Development of an energy evaluation and design tool for dedicated cooling systems of data centers: Sensing data center cooling energy efficiency

Abstract

Data centers are approximately 50 times more energy-intensive than conventional office buildings, where ICT equipment consumes about 50% of total electricity and cooling energy is roughly 35% or more of total energy use. The main objective of this study is defined by energy analysis process, numerical studies, and simulation studies to assess each technical component's influence in order to create energy-optimized data centers. This includes dedicated cooling system and design conditions that were previously not generally used, how these affect energy efficiency, and how the prioritization of system selection is derived. Energy simulation programs have become more sophisticated through constant maintenance over many years. Those who have attempted to model data center design loads and annual energy consumption have found that the suite of available commercial programs for occupied office spaces is not easily adaptable to data center projects. Data centers have very simplistic load-contributing components but highly complex load growth and system growth modeling challenges. This paper addresses modeling needs that are unique to data centers, including using both hourly energy simulation programs, as well as more simplistic approaches. The developed data center energy evaluation methodology and program should be used by engineers and designers to assess the effectiveness and economic benefits of cooling systems.