Abstract:
A data center is a specialized facility that houses computer systems, servers,
storage devices, and associated networking equipment, where energy efficiency is
crucial due to high overall energy consumption. The improvement of cooling system
efficiency represents a great opportunity for energy and cost savings in a data
center. Computational Fluid Dynamics (CFD) is an effective tool that provides
a platform for analyzing airflow patterns and thermal behavior in data centers,
for both existing and proposed configurations, before they are built. This study
presents a computational fluid dynamics (CFD)-transient analysis aimed at identifying
an efficient and optimized cooling layout for an air-cooled data center using
ANSYS Fluent software. A three-dimensional (3D) model of a raised-floor data
center is developed, and eight cooling layout configurations are investigated: four
configurations with a single air-conditioning unit (ACU) and the same four configurations
with dual ACUs. For each layout, airflow patterns and temperature distributions
are analyzed in terms of rack inlet temperature, hot-spot formation, and
ACU net cooling power. The simulation results provide detailed three-dimensional
temperature and velocity fields and demonstrate how ACU number, positioning,
and airflow organization influence the thermal performance of the data center. By
comparing the eight cases, the study identifies the layout configurations that most
effectively reduce hot spots and maintain inlet and outlet temperatures within the
allowable ranges recommended by the American Society of Heating, Refrigerating,
and Air-Conditioning Engineers (ASHRAE) standards. The results indicate that
the most efficient configuration for a data center equipped with a single ACU is
achieved with the ACU located on the front wall side, yielding a temperature of
20.12°C under the cold aisle arrangement. For the dual-ACU configuration, the
most efficient layout is obtained with ACUs placed on adjacent walls, resulting in
a temperature of 19.09°C under the hot aisle arrangement.
