I recently received a query regarding the relationship between CFM (cubic feet per minute) and density of heat load that can be supported in a data center using a room-oriented cooling architecture.
CFM is a non-SI unit of measurement of the flow of a gas or liquid that indicates how much volume in cubic feet pass by a stationary point in one minute. rate of air-flow. In a typical data center facility that has conditioned air being delivered through a subfloor and via perforated tiles to cool down IT equipment in racks, it sure helps to understand the relationship between CFM (air-flow), temperature rise, heat dissipation and the amount of cooling capacity required. The diagram below charts the relationship between the required cooling capacity (in kW) per tile versus the required air-flow (in CFM), assuming a delta temperature of 20′F. (more…)
