Cooling of server cabinets. Air conditioners for telecommunication cabinets Inverter air conditioners in the server room

One of the types industrial premises is a server room in which important technical objects are located, which are responsible for the company's communication with the outside world and its information base. These include computers, servers, telecommunications equipment, and other electronics. All these devices emit a large number of heat, which, if not removed, will create conditions detrimental to the normal functionality of all equipment.

In addition, regardless of its size, a server room requires compliance with strict regulations regarding certain air parameters (humidity, dustiness). If they are not maintained year-round, expensive electronic equipment will fail. Therefore, properly designed air conditioning of server rooms is one of the first tasks to be faced during their arrangement.

Is it possible to use a split air conditioning system in a server room

What climate systems are used for these purposes, and what does this choice depend on?

In small rooms with a limited amount of computer equipment, household and semi-industrial split systems of higher power are most often installed: wall, channel and column (sometimes ceiling). Additionally, a duplicate climate system is provided in the event of a breakdown of the main one in the form of 50% or 100% replacement. To this you have to add low temperature cooling kits in winter period and introduce many more elements that increase the likelihood of failure of the entire system.

Main disadvantages

A few more disadvantages in air conditioning server rooms with split systems are:

• inaccurate temperature maintenance;
• excessive dehumidification of the air, from which unnecessary electrification occurs;
• the appearance of excess dust (this is very dangerous for servers) due to a weak fan and an ineffective filtration system;
• decrease in efficiency due to energy consumption for condensation of released moisture;
• quick development of a resource with round-the-clock and year-round work.

In a split system, the ability to operate with such a load is usually not provided, therefore, the capacity limit is exhausted after a year at 50% redundancy and after two at 100%.

Advantages of precision air conditioners for server rooms

A more expensive, but at the same time more reliable option is considered to be the installation of precision air conditioners in the server rooms, which are classified as professional climatic equipment. They are one of the types of cabinet units and are ideal for rooms where it is important not only to keep the set temperature with maximum accuracy, but also to give the air a certain percentage of humidity.

The main part of precision air conditioners for server rooms has such advantages as compared to semi-industrial splits, such as:

• precise temperature control (+ 1 ° C) and moisture control (+ 2 ° C);
• year-round uninterrupted operation;
• operation in extreme heat and frost;
• combination with dispatch control and management systems.

Some precision server room air conditioners are capable of operating outside of the building from + 60 ° C to -60 ° C.

The classification of precision instruments is very diverse and depends on many aspects. There are models with a monoblock design and a split-system type. If we take into account the cooling method, then there are systems with the evaporation of freon and systems with water and air cooling of the condenser, with air cooling and a glycol circuit, with a double cooling system, and others.

A well-known company has a precision cabinet with an energy-saving mode of operation, which can use half the electricity less than others by using free cooling without a refrigeration cycle and turning on compressors.

A standard precision machine consists of a frame with automation, heat exchangers, filters, fans, refrigeration circuit elements and power electrics. From above it is covered with panels that protect it from external influences. If the presence of an outdoor unit is provided, then it can be executed in the form of a compressor-condensing unit or an external air-cooled condenser.

The principle of operation of installations of this type is not very complicated:

• the air is taken by the device either from the room or outside;
• cools inside;
• it is given the required percentage of moisture;
• then it is released outside into the room.

The air intake can be from the bottom or from the top.

Selection of an air conditioner for a server room according to the method of room cooling

How to install an air conditioner in a server room and by what parameters is it selected?

Depending on the area of ​​the server room, the number of electronics and its heat release, specialists provide 3 cooling options:

• the whole area in general;
• each row of servers separately;
• each server cabinet or rack individually.

General server room cooling

The first method seems to be quite effective - the server room can be conditioned by any precision device or even a semi-industrial split. Air is discharged either simply into the room, or by means of a false floor construction directly to the server equipment.

But in this situation, there are many disadvantages, the main of which is the uneven divergence of the cooled air. Due to the mixing of warm and cold streams, there is a decrease in efficiency and an increase in electricity consumption to normalize the required temperature. Only small rooms can be cooled using the general cooling method.

Zonal cooling of server cabinets with air conditioner

Air conditioning of server cabinets in rows is considered more reasonable, that is, processing occurs zonal. Each unit is responsible for cooling a specific area with servers. This can be done using a special built-in cooler in the rack, or using a server cabinet with an air conditioner included. The plus is that separate fans are not needed here, and energy efficiency is not reduced at all.

We are talking about climate control in server rooms and data centers using inter-row or in-row air conditioners, which can be installed in an existing ACS. They supply air directly to the servers. Unlike cabinet units, the flow is blown out onto the grates of server installations or into a cold aisle.

More efficient air conditioning of a number of server cabinets and racks occurs when the hot and cold air corridors are isolated from each other. Also to achieve maximum effect the server cabinet with air conditioning must be completely sealed - even the slightest loss of cold must not be allowed.

If a decision is made to use a built-in cooler, then in addition to it, an outdoor condensing unit will be required.

Individual air conditioning of cabinets and racks

What kind of air conditioner is needed for a separate server rack or cabinet? As a rule, for individual cooling of each server installation, they use modular systems or monoblock high power plants. They can be easily mounted on a server cabinet door or on a wall. Models are available for rack mounting or top cabinet mounting. Heated and cooled air moves in a separate space inside, without leaving outside.

Efficiency and energy efficiency precision air conditioner for a server rack are very high, and the capacity potential is used without loss, therefore this type of air conditioning of server cabinets is considered the most rational.

Minus - the price of this type of equipment is much higher than that of the rest of the above. refrigeration units... But the need to install a modular air conditioner in a rack occurs quite rarely and only in large rooms with powerful equipment that emits a huge amount of heat.

In server rooms, these are always very important stages of design and installation works... Only experienced specialists will be able to do everything without mistakes and material losses, since the described type of service requires complex engineering solutions.

MEL Group of Companies is a wholesale supplier of air conditioning systems for Mitsubishi Heavy Industries.

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About 10 years ago, the author of the article happened to witness one situation. The server organization was a half of the office allocated with fiberglass. Outside the window was a frosty winter day, the battery central heating could not cope, and the IT specialist opened the server room door and turned off the air conditioner so that the heat from the equipment would heat the room. An hour later, the main server of the organization with the ERP system turned off. Moreover, not only turned off, but 2 expensive SSD-disks failed. More than a hundred employees sat idle for half a day, spent on restoring data from reserves. And if there were no archive .. In general, why the server air conditioner - after that everyone knew.

Server room cooling options.

Air conditioner for a large server room. The most expensive, but not always the best way.

The word "precision" immediately associates with precision. Alas, most of the "precision" server air conditioners are supplied with On-Off compressors, and we are not even talking about any precise temperature control, the run-up is 2-3 degrees at best.

The next disadvantage is noise. Conventional precision air conditioners for server rooms are a monoblock unit with a remote condenser. The noise from the compressor is added to the considerable noise of the evaporator fan. It's good when the server room is a dedicated uninhabited room. But working in a room with a working "precision" (and sometimes that) is extremely tiring.

Price. The cost of a precision air conditioner is two to three times higher than a semi-industrial inverter "Japanese" of the same performance.

Perhaps their only plus is a remote condenser, which potentially allows a precision air conditioner to operate in winter with more low temperatures than a conventional air conditioner with a winter kit.

2. Split system... The most common solution for cooling server rooms, at the same time versatile, affordable and inexpensive. The smallest "server room" that the author of the article saw is a fiberglass cabinet measuring 2m * 1m * 0.4m, located in the room of IT specialists. Naturally, except for everyday wall split it was impossible to put anything there.

Most heads of organizations still understand the degree of risk of data loss on servers, and buy Japanese air conditioners for the server room. Although the main trend Russian market the reduction in the average cost of air conditioners begins to appear here as well.

It is preferable to install a semi-industrial air conditioner for a server room with a winter set, because in a semi-industrial, even small ratings from 9000-12000 BTU, there is always an increased safety margin: a more reliable compressor, increased area of ​​heat exchangers, more protective functions.

3. Supply ventilation in winter. One of the variants of the free-cooling system. The essence of the system is the typesetting Supply unit, and control dampers control the flow of cold outside air. Usually combined with a split system (for summer operation). The main plus is that free outdoor cold replaces the air conditioner in winter, saving on electricity and the resource of the split system. Minus - installation is not possible everywhere. Such systems are often used, for example, on base stations cellular communication.

Calculation of the air conditioner for the server room.

I have seen situations when the power of the air conditioner for the server room was chosen based on the area of ​​the room, like in an apartment. With a predictable result. Of course, the calculation of the air conditioner for the server room should be based on the heat gains from the equipment. Ideally, you need to know the inflows from each server / cabinet. But often this is not indicated in the documentation. Then the easiest way is to calculate the power of the servers' power supplies, or at least the power of the sources uninterruptible power supply... You will get numbers with a margin, but this is better than choosing a server air conditioner with a lower performance.

The next choice is location indoor unit... Since the heat from the cabinets rises upward, it can be immediately disposed of by an indoor unit, ceiling or cassette type. But there is a danger that, if the installation or maintenance is unfair, drainage may flow down from the indoor unit. Therefore, the indoor unit of the server air conditioner should not be located directly above the server or any electrical device... It is best when the unit is positioned slightly to the side and cool air is blown directly onto the equipment.

Air conditioner problems in winter.

1. Freezing of compressor oil. Even polyester oils used with R410A freon will solidify at low temperatures, kinetic viscosity and lubricating properties deteriorate in winter. Accordingly, at the moment of start-up, the compressor starts to run "dry", there is an increased current, increased friction of the compressor parts, in the worst case, the compressor can simply jam.

2. Compressor oil is absorbed with freon. The longer the air conditioner is turned off, the more freon is dissolved in the oil. At the moment of start-up, the freon in the compressor boils and goes into the pipeline along with oil particles. A situation is possible when the proportion of oil that has gone into the line will be so great that the compressor will have to run dry.

3. In On-Off split systems, the most common server air conditioners, the outdoor fan is constantly running at maximum speed. As a result, even at zero outside temperatures, the performance of the server air conditioner drops by 30-40%. And at negative temperatures, the consumption of freon will drop so much that overheating of the compressor may occur, while the cooling capacity of the air conditioner will drop to a minimum in winter.

4. Often, in split systems, drainage is diverted to the street, and not in internal system sewerage. Accordingly, when the air conditioner is operating in winter, the drain pipe without heating will simply freeze and water will flow from the indoor unit.

To avoid all these problems when the air conditioner is operating in winter, install

Winter air conditioner kit.

The standard winter set of the air conditioner includes three elements:

Compressor crankcase heating cable... Usually its length is 0.5m and power is 30-50W. Installed at the bottom of the compressor, it is best installed at the approximate border of oil and freon to minimize mixing. A common mistake- connection of this heating to the compressor supply terminal block. The problem is that the heating will only turn on at the same time as the compressor starts, i.e. when it is already useless. Therefore, the compressor heating must be switched on to a separate, permanently powered 220V line.

Some Japanese manufacturers write in catalogs that in their compressors, the oil is constantly heated by the stator windings. However, they themselves continue to install conventional tape heaters on all these units, which seems to be a hint ..

Drainage heating cable. Wears on drain tube(in the case when the drain is brought out).

... It is an electronic unit included in the power supply break of the outdoor unit fan. Its purpose is to maintain a constant condensing temperature by adjusting the fan speed from 0 to 100%, depending on the readings of its own temperature sensor, usually mounted in the middle of the condenser.

There are more sophisticated condensation controllers, for example with a user-adjustable temperature, or regulating not the temperature, but the condensing pressure. But, due to the high price, they are not widely used.

Such a winter set of air conditioners is put on On-Off models, the most common due to their low cost. But in last years start to appear

Inverter air conditioners in the server room.

The main difference between inverter air conditioners is the smooth control of the compressor speed. At the same time, the fan of the outdoor unit can be ordinary, unregulated. Accordingly, when choosing winter air conditioner be sure to check this nuance.

The advantages of inverter air conditioners are undeniable: lower power consumption, no inrush currents, increased efficiency (in partial load mode), increased peak performance, more accurate temperature control.

The main argument of opponents of inverter air conditioners in server rooms is their technical complexity and potentially less reliability.

One cannot but agree with the first objection, but why should this be considered a minus? More control functions, feedback with all kinds of sensors to adjust the system to changes external environment- these are just the advantages.

The increase in the number of system components potentially increases the risks, this is true. But inverter technologies have been developed for a long time, and from serious manufacturers they are no less reliable than outdated On-Off systems. Even the first multi-zone systems with inverter compressors are still working properly for 15 years. And since then, technologies have grown qualitatively, not to mention the accumulated experience and the elimination of "childhood diseases". For example, in Mitsubishi Heavy, the number of compressor failures in the KX4 series has decreased by 10 times compared to the KX2 series!

Inverter air conditioners in the server room may have individual problems with protective functions.

Some of the protections, for example - failure of the system to turn on at temperatures below -15 / -20C (according to the sensor outside temperature), you can modify or "bypass" directly on the object.

The other part of the protective functions is difficult to disconnect under normal conditions, for example, sensor protection low pressure or evaporator temperature. If temperatures below -35C are not uncommon in the region where the server air conditioner is installed, then it is better not to risk the server room and choose the option of a precision air conditioner with a remote condenser, or supply ventilation, as a last resort - install outdoor unit indoor split systems ( flight of stairs, attic...).

In any case, Japanese manufacturers have already begun to withdraw from production On-Off a series of split systems, for example, Mitsubishi Heavy Industries has been producing only inverter semi-industrial products for several years. Therefore, even opponents of the transition to inverter air conditioners in server rooms have no alternative, even in two or three years.

What air conditioning specialists overlook.

1. All values ​​of refrigerating capacity in service manuals are indicated for internal parameters: temperature 27C, humidity 50%. However, in server rooms, air conditioners work to maintain constant temperature 18-20C. At this temperature, the apparent cooling capacity of the unit drops by 20-30%.

To avoid problems with a lack of cold, you need to take into account exactly clear performance at 18C.

2. The indoor unit is calculated by the manufacturer for a temperature of 27C. When only 18C is supplied to the evaporator, there is a possibility of incomplete evaporation of freon. On-Off air conditioners with a capillary tube are especially at risk in winter, this risk is less for inverters with EEV. Under-evaporation of freon will entail the return of the refrigerant to the compressor in the liquid phase and breakdown of the compressor. It is believed that "wet running" should damp the accumulators in front of the compressor, but in practice they do not always help.

To prevent wet running and compressor flooding, it is possible to install the indoor unit one size larger than the outdoor unit. For example, the indoor unit is 9000 BTU, and the outdoor unit is 7000 BTU.

3. When the air conditioner operates to cool the room, moisture is constantly removed from the air. If the server room is purely technological and does not have supply ventilation, the air humidity can drop to 30%. At the same time, the risk of damage to electronic equipment by static electricity increases sharply. The most sensitive to this problem are automatic telephone exchanges and large data centers, where it is recommended to maintain a relative humidity of at least 50-60%.

If the server room will be equipped with electronic equipment that is sensitive to electrostatic discharges, a humidification system must be provided.

What IT Professionals Overlook.

1. Rotation of air conditioners. Even the most best equipment may suddenly fail. For example, due to hidden installation defects, power supply problems or human factor... To minimize risks in serious server rooms (for example, in banks), an additional server air conditioner is always installed. Usually, two air conditioners are installed, each of which is able to cool the server room alone, but they work alternately. In the case when the first air conditioner does not cope with heat gains or is even faulty, the second one automatically turns on.

In Mitsubishi Heavy Industries air conditioners, the air conditioner rotation function is standardly supported by a wired RC-EX1 remote control, which can be connected to all semi-industrial models, as well as to wall-mounted household inverters.

Rotation control of air conditioners of other brands can be provided by a separate device, “air conditioner rotation unit”. The universal rotation blocks are divided into two groups:

1) Control is performed by "phase interruption". The power cable is inserted into the rotation unit and then connected to the air conditioner. The rotation unit, according to signals from temperature sensors and a time relay, simply turns off or restores ~ 220V on the backup air conditioner. Accordingly, the air conditioner must support the auto-restart function.

2) A more elegant solution is to imitate the IR remote control of the air conditioner. In front of the IR receiver of the indoor unit, compact IR diodes are attached to which (via a wire or radio channel) commands are received from the rotation unit. Usually, only IR on and off signals are simulated for this split system, respectively, the mode and temperature parameters must be preset from the remote control.

In large server rooms, there can be more than two such air conditioners, and they can work according to any given cycle, for example, "five working three reserve", and the working and the reserve ones alternate with each other during the day.

2. Remote monitoring. Modern inverter air conditioners can connect to the Internet in two-way mode, receive commands from the user, and report operating status and errors.

Economy option. The wired remote control is connected via USB to the computer / server, the driver software is installed, and the IT specialist can monitor the server air conditioner status and manage the settings. Accordingly, through a remote desktop, he can monitor the temperature in the server room from anywhere. Such possibilities are provided in a standard way, for example, by the RC-EX1 wired remote control in Mitsubishi Heavy air conditioners.

Tablet or smartphone. A separate Wi-Fi module is connected to the server air conditioner, which communicates with the manufacturer's remote server and transmits data about its work. An IT specialist installs a special application (iOS or Android) on his gadget, and can view the operation logs of the server air conditioner, change its settings (operating mode, temperature ..), as well as receive messages about accidents and errors.

BMS or SNMP. If the building has one system management engineering communications (« Smart House»), Then server air conditioners can also become a part of it. All Japanese manufacturers have standard individual adapters ModBus, KNX, EnOcean. It is also possible to connect LonWorks or BACnet interfaces, but the price of the issue will be an order of magnitude higher.

At Mitsubishi Heavy Industries, connection to BMS networks is possible both for indoor units of multi-zone systems and for individual split systems, and not only of semi-industrial type, but also inverter wall units of household series.

Also, in large server rooms it is possible to organize a local data collection server using the SNMP protocol; rotation units of server air conditioners with its support are available on the market.

The second part will take a closer look at precision air conditioners and the use of fresh air ventilation.

• Rittal air conditioning systems provide the necessary microclimate and protection for telecommunication equipment installed in cabinets.
• This includes cooling of sensitive electronics in control cabinets and control housings. industrial processes, as well as racks for servers and network equipment.
• All of this is a complete solution based on Rittal products.
• Perfectly integrated and controlled cooling is environmentally friendly and energy efficient equipment.

• TopTherm wall-mounted chillers are ideal for door or side panel mounting.
• They provide centralized and economical water cooling and supply, including to air / water heat exchangers. Nano-coated capacitor as standard.

Rittal air conditioners - efficient equipment cooling

As a leading manufacturer of data center equipment, Rittal is committed to systems that ensure the efficiency of key components. One of the main factors for the stable operation of information and network devices is maintaining an appropriate temperature level. For these purposes, Rittal air conditioners are used.

Cooling systems are represented by two types of devices: wall-mounted and ceiling-mounted, which differ in the place of their installation relative to the surface of the equipment cabinet. Cabinet air conditioners can be mounted both inside and outside. The total cooling power of such devices varies from 0.3 to 4 kW.

Industrial refrigeration equipment in Moscow

Refrigeration units operate by cooling the air in a closed case. Thanks to the powerful ventilation system, the air flow is circulated and forced to cool. Due to the maximum removal of the inlet and outlet openings, the intersection of warm and cooled streams is eliminated, which significantly increases the efficiency of the process. The layout of Rittal wall-mounted air conditioners is presented in several types of enclosures, which allows you to install equipment with maximum convenience.

Of particular note unique device capacitor. Passing through themselves a significant amount of air masses containing elements of dust and moisture, such condensers are subject to significant pollution. In order to minimize this phenomenon, Rittal has developed a special RiNano nanocoating, which, thanks to its structure, is water-, oil- and dirt-repellent, preventing surface contamination. With a device power of more than 1 kW, the removal of the resulting condensate is activated by using an electric evaporator.

Cooled Server Cabinets

Cabinet air conditioners are easy to install and disassemble (in case renovation works). The delivery set includes fasteners that are fixed in the holes made according to the supplied template. The power supply is connected via a ready-made terminal block. The air conditioners installed with the cabinet look harmonious due to the similar body material and color of the coatings in accordance with the RAL 7035 standard.

Efficient and reliable Rittal air conditioners can be selected from the catalog provided and ordered immediately online.

Sensitive telecommunications equipment requires maintenance temperature regime at acceptable levels. For this, cooling systems are installed in protective cabinets. Air conditioners, designed specifically for ovens and all-weather boxes, provide protection of equipment from overheating and freezing, which ensures its uninterrupted operation and extends the service life of the equipment.

Features of air conditioners for telecommunications

Sonet Technologies store provides air conditioners for telecommunication cabinets different designs- wall and ceiling models with intelligent control and full option. The devices are designed for long-term work in server rooms and other specialized rooms - they are made from durable material and have additional weather protection.

The air conditioner box is protected from corrosion and mechanical damage (scratches, impacts, breakage). The parameters and power of work are selected taking into account the dimensions of the oven and its contents. Air conditioners differ in size, energy consumption and performance. For single protective boxes, maintenance with a small device is sufficient, and in the conditions of a large server base, equipment will be needed that not only cools the operating equipment, but also controls the environmental impact.

The air conditioner cools down working technique, cools the interior of the cabinet in hot weather, and also provides warmth inside the cabinet in cold weather. Thanks to this, the effective functioning of the equipment is maintained not only indoors, but also in all-weather cabinets installed outdoors and in unheated areas.

If you need to buy an air conditioner for cabinets inexpensively in Moscow - place an order on our website. A specialized device does not require frequent maintenance, therefore it is optimal for use in any conditions. The models presented in the Sonnet store are suitable for servicing modern IT equipment and telecommunications services and fully comply with GOST standards.

Order quickly

Sonet Technologies offers high-quality equipment with a guarantee - wholesale and retail at best prices in Moscow. Delivery is carried out within 1 day - order urgently air conditioners for cabinets and receive equipment without waiting.

The store provides current models for all-weather boxes of different designs - choose the right one yourself or contact a consultant with any questions you might have. To do this, it is enough to leave a request - the manager will call you back to clarify all the details of the order and help you buy an air conditioner for a telecommunication cabinet in Moscow at an inexpensive price. The ability to purchase instruments at a wholesale price ensures your maximum benefit and savings. In addition, you can pay in a convenient way.

Need other equipment? All related products can be found on the catalog pages with easy navigation or clarified by phone.