[jaypatel]

Hi Foamers,
I am trying to simulate the flow of air in a data center. I am ready with mesh file but now I have a problem with BC.

I have 4 type of BCs.
1 = CRAC(Computer Room Air Conditioner) -> Suction side -> ? (it will be taking air from the fluid domain
2 = CRAC(Computer Room Air Conditioner) -> Discharge side -> velocity(in will be inlet to the fluid domain.
3 = Air inlet to Server Rack -> ?
4 = Air outlet from Server Rack -> ?
3 and 4 must be having same Flow rate as what ever goes in the server due to suction fan in each server comes out from the other side of server.


The flow diagram is like this.

Air enters the the space from discharge side of CRAC(velocity and flow rate are know) the air passes through server (3) ,get heated and exit from other side of server (4), and again this hot air is suck by the CRAC suction side (1)get cooled and supplied again(2)

Thanks for reading.

[DineshramBalaji]

Hi Jay,

I am also working on the same problem. What software are you using and have you decided upon the boundary conditions?

[roth]

I guess what you need is a recirc boundary condition.

Consider swak4foam, and in particular, groovyBC, and even more specifically, the example "average-t-junction":
http://openfoamwiki.net/index.php/Co...age-t-junction

For the air inlet to the server rack, you would specify a negative velocity, everything else outflow-like.

At the air outlet from the server rack, you would code up a groovyBC for temperature that grabs the average temperature in the air inlet (Tavg), add in a suitable rise in temperature:

delta T = Heat (W) / ( density (kg/m3) * Cp (J/kg/K) * volume_flow (m3/s) )

and finally apply this temperature (Tavg + deltaT).

The CRAC units, something similar, but with cooling applied.

Boussinesq solver assumed so that we don't have to worry about density.

Hopefully enough info above to get you started.

[DineshramBalaji]

Roth,

thanks for the info. Will try it and let you know.

[Alex Lee]

Hi guys, interesting topic!
I am wondering have you guys managed to resolve the problem faced?

I am also working on the same topic and would like to team up with you all.

Alex

[DineshramBalaji]

Hi Alex,

Kind of. But there is now a problem in modeling the data center using gmsh.

[kedarjan]

Originally Posted by roth

I guess what you need is a recirc boundary condition.

Consider swak4foam, and in particular, groovyBC, and even more specifically, the example "average-t-junction":
http://openfoamwiki.net/index.php/Co...age-t-junction

For the air inlet to the server rack, you would specify a negative velocity, everything else outflow-like.

At the air outlet from the server rack, you would code up a groovyBC for temperature that grabs the average temperature in the air inlet (Tavg), add in a suitable rise in temperature:

delta T = Heat (W) / ( density (kg/m3) * Cp (J/kg/K) * volume_flow (m3/s) )

and finally apply this temperature (Tavg + deltaT).

The CRAC units, something similar, but with cooling applied.

Boussinesq solver assumed so that we don't have to worry about density.

Hopefully enough info above to get you started.

Hello;

The links are fine and UDF's mentioned are also fine. Can we apply BC's without UDF?

Please reply.
I am working on similar project. I have modeled everything in ICEM-CFD and using Fluent for CFD analysis.

Please reply

Thanks and Regards
SSM

[rbaud]

Originally Posted by roth

For the air inlet to the server rack, you would specify a negative velocity, everything else outflow-like.

Hi,

Nice topic, thanks for the interesting tips.

I've tried something really similar to Roth's advises.
But I'm a bit struggling on the boundary condition of what you named the "rack air inlet":
U: negative velocity --> I assumed it means pointing out/leaving the domain
P: ??? outflow-like ?
Traditionally for an outlet a fixed pressure is used, but it doesn't suit there as it will become overspecify with the velocity already set at fixedValue? So I have apply zeroGradient for the pressure (for P_rgh in my case), as I would have specify in case of a fixed velocity pointing inward my domain.
The simulation runs and hits the convergence criteria but I don't think the flow is acting accordingly to nature of a suction area around my "rack inlet"... i.e weird pressure profile and velocity getting a bit crazy close to the "rack inlet".

Any hint or idea on that particular point??

Thanks all,

R

[Paulzy]

Hi Jay

I’m a student at Northeastern University. I’m trying to do a CFD simulation of a data center as well. However, I am completely new to OpenFOAM. I wonder do you still have your files for this project of yours?

[Bharath Kuna]

Hello guys!!

I am simulating a data center which has 4 CRAC units. The flow inside the CRAC unit is modeled using the boundary conditions. I have velocity and the temperature defined at each of the inlets of CRAC units.

My question is what should be the velocity and pressure boundary conditions at the outlets so that the continuity equation is satisfied? I did try flowRateInletVelocity and fixedValue for velocities but there was an error with the mass flux.

It would be great if someone could drop a hint.
Thanks in advance.