Close-coupled cooling is a type of data center cooling in which an air conditioning unit is placed as close as possible to a server rack, allowing for both a targeted delivery of cool air and precise capture of hot air.
It is particularly useful for high-density deployments where traditional cooling methods are not sufficient.
There are two types of close-coupled cooling solutions:
- Open-loop close-coupled cooling. Air flows interact with the ambient room environment and the cooling system interacts with the room it is installed in.
- Closed-loop close coupled cooling: Air flows create an internal microclimate between the rack and heat exchanger. The cooling system acts independently from the room it is installed in.
What are the Benefits of Close-Coupled Cooling?
The key benefits of close-coupled cooling system are:
- Energy efficiency. Traditional air cooling methods use fans to move air from the room under a raised floor and through a perforated floor tile to a server. By mounting the cooling system to a high-density rack or placing it directly next to the rack, the cooling system does not need waste energy to cool the entire room.
- Modern solution. While not as advanced as liquid and immersion cooling, close-coupled cooling can save space, money, and energy compared to traditional methods like CRAC systems.
- Modularity and scalability. There is no need to over-install air conditioners with a close-coupled cooling system in place. As a data center’s density increases, close-coupled cooling systems can grow alongside it.
Monitor and Manage High-Density Racks with DCIM Software
Managing and cooling high-density racks can be difficult.
Fortunately, Data Center Infrastructure Management (DCIM) software simplifies high-density rack management and enables you to intelligent increase rack density without risking downtime.
With DCIM, you can quickly identify and resolve hot spots, set power and environmental thresholds and alerts, automate power capacity planning to recover stranded capacity, obtain comprehensive views of site health and capacity, document cabling infrastructure visually, and more.
Want to see how Sunbird’s second-generation DCIM software makes it easy for you to manage a high-density data center? Get your free test drive now!