Submittal

WW-CPWP-09, Rev.0, 09/2009
©2009 PANDUIT Corp. All rights reserved.
4
Deploying a Vertical Exhaust System
to Achieve Energy Efficiency and Support Sustainability Goals
One of the most efficient passive airflow management options for data center environments is exhaust
containment such as the Vertical Exhaust System (VES), which channels heated server exhaust air directly to
the ceiling return plenum via a vertical duct or “chimney” unit (see Figure 2). This ducting of hot exhaust air to
the CRAH returns prevents hot air recirculation, ensuring availability of cool air at the equipment inlets. The
VES exhaust containment system is capable of supporting high heat loads to enable high density equipment
configurations such as blade server deployments.
1
Figure 2. TOP: In a traditional Raised Floor with Ceiling Returns configuration (hot aisle/cold aisle) hot
air can recirculate to the front of the enclosure, heating the top portion of the rack.
BOTTOM: The Panduit VES optimizes thermal efficiency by moving hot air through vertical ducts
directly to the return plenum.
1
Intel white paper: “Air-Cooled High Performance Data Centers: Case Studies and Best Methods.” November 2006.
Under Floor Plenum
Ceiling Return Plenum
Cold
Aisle
Cold
Aisle
Cold
Aisle
Hot
Aisle
Hot
Aisle
Under Floor Plenum
Ceiling Return Plenum
Cold
Aisle
Cold
Aisle
Cold
Aisle
Hot
Aisle
Hot
Aisle
Temperature
60ºF
73ºF 85ºF 98ºF
110ºF
VES Deployed
Hot Spots Develop Without VES