios. Exterior CFD models can be used to analyze a building’s performance under prevailing or common wind conditions (speed and direction). These exterior models can help to influence design of outside air intakes, exhaust or relief openings, pressure sensor locations, and orientation of buildings to achieve optimal air flow. A common use of exterior wind models for mission critical data center facilities is to confirm standby or emergency generator performance. Typical diesel generators draw in combustion air and exhaust the products of combustion which can range from 500°F up to 1,000°F. The exhaust plumes can, if improperly designed and arranged, be drawn into outside air intakes or otherwise artificially influence the performance of neighboring equipment. Due to the high temperature and relatively small volume of combustion air required, these plumes tend to rise rapidly and as such, may not impact surrounding equipment performance. In addition to combustion air, a typical generator draws in and exhausts significant airflow for radiator cooling. These airflow rates can have a larger impact concerning performance of surroundings systems, and thus modeling is necessary to ensure required system performance is achieved. Through wind modeling on