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Free Cooling

Free cooling in data centers uses natural cold air or water to reduce energy consumption for cooling, lowering PUE and improving overall energy efficiency.

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Free cooling in data centers is a technique that leverages natural resources like cold air or water to cool IT equipment, significantly reducing energy consumption and improving efficiency. By relying less on traditional mechanical chillers, free cooling lowers the Power Usage Effectiveness (PUE) of a facility.

There are several free cooling methods:

  • Air-Side Free Cooling: Outdoor cold air is filtered and circulated through the data center to cool equipment. This method is most effective in cooler climates.

  • Water-Side Free Cooling: Cold water, often from lakes or rivers, is circulated through heat exchangers to absorb heat from the data center.

  • Adiabatic/Evaporative Cooling: This method cools the air through water evaporation, lowering the air temperature before it enters the data center. While energy-efficient, it increases water consumption, making it less ideal in areas with water scarcity.

By using free cooling, especially in colder climates, data centers can minimize reliance on power-hungry chillers and fans, further optimizing energy efficiency.

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