How to contain air flow in Data Center Aisles

Using Data Center Curtains for Aisle Containment

In order to protect data server units from overheating, you’ll need to know how to contain air flow in data center aisles. The design and layout of your server racks in the data center is usually determined by where the air is delivered and where the return ducts are located. Knowing how to contain air flow in data center aisles is practical from an energy efficiency standpoint, and helps in the functionality and longevity of the server units.

Data Center air flow management is important in order to contain and control the air circulating around the server racks and server units. The most widely used air flow management system is using air conditioning units to cool off the air inside a data center enclosure. The cooled air is pumped into the curtain enclosure from the ceiling, which in turn forces the hot air generated by the server units out through the server racks, thus replacing the hot air with cooled air.

Side view of cold air entering the enclosure via ceiling ducts.

Elevation view of air conditioning unit forcing cooled air inside the enclosure, hot air is forced out through the server racks.