Graduation Semester and Year

2012

Language

English

Document Type

Thesis

Degree Name

Master of Engineering in Aerospace Engineering

Department

Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering

First Advisor

Dereje Agonafer

Abstract

Thermal management of an efficient data center can be primarily dictated by efficient servers. Continued increase in power density and power dissipation of high end processors, thermal analysis and management has made it strategically important in the challenge of advanced thermal solutions. Present day CFD software provides powerful tools to create very accurate fluid and heat transfer solutions. Validation of a detailed model of a server in CFD corresponds to accurate flow and temperature models and these detailed server models are the foundational blocks for accurate data center thermal management solutions. In this research, an experimental study of the thermal behavior of a high end compute server is performed and discussed. Surface temperatures of key components are recorded and studied as a function of the processing utilization of the server and inlet air temperatures. Next, a detailed CFD model is developed, analyzed and validated for a subset of the experimental boundary conditions with the data, within an acceptable accuracy across all the considered design points. This validation work serves as guidance in generating compact models or simplified models for rack and room level thermal management. Fixed design considerations for a system level or server level packaging which includes an understanding of effects of varying inlet temperatures on server operation, if the server equipped fans are capable to adequately cool the components and how the heat generated by the components affect other components can also be clearly visualized in this research. This research covers extensive validation at different operating points and not just for maximum Thermal Design Point (TDP).

Disciplines

Aerospace Engineering | Engineering | Mechanical Engineering

Comments

Degree granted by The University of Texas at Arlington

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