Hot aisle containment: Enhancing data centre efficiency

What is Hot Aisle Containment?

Hot Aisle Containment (HAC) is a leading data centre cooling strategy designed to improve cooling efficiency and reduce energy costs. By isolating hot exhaust air emitted from server racks, HAC ensures that this hot air returns directly to the computer room air conditioning (CRAC) by funnelling it through an overhead plenum. This method prevents hot and cold air from mixing, which enhances the overall performance of the cooling system.

Difference between hot and cold aisle containment

Understanding the differences between them is important for choosing the right solution for your data centre:

Hot Aisle Containment (HAC):

• Isolates hot air from server exhaust.
• Hot air is channelled back to the CRAC unit.
• Prevents hot and cold air mixing, increasing cooling efficiency.
• Suitable for raised floor and slab environments.

Cold Aisle Containment (CAC):

• Isolates cold air supplied to server racks.
• Cold air is directed into server intakes.
• Prevents cold air from dissipating into the data centre, improving cooling precision.
• Often used in raised floor environments.

Cooling efficiency and cost savings

By ensuring that hot exhaust air reaches the CRAC at the highest possible temperature, the CRAC unit operates more efficiently, enhancing its cooling tonnage. This efficiency translates into significant cost savings over time.

Key benefits of Hot Aisle Containment

Enhanced cooling efficiency:

• Separates supply and return airflow.
• Provides uniform and predictable temperatures for IT equipment and AC units.
• Works in both raised floor and slab environments.

Energy savings:

• Reduces energy consumption by preventing hot and cold air mixing.
• Increases overall cooling capacity, leading to lower operational costs.

Operational performance:

• Minimises cold air mixing with hot exhaust air.
• Improves the return of warmer air to the CRAC
• Enhances equipment performance by maintaining optimal operating temperatures.

Environmental impact

Implementing HAC systems can significantly reduce the environmental footprint of data centres. By optimising cooling efficiency, data centres consume less energy, leading to lower carbon emissions. With cooling systems typically accounting for 40% of a data centre's electricity, hot aisle containment offers a significant optimisation.

Conclusion

By effectively isolating and channelling hot exhaust air, HAC enhances the performance of cooling systems, contributes to significant operational cost savings, and reduces environmental impact. With each data centre requiring varying setups, Tate’s hot aisle containment systems are designed bespoke, specific to fit your needs. We’ve developed a technical support team that can help you navigate the differences to find the best approach for your facility, whether it is new or retrofit, with or without a data centre raised floor.