Rack Thermal Management



Posted: Friday, September 26, 2008

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Racks are designed to keep all your expensive gear organized, accessible and protected from outside elements. One often overlooked but critical aspect of rack design is the heat generated by the hardware. Thermal management is the key to controlling the heat and to keep everything running cool for optimal performance. Proper rack thermal management will keep your equipment running even during a full load resulting in better performance and a longer life for the equipment.

Rack Thermal Management Equipment A quick overview of thermal management for rack equipment will help set the foundation for putting together a solid thermal management plan. The most common thermal management equipment consists of fans, temperature monitors, speed controllers and rack panels. You will combine the four pieces of hardware in your rack to promote consistent air flow resulting in a cooler rack. The rack panels and fan panels on your rack help you control air flow so that you can dissipate heat in the proper direction. Rack airflow is a known science; your rack provider should be able to consult with you on equipment placement within the rack to minimize heat and optimize airflow.

Before deciding which way to vent hot air think about what other equipment is around your rack; you do not want to send hot air onto another rack or heat sensitive equipment.

The heart of your rack thermal management will be the fans directing air; you will need fans on two sides of the rack to direct cool air from the lowest point in the rack and usually the coolest area. It is common for air to be brought in from the front of the rack and expelled out the back; but you may need to adjust depending on where your rack is located. Once you have determined airflow direction you will want to decide where to put the temperature monitor in an easy to view location; preferably at the front of the rack near eye level. A thermometer the internal temperature of your rack at all times so you know if anything is getting too hot. When the temperature rises you may need to increase the fan speed or reduce load to bring the temperature down. If you cannot lower the temperature by adjusting fan speed then there may be something obstructing one of the fans or a vent.

Just as important as the fans and temperature monitor for rack thermal management is a speed controller for your fans. A speed controller lets you adjust fan speed to maintain a proper temperature and noise level. During colder times of the year and when your rack is under less than a full load you may not need your fans running at full speed. A speed controller allows you to slow the fans down reducing the noise which is very helpful especially with audio equipment. You also will usually extend the life of your fans by running them slower some of the time instead of full speed all the time. If noise is an issue, you can add fans and run them at a lower speed.

You can often find rack thermal management hardware that incorporates a speed controller, temperature monitor and fans into one modular unit. These are great options when they fit in with the rest of your rack equipment and usually provide the cleanest look. A good approach is to have a combination unit at the front of the rack with just some extra fans in the back mounted on rear rails. This lets you see the temperature and adjust fan speeds easily while maintaining optimal airflow with fans on both sides of the rack.

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