Optimization of air distribution in data center of a university based on thermal environment evaluation indexes

Taking the data center of a university in Beijing as the research object, the experimentally verified CFD model is used to study the influences of closing the cold or hot aisle and different air conditioning locations on the thermal environment and air distribution of the data center. The thermal environment and air distribution of the data center are quantitatively analysed based on several thermal environment evaluation indexes. The research shows that closing the cold or hot aisle can effectively improve the velocity field and temperature field in the data center. The overall temperature of the data center when the hot aisle is closed is 1.5-2.0 ℃ lower than that when the cold aisle is closed. When the cold or hot aisle is closed, the return heat index (RHI) is reduced from about 110% to about 106%, and the optimization effects of the two ways are basically the same. The supply heat index (SHI) is reduced from 0.22 to about 0.10 when the cold aisle is closed, while the SHI is reduced to 0.08 when the hot aisle is closed and the optimization effect is better, but the SHI is only about 0.02 lower than that of closing the cold aisle. After comprehensive consideration, closing the cold aisle is the most suitable optimization scheme. After closing the cold or hot aisle, running the air conditioner NO.1 and 2 or NO.2 and 3 can achieve the best overall environment of the data center, while running NO.1 and 3 gets poor effect.