What should you recommend for the placement of down-flow air conditioners?

A computer room with a raised floor has been designed with racks in a hot/cold aisle setup.

What should you recommend for the placement of down-flow air conditioners?
A . Air conditioners perpendicular to (at the end of the row of) the Cold-Aisle
B . Air conditioners perpendicular to (at the end of the row of) the Hot-Aisle
C . Air conditioners should always be placed at both sides of each row of racks
D . Air conditioner placement has no influence on cooling effectiveness and efficiency. Hence, they can be placed at any convenient location.

View Answer

Answer: A

Explanation:

In a hot/cold aisle configuration, placing down-flow air conditioners perpendicular to the cold aisle ensures that cool air is directed efficiently into the cold aisles where server intakes are located. This layout allows for optimal cooling performance by aligning the airflow directly with the equipment intakes, minimizing hot spots and enhancing cooling efficiency .

Detailed Explanation

With a raised floor design, cold air from the air conditioners is supplied into the cold aisle, where server intakes are located. Positioning the air conditioning units perpendicular to the cold aisles ensures that cool air is delivered directly into these aisles, preventing air mixing and optimizing cooling. This setup takes full advantage of the airflow management strategy inherent to the hot/cold aisle configuration.

EPI Data Center Specialist References:

EPI guidelines on cooling emphasize that down-flow air conditioners should be positioned to maximize the effectiveness of cold aisle delivery, which improves cooling efficiency and helps maintain consistent temperatures across server racks.