RP-1487 -- The Development of Simplified Rack Boundary Conditions For Numerical Data Center Models

The objective RP 1487 was to develop simplified rack boundary conditions for a single common rack type (front-to-back airflow) that could be implemented in a full-room CFD simulation of a data center for accurate airflow and heat transfer analysis.

Both the Black Box and Open Box Models are simple and effective at representing the temperature distribution created by a single rack. With minimal inputs of server heat generation and airflow, the user can create an accurate and simple rack model for use in data center simulations. This research project both validates many of the current assumptions used in the industry and well as providing clear standards for modeling racks in data centers.