Physical data centers continue to spring up everywhere, with more than 5,300 in the U.S. alone. These centers house crucial IT infrastructure, such as network equipment, storage drives, and servers, used by different businesses.
What most people need to realize, however, is that these massive facilities require tightly controlled air quality to function properly. Data center maintenance is essential in achieving a stable indoor climate to prevent the equipment from overheating.
Overheating IT equipment can lead to several breakdowns and even explosions. Moreover, the wiring within data centers can catch fire if the indoor temperature is not controlled.
The air within data centers typically contains contaminants or pollutants that originate internally and externally. For instance, because a data center must have an air intake system, the facility is vulnerable to dust and other airborne particles. Furthermore, if the data center is located in an area with a high smog level, air quality may be compromised even further.
The servers inside data centers generate heat because they remain on 24/7. This may lead to the release of VOCs (volatile organic compounds) from the electrical components. Throw in malfunctioning equipment, and you have an even bigger problem.
Also, data centers typically have diesel-powered backup generators to ensure services keep running during power outages. However, when switched on, these generators emit nitrogen oxides, particulate matter, and carbon monoxide, which can also decrease air quality, not to mention the excessive fuel cost when these generators run for hours.
Too much dust or even pollen can clog server components. This eventually leads to airflow obstruction and reduced heat dissipation. If this problem is not resolved, the equipment will overheat and fail.
Moreover, some contaminants, especially hydrogen sulfide and chlorine, can corrode electrical and IT components. This may lead to malfunctions and drastically shorten the lifespan of critical servers.
Dirty equipment and clogged components ultimately force data center cooling systems to work harder. This increases energy consumption and chases up operational costs.
Data centers must manage these threats and maintain a stable indoor climate to avoid disaster. Several strategies work well, including:
The type of filters used will depend on the air quality challenges of a specific data center. However, filters must also be regularly cleaned and replaced to maintain effectiveness.
In addition to air filtration, data centers must also have sufficient ventilation and airflow strategies.
Optimal airflow rates are crucial. Office buildings usually have air changes every few hours. In contrast, data centers maintain high airflow rates, replacing the air in each center up to 50 times per hour. This helps to flush out pollutants and maintain a stable indoor temperature.
Several air inlets and outlets should also regulate air circulation around the data center. This strategy helps prevent pockets of hot air from forming around sensitive servers.
As mentioned, data centers must maintain an ideal humidity and temperature range. This helps prolong the lifespan of data center equipment and improves air quality. Cooling systems, such as air conditioners and water-based cooling units, can help keep temperatures cool.
Humidity is a big issue for data center equipment and wiring. Excessive humidity can leave moisture behind, causing electrical shorts. Too little humidity, on the other hand, causes static electricity, which can damage systems. For this reason, dehumidification systems must be in place to control moisture levels between 40% and 60%.
Data centers have implemented real-time air quality monitoring systems to track temperature, humidity, and pollution levels. This allows operators to track and identify issues before a breakdown happens.
Maintaining optimal air quality is crucial for keeping equipment working at full speed and helping ensure minimal downtime. It is just as important f protecting the health and well-being of data center employees.
Exposure to any pollutant or contaminant can cause respiratory issues, headaches, and fatigue. This is why efficient air quality management practices must be in place at all data centers to help build healthier work environments.
As data centers grow and their operations become more complex, cooling solutions must evolve. Most data centers use air cooling because it is reliable and suitable for most facilities. However, air cooling uses more energy, which comes with higher costs.
Some data centers use liquid cooling technology to absorb heat away from servers and other equipment. Liquid cooling is superior to air cooling because it moves heat away faster.
Still, liquid cooling is not ideal because it uses a lot of water, and coolant leaks may be hazardous.
However, some new trends are in the pipeline that could help maintain a better indoor climate and reduce the environmental impact of data centers. These include adaptive cooling, which uses AI to automatically adjust to a data center's cooling needs. Minimizing overcooling helps reduce the likelihood of energy wastage.
Solar or wind power for data centers is also gaining traction because of the increased demand for sustainable data center operations.
There are continued challenges to keeping the air cool and clean inside a data center. Because of their geographical location and distributed infrastructures, edge computing data centers need more innovative solutions. High-density computing generates more heat and will, by default, need more sophisticated air filtration and cooling systems.
As new technologies and materials emerge for data center use, new and worse contaminants may also emerge. This would require adapting current air quality management practices.
By overcoming these challenges with the right solutions, data centers will continue to operate efficiently for many years.
