To put it simply, row-level airflow management refers to improving cold aisle and hot aisle separation. It’s typically done once you’ve made improvements at the rack level (e.g. blanking panels) and raised floor level (e.g. brush grommets). When we talk to data center operators about improving airflow efficiency at the row, they’ll jump ahead to containment a little too quickly. The fact is, there are several areas in the row that can be addressed without engaging in a full-blown containment initiative.
But before we jump into cost-effective row-level suggestions, we should point out that the goal of any airflow management initiative should be to improve the intake air temperatures to IT equipment. More specifically, to reduce the highest intake air temperatures so that all intake temperatures are as low and even as possible. Doing this enables you to make changes to the controls of the cooling infrastructure, such as increasing temperature set points; lowering fan speeds; or, in many cases, turning cooling units completely off. Making these changes are key to achieving many of the benefits of airflow management: improved efficiency, increased capacity, and reduced operating costs. While we’re limiting this article to row-level best practices, airflow should be managed at all levels in the data center — rack, row, raised floor and room — to fully capitalize on all these benefits. Want some rack-level tips that won’t bust your budget? Click here.