Reference library

Open Compute Project · 2024

Data Center Liquid Distribution Guidance & Reference Designs, Rev 1.0 (OCP Advanced Cooling Facilities)

In the liquid-cooling calculator implement Q = m*cp*delta-T for TCS/FWS sizing (water cp 4.18 kJ/kg-K, PG25 option) and size pipes by maximum velocity.

• Q = volumetric flow x delta-T x density x specific heat; by volume water carries about 3,300 times the heat of air.

Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory (Center of Expertise for Energy Efficiency in Data Centers) / U.S. DOE FEMP · 2020

Data Center Master List of Energy Efficiency Measures, Version 2.0 (September 2020)

Compare the planned UPS module count and redundancy scheme against the load curve: check the per-unit load at day-one and at full build, and consider modular units or switching off surplus modules.

• Variable-speed chillers usually peak at 60-80% of full load; constant-speed chillers peak at full load.

U.S. DOE Better Buildings / Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory · 2017

Data Center Metering and Resource Guide (February 2017)

At a stand-alone site, design meters that record energy (kWh) at the utility entrance and at the UPS output (or at panels serving only IT if there is no UPS); a UPS display that shows only power (kW) is not enough.

• PUE Level 1 for a stand-alone data center is utility meter reading divided by UPS output energy (M1/M2).

ASHRAE TC 9.9 · 2016

Data Center Power Equipment Thermal Guidelines and Best Practices

Encode the A1-A4 table (dry bulb, dew point, altitude derate) as the canonical envelope lookup; site max inlet = classMax - (altitude-900)/derateStep.

• Design power equipment for 40 degC ambient (A3).

Schneider Electric · 2011

Data Center Projects: Commissioning

Default the commissioning budget to about 2% of capex.

• Rule of thumb: budget about 2% of overall project cost for commissioning; typical return about 5 to 10% in overall performance.

Schneider Electric · 2011

Data Center Projects: Project Management

In the project-workflow feature, provide a RACI template with roles per phase (Prepare/Design/Acquire/Implement/Operate).

Schneider Electric · 2026

DC Arc Flash Analysis: A Practical Study on 800 VDC AI Data Centers

Subject DC arc-flash outputs to engineer verification in expert mode.

• Inside an IT rack: 0.10 cal/cm² at 3 ms and 0.55 cal/cm² at 30 ms.

Consulting-Specifying Engineer · 2017

Demystifying IT room protection requirements

If containment roofs or chimneys are placed, require sprinkler heads below or inside the containment, or fusible-link drop-away panels.

• Gaseous systems must be automatically actuated by NFPA 72-compliant detection.

Vertiv · 2023

Deploying Liquid Cooling in the Data Center: A Guide to High-Density Cooling (1 MW IT load)

Calculation default: DLC flow = 1.5 L/min per kW of liquid-captured heat; to adjust by dT use flow = P/(4.18 x dT) L/s.

• Newest AI servers approach 6-10 kW TDP per server

Schneider Electric · 2011

Determining Total Cost of Ownership for Data Center and Network Room Infrastructure

Have the TCO engine report cost per rack and per kW over a user-selectable life (default 10 years) and split capex from opex.

• Model basis: 100 kW capacity, 10-year life.

Digital Realty · 2025

Digital Realty: Sustainability (portfolio PUE and renewable coverage)

Use portfolio PUE of about 1.38-1.4 as the benchmark for multi-tenant colocation (against hyperscale about 1.1 and industry about 1.54).

• Portfolio PUE 1.38.

Schneider Electric · 2025

Direct Liquid Cooling System Challenges in Data Centers

Use the eight challenges as a DLC readiness checklist in the commissioning and design-review module.

• Heat capture ratio defines the air share: 80% liquid capture leaves 20% for air cooling.

Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory / ANCIS Incorporated · 2023

DOE Data Center Air-Management (AM) Tool: Engineering Reference, Version 3

Calculate required sensible airflow from heat load with a stated temperature rise, air density and specific heat.

• The AHU sheet accepts up to 40 operating units.

Eaton · Year not stated

Eaton UPS battery runtimes

Use the curve of the selected UPS and battery configuration in runtime calculations.

Schneider Electric · 2011

Economizer Modes of Data Center Cooling Systems

Compute economizer hours from hourly climate data (dry bulb and wet bulb) against the chosen supply setpoint and approach temperatures, and report partial and full economizer hours separately.

• Cooling towers consume about 40 gpm per 1,000 tons of capacity (151.4 L/min).

Schneider Electric · Year not stated

Electrical Installation Guide: conductor voltage drop and short-circuit current

Make circuit type (3-phase or two-conductor), cos(phi) and conductor temperature explicit inputs to the cable voltage-drop calculation.

• Related standard: IEC 60364.

ASHRAE TC 9.9 · 2021

Emergence and Expansion of Liquid Cooling in Mainstream Data Centers

Add class H1 and the W17/W27/W32/W40/W45/W+ facility-water classes to the thermal catalog as enumerations.

• Context: A1 allowable max 32 degC, A4 max 45 degC.

TÜV NORD · 2026

EN 50600 — data centre facilities and infrastructures (overview and certification)

In an 'EN 50600' standards profile, offer separate availability-class selectors for power, cooling and cabling (instead of a single Tier), plus a protection-class selector per room or zone

• Protection classes 1-4 for unauthorised access and other hazards; physical-security zoning required

TÜV NORD · Year not stated

EN 50600 white paper (TÜV NORD)

Point to this paper only as an orientation resource for newcomers to the EN 50600 family; do not derive calculation rules from it.

• Related standards: EN 50600-1 and ISO/IEC 22237.

NREL · 2019

Energy Performance Evaluation of Aquila's Aquarius Fixed Cold Plate Cooling System at NREL's High Performance Computing Center (NREL/TP-2C00-73356, February 2019)

Use the measured capture fractions (98.3%, 93.4%, 86.1%) to estimate the residual air load for a fixed cold plate rack, remembering that power shelves, CDUs and switches stayed air-cooled.

• The rack CDU draws about 750-800 W.