Simulation-Based Optimization of Data Center Cooling Performance Using Performance Indicators

This study investigates the effects of computer room air handler (CRAH) setpoints, room configurations, and containment strategies on a new set of metrics. The new metrics proposed by The Green Grid is called the performance indicator (PI) and include power usage effectiveness ratio (PUEr), thermal conformance, and thermal resilience. The study was conducted using the computation fluid dynamics software 6SigmaRoom, and the results show substantial effects on thermal conformance and thermal resilience when the configurations are changed, and when containment strategies are utilized. The CRAH setpoint influences the PUEr the most with higher setpoints resulting in lower PUEr values.