Data Center Airflow Management Retrofit

As data center energy densities, measured in power-use per square foot, increase, energy savings for cooling can be realized by optimizing airflow pathways within the data center. Due to constraints from under-floor dimensions, obstructions, and leakage, this is especially important in existing data centers with typical under-floor air distribution. Fortunately, airflow-capacity can be improved significantly in most data centers, as described below in the airflow management overview. In addition, a generalized air management approach is provided listing measures to improve data center airflow. This case study bulletin presents air management improvements that were retrofitted in an older legacy data center at Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory (LBNL). Particular airflow improvements, performance results, and benefits are reviewed. Finally, a series of lessons learned gained during the retrofit project at LBNL is presented.