Data centre cooling

The Cold Aisle Containment system assists in increasing energy efficiency in data centres by optimising the operating temperature of IT equipment.

The system provides conditioned air to an enclosed ‘cold aisle’ which ensures the thermal dynamics within the data centre do not impact on the volume of cold air delivered to the front of the IT equipment. Furthermore, the system prevents the mixing of cold and warm air in the room and helps to ensure return air temperature to air conditioning equipment is at a higher temperature.

The system operates by guiding the cooled air over the data centre’s raised floor into a closed cold aisle between the server racks. The hardware components are cooled as much as required and they then blow the air (now heated) into the surrounding room, where it rises to the top. A ‘cushion’ of warm air is then formed below the ceiling. As the cold aisle is blocked off, warm air cannot enter. The heated exhaust air can then be freely extracted from the room via the air-conditioning unit and, once cooled, let in again as cold air.