Experimental study on improving thermal management of fan-wall data center by setting baffles in cold aisle

Abstract

To maintain a stable thermal environment in the data center, the air conditioning system operates at high energy consumption levels annually. The airflow organization within the data center significantly impacts the cooling effectiveness of the air conditioning system. To achieve uniform airflow distribution, this study explores the effects of vertical and horizontal baffles placed between the air supply outlet and rack, both individually and in combination. This study explores the applicability of baffles in fan-wall data centers, analyzing and obtaining the optimal baffle angle, spacing, distance, and their corresponding thermal environment. This research aims to provide an optimized solution for enhancing thermal conditions within server rooms. The results indicate that: (1) Both vertical and horizontal baffles can improve the cold air trajectory from the air supply outlet to the rack, effectively improving the thermal environment of the rack. (2) Implementing a single vertical baffle at a distance of 0 cm and an angle of 75° effectively eliminates heat accumulation and achieves uniform temperature distribution. (3) When vertical or horizontal baffles are arranged individually, distance has a significant impact on airflow organization, however, when both vertical and horizontal baffles are combined, the influence of distance is minimal